Blender 4.0 New Simulation Nodes

One of the most exciting features of Blender is its node-based system that allows you to create complex and procedural geometry using geometry nodes. But what if you want to add some physics to your geometry? That’s where simulation nodes come in.

Simulation nodes are a new type of nodes that allow you to create custom physics simulations in Blender. They are different from geometry nodes in that they can store and update the simulation data over time, creating dynamic and realistic effects. You can use simulation nodes to create simulations such as particles, fluids, cloth, rigid bodies, and more.

Simulation Zones, Simulation Nodes

Simulation zones are the core component of simulation nodes. They are the containers that hold the simulation data and allow the result of one frame to influence the next one. Simulation zones are similar to geometry nodes in that they have inputs and outputs that can be connected to other nodes. However, simulation zones also have a special property called simulation domain.

The simulation domain is the region of space where the simulation takes place. It defines the size and shape of the simulation zone and also determines the resolution and boundary conditions of the simulation. The resolution is the number of cells or voxels that divide the simulation domain into smaller units. The higher the resolution, the more detailed and accurate the simulation will be, but also the more computationally expensive.

Simulation Solvers

Simulation solvers are another important component of simulation nodes. They are the nodes that define the physical behavior of the simulation. They take the input data from the simulation zone and apply some mathematical equations or algorithms to calculate the output data for the next frame. Simulation solvers are responsible for creating realistic and dynamic effects such as gravity, pressure, viscosity, friction, etc.

There are different types of solvers for different types of simulations. For example, you can use a Particle Solver node to create a particle system that can interact with forces, collisions, events, etc. You can use a Fluid Solver node to create a fluid simulation that can flow, splash, mix, etc. You can use a Cloth Solver node to create a cloth simulation that can bend, stretch, tear, etc. You can use a Rigid Body Solver node to create a rigid body simulation that can collide, bounce, break, etc.

Simulation Modifiers

Simulation modifiers are another useful component of simulation nodes. They are the nodes that can modify the simulation data in various ways. They can add some extra features or functionality to your simulations that are not provided by the solvers alone. For example, you can use modifiers to add forces, collisions, constraints, events, Repeat Zone etc.

There are different types of modifiers for different purposes. For example, you can use a Force Modifier node to add some external forces to your simulations such as gravity, wind, turbulence, etc. You can use a Collision Modifier node to add some collision objects to your simulations such as planes, spheres, meshes, etc.

You can use a Constraint Modifier node to add some constraints to your simulations such as springs, hinges, ropes, etc. You can use an Event Modifier node to add some events to your simulations such as triggers, actions, etc.

Simulation Inputs and Outputs

Simulation inputs and outputs are another essential component of simulation nodes. They are the nodes that can connect the simulation data to other geometry nodes or objects. They can transfer data between different simulations or between simulations and other modifiers.

For example, you can use inputs and outputs to create instances, attributes, fields, etc.

There are different types of inputs and outputs for different types of data.

• Geometry Input node to import some geometry data from another geometry node tree or object.
• Geometry Output node to export some geometry data to another geometry node tree or object.
• Attribute Input node to import some attribute data from another geometry node tree or object.
• Attribute Output node to export some attribute data to another geometry node tree or object.
• Field Input node to import some field data from another geometry node tree or object.
• Field Output node to export some field data to another geometry node tree or object.
• Instance Input node to import some instance data from another geometry node tree or object.
• Instance Output node to export some instance data to another geometry node tree or object.

Simulation Baking and Caching

Simulation baking and caching are another helpful component of simulation nodes. They are the features that can improve the performance and stability of the simulations. They can store the simulation data on disk or memory so that you don’t have to recalculate it every time you play or render the simulation. This can save you a lot of time and resources, especially for complex and high-resolution simulations.

To bake or cache a simulation, you need to select the simulation zone node in your geometry node tree and go to the Simulation Cache panel in the sidebar. You can then choose whether you want to bake or cache the simulation to disk or memory. You can also choose the location and format of the disk cache, the frame range and step of the bake/cache, the compression and quality of the cache, etc.

To manage or delete a baked or cached simulation, you need to go to the same panel and use the buttons provided. You can also preview the baked or cached frames in the timeline or viewport.

Simulation Examples

Now that we have learned about the basics of simulation nodes in Blender 3.6, let’s see how we can use them to create some simple and practical examples of simulations. We will use a default cube as our base object and add some geometry nodes and simulation nodes to it.

A particle system with gravity and turbulence

To create a particle system with gravity and turbulence, we will use a particle solver, a force modifier, and a collision modifier.

1. First, we will add a Simulation Zone node and set its domain type to Box, its resolution to 32, and its boundary conditions to Ignore.
2. Next, we will add a Particle Solver node and connect it to the simulation zone node. We will set its solver type to Euler, its time step to 0.02, its substeps to 1, its particle count to 1000, its particle size to 0.1, its particle lifetime to 250, and its initial velocity mode to Random.
3. Then, we will add a Force Modifier node and connect it to the particle solver node. We will set its priority to 0, its force type to Gravity, its force strength to -9.81, and its force direction to Z.
4. Next, we will add another Force Modifier node and connect it to the particle solver node after the first one. We will set its priority to 1, its force type to Turbulence, its force strength to 5, and its noise scale to 0.5.
5. Then, we will add a Collision Modifier node and connect it to the particle solver node after the second one. We will set its priority to 2, its collision type to Plane, its plane normal to Z, and its plane offset to -1.
6. Finally, we will add a Geometry Output node and connect it to the output socket of the simulation zone node. We will set its output type to Points and its output target to the default cube.

We have now created a particle system with gravity and turbulence that bounces off a plane at the bottom of the simulation domain. We can bake or cache the simulation to disk or memory to improve the performance and stability of the simulation. We can also preview the simulation in the viewport or render it as an animation.

Conclusion

In this article, we have learned about simulation nodes in Blender 3.6, a new feature that allows you to create custom physics simulations in Blender. We have explored the benefits and features of simulation nodes, such as simulation zones, solvers, modifiers, inputs, outputs, baking, caching, etc. We have also shown you how to use simulation nodes to create some simple and practical examples of simulations, such as particles, fluids, cloth, rigid bodies, etc.

We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about simulation nodes in Blender 3.6. We encourage you to try out simulation nodes yourself and share your feedback or results with us. You can also find more resources and tutorials on simulation nodes in the links below.

FAQs