Paint Fluids Tool: Attribute Map-->import

[ossosso]

Hi everyone!
I know that with the Paint Fluids Tool I can import a texture for the Density Channel of the fluid and obtein a sort of low relief that rapresents that image, like a Text or a Shape.
My target is to obtein ONLY ONE conteiner (in my case a Pond fluid conteiner) where to show different images in a range of time.

I noticed that the node where are stored information about the Pond density is called InitialState_PondShape1.DiskCache, and this last is connected to PondShape1.DiskCacheIC; so I created a lot of Pond with different InitialState nodes (so with different "images" on it), and then I've deleted all the PondShape nodes except for one. With an expression:

int $a=currentTime -q;
if((0<$a) && ($a<11)) connectAttr -f initialState_PondShape1.diskCache PondShape1.diskCacheIC;
if((10<$a) && ($a<21)) connectAttr -f initialState_PondShape2.diskCache PondShape1.diskCacheIC;

I tried to connect the different InitialState node, one at time, to the PondShape1.DiskCacheIC node. It seems to work into the Hypershade, in the sense that I can see links changing between the nodes, but it seems not to work into the Editor View.

I hope I was cleare enough and I hope you can have any advice for me.

thank you.

Screenshot:

http://www.ossosso.altervista.org/shoot.jpg

[duncanbrinsmead]

The simulation only looks at the initial state on the first frame. Instead use "replace cache frame", importing each image into sequential cache frames. Create a time node and connect it to the fluid then key the time value on the time node to slow down the playback.
createNode time;
connectAttr -f time2.outTime pondShape1.currentTime;

Duncan

[ossosso]

mmm... man.. This is a good idea, but I tried and it seems no work correctly.

here you can find the simple scene with cache applied to the pond. At frame 1 corresponds a circle shape, at frame 2 a square and at frame 3 an oval

http://www.ossosso.altervista.org/test.rar
(paste it in a new Internet Explorer browser)

This is what I've done:
I've disconnected time1.outTime from PondShape1.currentTime, I created a new Time node and then I reconnected this one to PondShape1.currentTime. Then I keyframe time2.outTime value. From frame 1 to 30 it has value of 1, from frame 31 to 60 a value of 2 and from frame 61 to 90 a value of 3.
In the editor doesn't work; I tried a batch render but nothing.

Please tell me if there's something wrong.

Thank you very much.

[duncanbrinsmead]

I just realized that replace cache frame won't work, because that requires cache file per frame.

Here is a basic workflow that works:
1. Create a cache for your fluid. It should be set to "single file" and the total frames should match your number of of densities.

1. Go to frame 1, import your density( or paint it) then do "append cache", setting the append frame range to 1,1. Now turn off "auto set initial state" on the paint fluids tool (so it doesn't overwrite your frame 1). Go to frame 2, set the apend frame range to 2,2 import your density and append again. A popup will appear asking to save the initial state... click "no". Repeat for the remaining frames.
   At this point when you scrub over the cache range (presumably 3 or 4 frames) it should switch between the different cached states. (note that you may need to increase the density scale on the fluid for your imported density to span the full height of the fluid)

2. Reconnect and key the time nodes in the manner you described. Key the time to 1 at frame one and the last frame(for playback) to the last cached frame value. This will create a smooth transition betwee your fluid states. You could instead step the animation between the integer cache frames if you don't want the smooth interpolation.

   Duncan

[ossosso]

oh... oh... oh my... oh my g... oh my god! It.. It.. It works!!

After days of attempts.. posts.. and coffees finally the Finish.
Thank you very much Mr. Duncun!

In few words you repeated the technique above, but instead of using "One filel per Frame" you used "Single Frame".

Just a specification (fro who need to read this post and apply this technique): if I create before the single file cache on the flat pond and then I add different density for each frame, the first shape seems it doesn't appear, so when I create the single file cache the pond has to have yet the first density shape.

Ok that's all. Thank you again Mr. Duncun!

Cheers.