Blender-FLIP-Fluids
The FLIP Fluids addon is a tool that helps you set up, run, and render high quality liquid fluid effects all within Blender, the free and open source 3D creation suite.
Top Related Projects
The FLIP Fluids addon is a tool that helps you set up, run, and render high quality liquid fluid effects all within Blender, the free and open source 3D creation suite.
SPlisHSPlasH is an open-source library for the physically-based simulation of fluids.
Official mirror of Blender
Fluid simulation engine for computer graphics applications
Quick Overview
Blender-FLIP-Fluids is an open-source fluid simulation addon for Blender. It provides a FLIP (Fluid-Implicit-Particle) fluid solver that enables high-quality liquid simulations within the Blender environment. This addon is designed to be user-friendly while offering advanced features for creating realistic fluid effects in 3D animations and visual effects.
Pros
- High-quality fluid simulations with realistic behavior and visuals
- Integrated seamlessly into Blender's interface and workflow
- Extensive documentation and tutorials available for users
- Regular updates and active community support
Cons
- Can be computationally intensive, requiring significant processing power for complex simulations
- Limited to Blender environment, not usable as a standalone application
- Learning curve may be steep for beginners in fluid simulation
- Some advanced features may require additional plugins or external tools
Getting Started
To get started with Blender-FLIP-Fluids:
- Download the latest release from the GitHub repository.
- In Blender, go to Edit > Preferences > Add-ons.
- Click "Install" and select the downloaded ZIP file.
- Enable the addon by checking the box next to "Physics: FLIP Fluids".
- In your 3D viewport, add a FLIP Fluid Domain by going to Add > FLIP Fluid > Domain.
- Add fluid objects (e.g., Fluid, Obstacle, Inflow) to your scene.
- Adjust simulation settings in the FLIP Fluid panel.
- Bake the simulation and render your scene.
For detailed instructions and tutorials, refer to the documentation on the GitHub repository.
Competitor Comparisons
The FLIP Fluids addon is a tool that helps you set up, run, and render high quality liquid fluid effects all within Blender, the free and open source 3D creation suite.
Pros of Blender-FLIP-Fluids
- Comprehensive fluid simulation addon for Blender
- Actively maintained with regular updates
- Extensive documentation and user guides
Cons of Blender-FLIP-Fluids
- May require more computational resources
- Learning curve for advanced features
Code Comparison
Both repositories contain the same codebase, as they are the same project. Here's a sample from the main simulation loop:
def update(self):
self.update_fluid_particles()
self.update_fluid_mesh()
self.update_obstacle_mesh()
self.solve_pressure()
self.advect_velocity()
The code structure and implementation are identical in both repositories, as they represent the same Blender-FLIP-Fluids project.
Summary
Blender-FLIP-Fluids is a powerful fluid simulation addon for Blender. It offers advanced features and regular updates, but may require more computational power and has a learning curve for complex simulations. The repository contains comprehensive documentation and user guides to help users get started and make the most of the addon's capabilities.
SPlisHSPlasH is an open-source library for the physically-based simulation of fluids.
Pros of SPlisHSPlasH
- Standalone C++ library, offering more flexibility for integration into various projects
- Supports multiple SPH methods and a wider range of fluid simulation techniques
- Provides real-time simulation capabilities for interactive applications
Cons of SPlisHSPlasH
- Lacks direct integration with Blender, requiring additional work for visualization
- May have a steeper learning curve for artists and non-programmers
- Potentially less optimized for offline rendering and production-quality simulations
Code Comparison
FLIP-Fluids (Python, Blender API):
bpy.ops.flip_fluid_operators.add_domain()
bpy.context.scene.flip_fluid.get_domain_properties().resolution = 100
bpy.context.scene.flip_fluid.get_domain_properties().simulation.frame_rate = 30
SPlisHSPlasH (C++):
SimulationBase *sim = new SimulationBase();
sim->init(sceneFile, scenePath, useCache, stateFile);
TimeManager::getCurrent()->setTimeStepSize(0.005);
sim->runSimulation();
The FLIP-Fluids code snippet shows how to set up a simulation within Blender, while the SPlisHSPlasH code demonstrates initializing and running a simulation in a standalone C++ application. FLIP-Fluids is more tightly integrated with Blender, making it easier for artists to use, while SPlisHSPlasH offers more low-level control and flexibility for developers.
Official mirror of Blender
Pros of Blender
- Comprehensive 3D creation suite with modeling, animation, rendering, and more
- Large, active community and extensive documentation
- Regular updates and improvements from a dedicated development team
Cons of Blender
- Steeper learning curve for fluid simulation compared to specialized add-ons
- Less focused on fluid dynamics, potentially offering fewer fluid-specific features
- May require more manual setup for complex fluid simulations
Code Comparison
Blender-FLIP-Fluids (Python API example):
bpy.ops.flip_fluid_operators.add_domain()
domain = bpy.context.scene.flip_fluid.get_domain_object()
domain.domain.resolution = 100
domain.domain.simulation_method = 'FLIP'
Blender (built-in fluid simulation):
bpy.ops.object.modifier_add(type='FLUID')
bpy.context.object.modifiers["Fluid"].fluid_type = 'DOMAIN'
bpy.context.object.modifiers["Fluid"].domain_settings.resolution = 100
bpy.context.object.modifiers["Fluid"].domain_settings.use_adaptive_domain = True
Both examples set up a fluid domain, but Blender-FLIP-Fluids offers a more specialized API for fluid simulations, while Blender's built-in system is integrated into its modifier system.
