Using Phoenix with external data

[coldside]

Hi All,

I was wondering if anyone had any experience using the features of Phoenix to render externally provided data?

Basically, I get handed Houdini FLIP simulations on a semi-regular basis and wondered if incorporating Phoenix into my workflow would allow easier handling of the data from Houdini for rendering in Vray (features such as the bubble and splash shaders). Current workflow is export alembic files of the meshed liquid, and export particles to prt. Render with Vray and various shaders.

From reading the documentation and watching a few videos, it seems that this simplified workflow may work? Please forgive my lack of deep understanding of both programs:

• Export meshed Flip from Houdini as OpenVDB (does Phoenix allow importing as VDB for liquids?)
• Export whitewater, splash and bubble particles from Houdini as .PRT
• Import OpenVDB cache into Phoenix
• Import .PRT into multiple PHXFoam and set up shaders

Would the above work? Is there any way to utilize the infinite ocean aspects with imported data? Even setting up the displacments manually would be fine. Any additional data or attributes that need to be exported from Houdini.


I plan to test the demo, but wanted to see if I was barking up the wrong tree or not before investing too much into Phoenix.

Kind regards,


Daniel

[Ivaylo Katev]

except the first point, which seems questionable, all the other points are correct.
about the first point what you mean to export meshed flip as openVDB ? phoenix is able to read grid content from vdb format and to mesh it with our grid mesher, if you can provide the liquid in grid form this will work.

[coldside]

Hi Ivaylo,

Thanks for the quick reply! Sorry yes my mistake while editing, I simply meant the flip simulation exported as VBD.

I'll get some houdini VDB data for a flip simulation and try importing it with the demo (I assume that shouldn't be an issue?) so I can do comparisons between the VDB meshing in Houdini and the grid mesher in Phoenix.`

[Svetlin.Nikolov]

Hello! VDB liquids from Houdini are supported, and can be turned into ocean mode too.
This is a 2-3 month old feature, though, so you won't find it in the demo.
You need an official build and must request nightly build access from the support team.

[coldside]

Hi Svetlin,

Well that's both great, and a shame! Long shot, but any idea how long it could be before it makes it into a public release?

Alternatively, being a student I was planning to buy a 1 year academic licence anyway and the work isn't commercial (student short, non-profit) this may speed up my purchase: Can you get access to nightly builds with an Academic Licence?

Thanks guys!

[Svetlin.Nikolov]

I'm sorry, the EDU version does not include nightly access - it will come out together with the next official version, and together with the demo version, but these are not expected very soon.