LogInA new version of the modular fluidsim tool FluidNinja LIVE received an update with a single volume function, capable of handling all native Unreal Engine Volume Types: Fog, Clouds, and newly introduced Heterogeneous Volumes.
For those of you who don't know, FluidNinja LIVE is an Unreal Engine tool providing real-time responsive fluid simulation, made by Visual Artist and Developer Andras Ketzer. It's compact, visually organized, and cross-referenced with links and annotated Blueprints, making it a very compelling choice for screen-space effects and drive world-space systems: water bodies, volumes, Niagara, foliage, and landscape components.
The latest version of Unreal Engine now supports Heterogeneous Volumes, meaning there are three volume types: Cloud Volumes, Fog Volumes, and Heterogeneous Volumes. Based on the overall CVOL/FVOL/HVOL compatibility, NinjaLIVE 1.9.53 has brought a generic volume function, that can drive all native UE Volume Types with the same set of control parameters, featuring:
- Local and world-space UVW transforms
- Extruded and cross-section-based 3D density
- Two separate noise mixers
- Velocity-based Flowmapping
- Surface alignment via Height Maps
- Ambient Lighting and Ambient Occlusion
- Fadeout by altitude/camera distance/volume bounds
- Emissive from volume density, using the BlackBody-temperature function
- Polar coordinate mapping
- Support for Niagara and non-Niagara initialized volumes
The FluidNinja LIVE update also comes with wrapper materials for the new volume function, minimal setups, showcasing volume function properties, and fluidsim-driven and non-interactive setups.
Andras Ketzer always provides his plug-in with comprehensive guides and warns that FluidNinja LIVE isn't exactly a grab-and-drag tool, it requires some time to learn. For this, he recommends starting with a basic tutorial with key features explained:
You can also test the plug-in before purchasing by downloading the student version of NinjaLIVE for free on his Discord. The complete documentation for NinjaLIVE 1.9.53 new features can be found here. As of now, FluidNinja LIVE supports Unreal Engine versions 4.20 – 4.27 and 5.0 – 5.3.
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