RealFlow: Soft Body Simulation for Motion Graphics

Learn how to simulate soft bodies in a physically accurate and realistic way. Motion graphics artist Ran Ben Avraham shows you how to create a bouncing logo design using RealFlow.

Learn how to simulate soft bodies in a physically accurate way with RealFlow. Soft bodies are a great way to model soft, malleable surfaces, especially ones that collide with other objects. In this tutorial, working along with author Ran Ben Avraham, you'll concentrate on RealFlow's soft bodies dynamics system, while following a realistic production workflow pipeline. After identifying an initial design concept (a logo bouncing on a trampoline), the course takes you through importing the geometry for the scene, setting up your dynamics properties and scale, simulating and animating the soft bodies, and rendering and compositing the finished video with Maya and After Effects. Ran also covers creating multiple simulations and slow-motion simulations from the same RealFlow scene.

Note this is a project-based learning experience, designed for members who are already familiar with RealFlow. Each step of the process is rich with lessons applicable to the variations that motion design artists will face in the real world.

Introduction

• Welcome

1. Importing and Preparing Geometry in RealFlow

• Importing the geometry to RealFlow
• Grouping multiple nodes and rearranging the nodes in a logical manner
• Applying different colors to the mash objects for easier visualization
• Overview of the mashes structure and topology flow

2. Setting Up the Dynamic Type of Different Objects

• Understanding the role of the different scene objects in the simulation
• Understanding each dynamic type behavior
• Setting up the dynamic type of different objects

3. RealFlow's World Scale

• Understanding RealFlow's world scale
• Setting up the correct world scale

4. Rearranging Objects' Locations in the RealFlow Scene

• Unlocking the imported mash object attributes
• Rearranging the letters in space

5. Soft Bodies Simulation

• Adding gravity to the scene
• Comparing and adjusting mash object mass
• Speeding up simulation time
• Reinforcing the springs
• Optimizing the canvas properties
• Adding a barrier for the canvas
• Optimizing the letter properties
• Adding a barrier for the letters
• Increasing resolution for a more accurate result

6. Multiple Simulations

• Understanding how the simulation data is written
• Creating multiple simulation data files

7. Slow-Motion Simulations

• Preparing for a slow-motion time remap simulation

8. Overview of Rendering and Compositing

• Completing the simulation
• Exporting the finished mesh data back into Maya
• Shaders, illumination, and rendering setup in Maya
• Compositing the finished shots in After Effects

Conclusion

• Goodbye