phoenix/vray/max : export vdb/cache?

[super gnu]

Continuing my cloud research.. ive tried a number of techniques, including houdini cloudfx, which is a nice tool. however im actually getting the best results internally in max, using volume grids driven by a combination of distance textures and noises. its easy to control, and looks more natural than what ive got out of houdini so far.

problem is, a vdb cache will render much faster than a procedural-texture generated volume. ( 1 minute vs 2 hrs) this was explained to me as being due to the optimisations that the volume grid can do on caches, and the unlimited resolution of the procedurals.


so, basically im after a way to export a vdb from max. or a phoenix cache, i dont care.. basically i want to take my procedural volume and cache it at a specified resolution.


is there -any- way to do this in max? i could churn out cloud caches all day with my setup if so.

i guess an implementation of openvdb in max is what im really after.

[joconnell]

I think stoke / krakatoa will let you do this for definite?

[super gnu]

Cool! -i dont suppose it will be a case of drawing a box, choosing my procedural cloud texture, choosing a grid size, and hitting "save vdb..."? those are both some pretty involved plugins!


i guess i shoud email thinkbox and ask.

[Joelaff]

Last I looked in Krakatoa you had to use a Magma Modifier (or whatever they call it these days) and apply the texture using the flow graph.

http://www.thinkboxsoftware.com/krak-clouds-modelling/

I seem to recall we developed a better (for us anyway) method at one point, but I have not messed with it a year or so.

I have not tried making cloud in Phoenix, but can you not just cache out a frame, or use the playback graph to hold a frame?

[super gnu]

yes you can make clouds in phoenix, but i believe it involves some simming, and is not quite directly art-directable. im not sure if you can just use an empty sim and populate it with procedurals before caching. tbh, thats why im asking!

anyway, while waiting for thinkbox to get back to me, ive played further with cloudfx. i dont particularly like any of the noises they provide, and there is not enough control in the shelf tool, for white and black points in the textures, nested noises, inversion or whatever, but that is probably just one node away, so i can hardly complain.. anyway, im getting much nicer results now ive got my head round the controls.