RealFlow

RealFlow is a fluid and dynamics simulator for the 3D industry, created by Madrid-based Next Limit Technologies. Currently at version 4, the stand-alone application can be used to simulate fluids, water surfaces, fluid-solid interactions, rigid bodies, soft bodies and meshes. Victor Gonzalez, Ignacio Vargas and Angel Tena were awarded a 2007 Technical Achievement Award from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the creation of the RealFlow software application. [cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2008/08.01.04a.html|title=10 Scientific and Technical Achievementsto Be Honored with Academy Awards|accessdate=2008-02-25] . Carlos Pegar is the creator of Real Impact, the rigid bodies solver inside RealFlow. [cite web|url=http://www.rf-magazine.com/index.html|title=RealFlow Magazine] .

The technology uses particle based simulations. These particles can be influenced in a multitude of ways by point-based nodes, known as daemons, which can do anything from simulating gravity to recreating the vortex-like motion of a tornado. RealFlow can also simulate soft and rigid body collisions and interactions. In recent versions the Python scripting language has been implemented as a way to add control to most aspects of the RealFlow workflow including batch runs, events, daemons, waves and fluids. The inclusion of Python scripting means that users can program their own tools to boost RealFlow capabilities and solve specific program limitations. [cite web|url=http://www.nextlimit.com/realflow|accessdate=2007-07-10|title=RF4: Fluids & dynamics simulation tool]

Uses of RealFlow

Feature motion pictures

* ""
* "National Treasure 2"
* "Meet the Robinsons"
* "300"
* "Primeval"
* "Poseidon"
* "The Guardian"
* ""
* ""
* "Slither"
* "The Da Vinci Code"
* "Chicken Little"
* "Robots"
* "The Incredibles"
* "Constantine"
* "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"
* "The Matrix Reloaded"
* "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen"
* "Spy Kids 3D"
* ""
* "Freddy vs. Jason"
* "Minority Report"
* ""
* "Ice Age"
* "Tomb Raider"
* "Lost in Space"

Television series

* "CSI"
* "Get Ed"
* "Rome"
* ""

Commercials
* "Kraft Macaroni & Cheese"
* "Discovery Channel"
* "Amp’d Mobile"
* "Strathmore Water"
* "Cinnamon Toast Crunch"
* "Nissan GT-R"
* "Bacardi"
* "Nickelodeon"
* "Mercedes"
* "Sony Ericsson"
* "Renault Laguna"
* "Nescafe Expresso"
* "Kellogg's Frosties"
* "Chase Bank"
* "Guinness Beer"
* "Heineken"
* "Grand Marnier"
* "Ariel Washing Powder"
* "Biotherm"
* "Vichy"
* "Pontiac"
* "Gatorade"
* "Carlsberg"
* "Telia Xpress/ Motorola"
* "Martini"
* "BMW"
* "Land Rover" [cite web|url=http://www.nextlimit.com/realflow|accessdate=2007-07-10|title=RF4: Fluids & dynamics simulation tool]

Supported Platforms

Windows
* Microsoft Windows XP Professional.
* Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional (SP2 or higher)
* Windows Vista

Linux
* RedHat Linux 8.0.
* RedHat Linux 9.0.

Hardware requirements:
* Intel Pentium II or higher.
* AMD Athlon.
* 512 MB RAM.
* 50 MB of hard disk space
* Hardware-Accelerated OpenGL graphics card
* 3-button mouse with mouse driver software

Mac OS X
*Mac OS X v10.3.9 or higher
*512MB or higher
*1GHz G4 or higher (G5 or Intel recommended)

Features List

RealFlow
* Liquid, gas, elastic and dumb particles
* Interaction bitmaps
* Soft body
* Custom particle behaviour
* UV data and weight maps
* UV texture mapping
* Automatic mesh generator

RealImpact
* Rigid body dynamics solver
* Mix animation and dynamics

RealWave
* Physically accurate fluid surfaces

Python scripting
* Daemons
* Waves
* Fluids
* Events
* Batch runs [cite web|url=http://www.nextlimit.com/realflow/f_exportsimulation.htm|title=Features & Specifications|accessdate=2008-02-25]

See also

* Particle system

References

External links

* [http://www.realflow.com/ Official site]

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