PartLoad

 

 

This is the FumeFX` particle loader for .nxd, .abc and .prt file formats. It’s built primarily for 3rd party caches import and NodeWorks caches should be loaded through the NodeWorks interface.

 

To create a Part Load object, go to the Create Command Panel and from the FumeFX menu, select Part Load. Then click and drag in any 3ds Max viewport to create it. When done, you will be presented with a number of options.

 

Note: When importing Alembic caches, it is critical to ensure that the 3ds Max scene frame rate matches the frame rate at which the Alembic file was exported. A mismatch between these two will cause frames to be read at the wrong time, leading to offset or skipped motion, and resulting in the cache playing back incorrectly. Always verify and align the frame rates when loading Alembic files to guarantee accurate animation timing.

 

PartLoad will recognize following Alembic attribute names:

  • Position: "P"
  • Velocity: "V", ".velocities", "v", "velocity", "velocities"
  • ID: "ids", "ID", ".pointIds", "id", "pointid"
  • Scale:"Scale", "scale", "point_scale", "size"
  • Age: "Age", "age", "point_age"
  • Life: "Life", "life", "lifespan", "lifespaninyears"
  • Mass:"Mass", "mass", "point_mass"
  • Color: "Color", "point_color", "Cd", "color"
  • Color: "Color4", "Cs4", "color4"
  • Orientation: "Orientation", "orient", "point_orientation"
  • Spin: "Spin", "spin", "w", "angvel", "point_spin"

 

PartLoad will recognize following PRT attribute names:

  • Position: "Position"
  • Velocity:"Velocity"
  • ID: "ID"
  • Scale:"Scale"
  • Age: "Age"
  • Life: "Life"
  • Mass: "Mass"
  • Color: "Color"
  • Orinetation: "Orientation"
  • Spin: "Spin"

 

 

Path - Allows user to select NodeWorks .nxd, Krakatoa .prt or Alemibic .abc cache file.

 

The following variables can be used to define cache paths:

  • 3ds Max root folder path: $maxroot
  • Path to the scene file: $maxscene
  • Environment path variable (retrieved from Windows Environment Variables): $env(string environment_variable_name)

 

Start Frame - Specify which cache frame will be loaded at 3ds max frame 0.

 

End Frame - Specify the last cache frame to load..

 

Cache Start Frame - Set 3ds max frame at which to load cache frame defined with Start Cache.

 

Interpolate Subframes - Unchecking this option will disable interpolation between frames for sub-frame evaluations.

 

Before Start Frame - Choose what happens when the system tries to load cache before the Time Start.

 

After End Frame - Choose what happens when the system tries to load cache after the Time End.

 

Retiming Mode - Allows caches to play at different speed.

  • Time Scale Factor - Use this option to change playback speed at constant rate.
  • Frame - Animate this parameter to directly specify which frame to load at different 3ds max time.

 

Speed /ticks - Transforms cache velocities.

 

Custom Transform - Transforms particle position with the Part Load icon.

 

Y-Up - Converts input Alembic caches from applications that have Y-axis as up vector.

 

System Scale - Scales the whole particle system.

 

 

Particles

Type - Choose the viewport display style.

 

Display % - Reduce number of particles displayed.

 

Render Size - Adjust the size of tetrahedron shape. Use value of 0 if you do not want any shape to be rendered.