Post 11/30: VFX tutorial for Blender – Simple Object Destruction with Physics

 

Goal: Learn how to break objects using Blender's physics system to create a destruction effect.

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: Set Up Your Scene

1. Open Blender and create a new project.
2. Delete the default cube (if present) by right-clicking it and selecting Delete.
3. Add a new object to simulate destruction:
• Go to the top menu and select Add > Mesh > Cube.
4. Scale the cube to a suitable size for your destruction effect (e.g., 1.5 on the X, Y, and Z axes).

Step 2: Prepare the Object for Destruction

1. Apply the Scale:
• With the cube selected, press Ctrl + A and select Scale.
2. Go to Object Mode (ensure you're not in Edit Mode).

Step 3: Set Up the Rigid Body Physics

1. Select the Cube, then go to the Physics Properties tab (represented by a bouncing ball icon).
2. Click on Rigid Body.
• Set the type to Active (this allows it to move).
• Leave the default settings for now.

Step 4: Create the Destruction Effect

1. Add a New Object:
• Go to Add > Mesh > Plane. This will be the ground for the falling pieces.
• Scale it up (e.g., to 10 on the X and Y axes) and move it down so that the cube will fall onto it.
2. Select the Plane and go to the Physics Properties tab.
3. Click on Rigid Body and set the type to Passive. This will make it a static object that other objects can collide with.

Step 5: Create the Destruction with the Cell Fracture Add-on

1. Enable the Cell Fracture Add-on:
• Go to Edit > Preferences, then navigate to the Add-ons tab.
• Search for "Cell Fracture" and enable it.
2. Select the Cube and press F3 (or Spacebar in older versions) to open the search menu.
3. Type "Cell Fracture" and select it.
4. In the Cell Fracture panel, set the number of pieces (e.g., 20) and click OK. This will create fractured copies of the cube.

Step 6: Set Up the Animation

1. Select all fractured pieces (use A to select all).
2. With all pieces selected, go to the Physics Properties tab and ensure each piece is set to Active in the Rigid Body settings.
3. Press Spacebar to play the animation. The pieces should fall and break apart on the plane.

Step 7: Fine-Tune the Simulation

1. Adjust the Rigid Body settings for better results:
• You can tweak the mass, friction, and bounciness for different effects.
2. Press Alt + A to replay the animation and observe the destruction.

Step 8: Render Your Animation

1. Set up your camera:
• Select the camera and position it to frame your scene.
2. Go to the Render Properties tab:
• Set the render engine to Cycles or Eevee based on your preference.
3. Render the Animation:
• Go to the Output Properties tab, choose the output folder, and set the file format (e.g., PNG or video).
• Press Ctrl + F12 to render the animation.

Step 9: Share Your Visual

1. Save your project (File > Save As).
2. Upload your rendered animation to a platform like YouTube or social media to share your progress!

Shareable Visual:

• A destruction animation showing the fractured cube breaking apart on impact with the ground.

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