Fluid simulation engine for computer graphics applications
Pros of fluid-engine-dev
- More comprehensive fluid simulation library, covering various fluid dynamics algorithms
- Designed as a general-purpose fluid engine, allowing for broader applications beyond Blender
- Provides extensive documentation and examples for developers
Cons of fluid-engine-dev
- Requires more setup and integration work to use with specific 3D software like Blender
- May have a steeper learning curve for users primarily interested in Blender integration
- Less optimized for Blender-specific workflows compared to FLIP-Fluids
Code Comparison
FLIP-Fluids (Blender-specific):
bpy.ops.flip_fluid_operators.add_domain()
bpy.context.scene.flip_fluid.get_domain_properties().resolution = 100
bpy.ops.flip_fluid_operators.bake_fluid_simulation()
fluid-engine-dev (General-purpose C++):
auto solver = FluidSolver3::builder()
.withResolution({100, 100, 100})
.makeShared();
solver->update(Frame(0, 0.01));
The FLIP-Fluids code is tightly integrated with Blender's Python API, while fluid-engine-dev provides a more flexible C++ interface for custom implementations.
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FLIP Fluids
The FLIP Fluids addon is a tool that helps you set up, run, and render liquid simulation effects. Our custom built fluid engine is based around the popular FLIP simulation technique that is also found in many other professional liquid simulation tools. The FLIP Fluids engine has been in constant development for over four years with a large focus on tightly integrating the simulator into Blender as an addon. It just feels like a native Blender tool!
With our reputation for delivering high quality software and outstanding customer support, the FLIP Fluids addon is one of the best selling products in the Blender community.
- Over 10,000 copies sold, 5 star rating, excellent value
- No subscriptions, all future updates included
- Try out our free demo! We're sure you'll like it :)
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the difference between Blender's Mantaflow FLIP simulator and the FLIP Fluids addon?
Have any questions? Do not hesitate to ask us at support@flipfluids.com!
Getting the FLIP Fluids Addon
You may purchase the FLIP Fluids addon on official marketplaces where the FLIP Fluids addon is sold. Purchasing a license entitles you to the full FLIP Fluids feature set and content, tool support, and helps ensure the continued development of the addon. Thanks to the amazing support of the Blender community, we have been able to further develop the addon on a full-time basis since its initial release in May 2018!
Getting Support
You can get support for the FLIP Fluids addon by reading the documentation and wiki or through the marketplace messaging systems where you have purchased the FLIP Fluids addon product. Support is granted to all customers whom have purchased a license.
Key Features
See any of our market place product pages for information on features.
System Requirements
- Windows, macOS, or Linux operating system
- Blender 3.1 to 4.2 compatible
- CPU 64-bit Intel® or AMD® or Apple Silicon multi-core processor
- 8 GB RAM minimum, 16 GB of RAM or more is highly recommended
Release Notes
For release notes, see this page: Release Notes
License
This program uses multiple licenses. See the files LICENSE_GPLv3.md, LICENSE_MIT.md, and LICENSE_Standard_Royalty_Free.md for license details. In General:
- The Blender addon code is licensed under the GPL.
- The FLIP Fluids simulation engine is licensed under the MIT license.
- Some addon content will be using a Standard Royalty Free license. This license may cover content such as example scene files, media, artwork, data, and features that rely on this content (ex: Mixbox color blending features). This content will only be included within the paid addon and will not be available on the GitHub project page. The addon is still completely usable without this content.
Source code files will state their license at the top of the file. Assets will include a license file and information in their containing directory.
Building
To build the FLIP Fluids addon, some programming experience or prior experience building C/C++ applications is strongly recommended. The basics of navigation and executing commands using the command line is also recommended.
Like our FLIP Fluids addon? If you can afford, please consider purchasing a license on an official marketplace to help support our continued development of the project. Development of the FLIP Fluids addon is funded solely through sales through marketplaces, and as a small team we truly appreciate your support.
Source Code Dependencies
Installations of the following programs will be needed to build and compile the FLIP Fluids addon:
- A compiler that supports C++11.
- Windows: MinGW is the only supported compiler for Windows OS.
- macOS: Clang (recommended)
- Linux: GCC (recommended)
- CMake to generate the appropriate solution, project, or Makefiles, for your system.
- GNU Make to compile/build the FLIP Fluids simulation engine.
- (optional) Python 3.3+ to use the automated build script.
Building with automated script
This repository includes an automated build script to help you build and compile the FLIP Fluids addon. Use of this script requires an installation of Python 3.3+. The script will work best if CMake and GNU Make are located in your system PATH variable, but if not, you may also specify their locations when executing the script (run python build.py --help for help).
To build and compile the FLIP Fluids addon, navigate to the root of the project directory and run:
python build.py
Once successfully built, the FLIP Fluids addon will be located in the build/bl_flip_fluids/ directory.
Building without automated script
To build and compile the FLIP Fluids addon without the automated Python script, first copy the cmake/CMakeLists.txt file to the root of the project directory. The program can then be built and compiled using CMake and GNU Make. Example if your current working directory is located at the project root:
mkdir build
cd build
cmake .. -DBUILD_DEBUG=ON
make
cmake .. -DBUILD_DEBUG=OFF
make
The above script uses CMake and GNU Make to build the FLIP Fluids engine twice: once for the debug version of the engine, and again for the optimized release version of the engine.
The CMake Generator can be specified by adding the -G "[generator]" flag. For example, to specify MinGW Makefiles on Windows OS, you can add the CMake flag -G "MinGW Makefiles".
Once successfully built, the FLIP Fluids addon will be located in the build/bl_flip_fluids/ directory.
Links
Top Related Projects
The FLIP Fluids addon is a tool that helps you set up, run, and render high quality liquid fluid effects all within Blender, the free and open source 3D creation suite.
SPlisHSPlasH is an open-source library for the physically-based simulation of fluids.
Official mirror of Blender
Fluid simulation engine for computer graphics applications
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