Post 22/30: VFX tutorial for Blender – Creating Explosions with Fluid Simulation in Blender

Goal: Learn how to create a realistic explosion using Blender’s fluid and smoke simulations.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Set Up the Scene

1. Open Blender and start a new project.
2. Delete the default cube by selecting it and pressing X.
3. Add a sphere to act as the source of the explosion.
• Press Shift + A → Mesh → UV Sphere.
• Position the sphere in the center of your scene using G (Grab) and Z to move it along the Z-axis.

Step 2: Set Up the Domain for the Fluid Simulation

1. Add a domain box around the sphere.
• Press Shift + A → Mesh → Cube. Scale the cube to enclose the explosion area.
• The domain should be large enough to contain the smoke from the explosion.
2. With the cube (domain) selected, go to the Physics Properties tab and enable Fluid.
3. Under the Fluid Type, set the domain type to Gas.

Step 3: Set Up the Sphere as the Fluid Source

1. Select the sphere, go to the Physics Properties tab, and enable Fluid.
2. Under Fluid Type, choose Flow.
3. Set the Flow Type to Fire + Smoke. This will ensure your explosion contains both fire and smoke.
4. Set the Flow Behavior to Inflow so the sphere emits fire and smoke.

Step 4: Adjust the Explosion Settings

1. Go back to the Fluid Domain settings (select the domain box) and adjust the simulation parameters:
• Resolution Divisions: Increase it to around 64 for better detail.
• Enable Adaptive Domain to save on simulation time and keep the domain size dynamic.
2. Scroll down and expand the Gas section:
• Enable Noise to add more detail to the explosion.
• Under Flames, tweak the Flame Rate to adjust how quickly the fire spreads.

Step 5: Bake the Simulation

1. In the Physics Properties of the domain, scroll down to the Cache section.
2. Set the End Frame to the number of frames you want for the explosion (e.g., 150).
3. Press Bake to calculate the explosion simulation. This might take a few minutes depending on your hardware.

Step 6: Add Lighting

1. Add a light source to your scene for better visuals:
• Press Shift + A → Light → Point Light.
• Position the light above the explosion for dramatic lighting. Adjust the light intensity in the Object Data Properties tab.

Step 7: Camera Setup and Rendering

1. Set up a camera to capture the explosion:
• Press Shift + A → Camera.
• Position the camera using G and R to move and rotate it into place.
2. Switch to the Camera View by pressing 0 on the numpad.
3. Go to the Output Properties tab, set the resolution and frame rate, and select an output folder for the rendered animation.
4. Press F12 to render a single frame or Ctrl + F12 to render the entire animation.

Step 8: Export the Animation

1. After rendering, go to the Output Properties tab.
2. Set the file format to FFmpeg video for exporting the explosion as a video.
3. Press Ctrl + F12 to render the animation and export it as a shareable video.

Shareable Visual:

A fiery explosion with realistic smoke and fire effects, which you can share as an animation!

Source:
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