SideFX Tests a New Paradigm for Simulating Liquids on GPU
SideFX has opened access to a public beta so users can test an innovative method that simulates liquids by leveraging the power of the GPU within Houdini. The company describes this advance as a paradigm shift in how fluids are calculated, aiming to drastically accelerate times by using the parallel processing of graphics cards. This test is free for those who have an active Houdini FX, Core, or Indie license 🚀.
A Fully Particle-Based Hybrid System
The new GPU Liquid Solver abandons the traditional polygon mesh of the FLIP method and adopts an approach that is entirely based on SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics) particle dynamics. This hybrid system fuses particles with a level set to mark the liquid surface, which according to SideFX can create simulations that are faster and maintain greater stability. Artists can adjust key parameters like viscosity or surface tension directly on the GPU, without going through the CPU.
Main features of the new solver:- Calculation method based 100% on SPH particles, without using the conventional FLIP mesh.
- Hybrid approach that combines particles with a level set to define the fluid surface.
- Control of physical parameters like turbulence and viscosity processed directly on the graphics card.
The goal of this open beta is to gather opinions on the usability and performance of the new system in real scenarios.
Public Beta to Evaluate Real Workflow
The main purpose of releasing this beta is to gather feedback on how the tool is used and how it performs in real projects. Artists have the opportunity to integrate this solver into their current work and compare results side by side with the CPU-based FLIP solver. SideFX makes it clear that this is a technology still under development, so its definitive integration into Houdini and possible cost are yet to be decided.
Details of the beta phase:- Free access for users with valid Houdini FX, Houdini Core, or Houdini Indie licenses.
- Allows experimenting and integrating the new tools into existing projects.
- The technology is preliminary; its final implementation and business model are not confirmed.
A Future Where the GPU Takes on More Load
This move raises a future scenario where artists will have to weigh whether their next investment in graphics hardware will be more oriented toward rendering or simulating. As the GPU takes on this new responsibility, the CPU could see its workload reduced in this type of specific tasks, dedicating itself to other processes. The evolution of this solver could redefine workflows in the production of complex visual effects 💧.