Sitni Sati is preparing the release of FumeFX 7.5 for 3ds Max, introducing NVIDIA CUDA acceleration for smoke and fire simulation. The developer reports a performance increase between two- and five-fold compared to CPU-based simulations.

The GPU acceleration targets volumetric fluid effects such as explosions, smoke and fire. It supports both simulation and real-time viewport preview. In official demonstrations, the feature ran on an NVIDIA RTX 4090 and produced detailed motion and shading.

No more memory crashes

A common limitation of GPU fluid solvers is restricted video memory. Sitni Sati claims that FumeFX 7.5’s GPU solver automatically falls back to CPU once GPU memory is exceeded. This prevents crashes and lets complex simulations complete without manual intervention. The hybrid approach allows artists to benefit from GPU speed while maintaining the stability of CPU computation. The developer also states that the GPU solver maintains visual detail and motion quality where other sparse fluid solvers may lose resolution. At press time, this claim has not been independently verified.

What remains to be clarified

As of the current beta, Sitni Sati has not published detailed release notes specifying which FumeFX features are fully CUDA-enabled. It is unclear whether all node types, caches, and modifiers run on GPU or whether some processes remain CPU-bound. Likewise, parity between GPU and CPU results, regarding noise behaviour, reproducibility, and memory consumption has not yet been confirmed by third-party testing.

Implications for production

GPU acceleration promises faster iteration for artists working with smoke, fire, and explosion setups, particularly on modern CUDA-based hardware. The automatic CPU fallback adds safety for heavy scenes that exceed GPU resources. Studios should nonetheless test the new GPU mode thoroughly within their pipelines before relying on it for client work, as simulation consistency and cache behaviour can vary across hardware configurations. FumeFX 7.5 remains in beta. Sitni Sati has not yet announced a release date or updated pricing.

The post FumeFX 7.5: Fire Meets GPU soon first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Sitni Sati has released FumeFX 7.1 for Autodesk 3ds Max, a major update focused on simulation speed, viewport clarity, and interoperability. The highlight is a completely redesigned RenderWarps algorithm that applies standard Max modifiers (Bend, Taper, Twist, Skew, and Stretch) up to five times faster than before.

The new method produces crisper deformation results while cutting computation time dramatically. For deformers such as FFD or custom modifiers, FumeFX retains its older sampling-based system, combining both methods into a hybrid that balances speed and compatibility.

Viewport usability improves too. Artists can now colour-code simulation grids and display grid names directly, with matching colours in both viewport and FumeFX dialogue. Clicking a grid label selects its source object, streamlining multi-grid setups in larger scenes.

Smarter Caches, Cleaner Imports

Cache handling sees multiple upgrades. The .vdb import function now includes a Y-Up orientation option and auto-detects channel names when loading caches from Houdini, EmberGen, or other tools. Users no longer need to manually assign fields on import. Cache output paths now accept custom separators and user-defined frame digits, giving more flexibility for naming conventions. Voxel Data Display can show cached colour information, while a new Hide Grid toggle is available across all display modes. Under the hood, the update reduces the risk of oversized VDB caches and resolves a number of bugs affecting grid shifting, RenderWarps stability, and Arnold rendering of the first frame in wavelet or post caches.

NodeWorks: Now Speaking Alembic

NodeWorks, FumeFX’s procedural node system, gains extended support for the Alembic (.abc) format. Particles can now be exported as Alembic point clouds, producing minimal cache files optimised for geometry efficiency. These caches can be loaded directly into Houdini or imported back into NodeWorks.

The Load Caches node can also import Alembic point clouds, allowing 3ds Max users to bring in data from external solvers such as Houdini or LiquiGen.

Additional refinements include extrusion along vertex normals or custom vectors, material ID control, and a clear visual warning when NodeWorks outputs an error message.

Stability fixes cover various nodes, including Grid Info, Ocean Spectrum, and Particle Cache. NodeWorks now updates correctly when force parameters are changed, addressing earlier issues where simulations would fail to restart automatically.

PartLoad and FumeFX Wind

The PartLoad component benefits from a significant speed boost when displaying particles, now with colour support. It also gains Alembic point cloud import and path variable functionality, easing project portability.

FumeFX Wind, the in-built force system, adds a simple but useful animatable Active toggle, allowing artists to keyframe its activation state without workaround scripting.

Additional Angle: Getting Out of Max

While FumeFX remains a 3ds Max-native tool, this update expands its export and exchange options. The addition of Alembic point clouds, improved VDB import with auto channel mapping, and consistent Y-Up support make it far easier to move data between Max, Houdini, or standalone simulation tools. These changes suggest Sitni Sati’s continued focus on cross-application compatibility, a practical priority for production teams working with mixed DCC pipelines.

Production Reliability

FumeFX 7.1 is available now for 3ds Max. The update addresses multiple stability and caching bugs, reducing file size inflation and grid desynchronisation during playback. As always, production users should verify new caching and deformation behaviour on controlled test scenes before applying it in live projects.

The post Sharper, Faster, Smokier: FumeFX 7.1 for 3ds Max first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Sitni Sati has officially released FumeFX 7.0 for Autodesk 3ds Max on 20 August 2025. The update’s centrepiece is NodeWorks Ocean, a GPU‑accelerated ocean simulation system integrated into the existing NodeWorks framework. This extends FumeFX beyond smoke, fire, liquid, soft‑body and cloth into large‑scale water simulation.

Ocean Simulation with Spectrum Models

NodeWorks Ocean employs spectrum‑based wave models and inverse Fourier transforms to generate physically accurate surfaces. Artists can layer multiple Ocean Spectrum nodes to mix long swells with short, choppy waves. Variation is supported via Perlin noise blending, tile variation and height masking to avoid visible repetition.

Foam, Spray and Bubbles

The Foam & Spray node generates secondary effects from crest curvature and wave motion. Foam, spray and bubbles can be rendered as Arnold points or volumes, with full access to Arnold user data attributes such as age, velocity and density for dynamic shading.

Dynamic Coupling with Objects

The Ocean Dynamics node introduces true two‑way interaction. Objects generate ripples and wakes, while the water applies buoyant and frictional forces back onto them. Artists can insert geometry or particles into the ocean via the Ocean Object node, with fine control over buoyancy, inertia, friction and wake strength.

NodeWorks Integration

NodeWorks Ocean connects seamlessly to other simulation types. Rigid body dynamics via PhysX and fibres for ropes or cables both interact naturally with water. NodeWorks particle groups can trigger fire or smoke on the ocean surface, or simulate rainfall ripples without full fluid overhead.

GPU Acceleration

As with other NodeWorks features, simulations are accelerated through NVIDIA’s CUDA API. A GPU with Pascal architecture or newer is required (GeForce GTX 1000 series or later). This hardware dependency should be considered during pipeline planning.

Additional Improvements

FumeFX 7.0 also updates NodeWorks generally: particle groups can now render as Arnold volumes, the Object Properties node accepts particle‑driven transforms, particle display density can be reduced for viewport clarity, and caching has been unified. Memory caching now mirrors disk caching, with user‑defined attributes stored consistently.

Pricing and Availability

FumeFX 7.0 is available for Autodesk 3ds Max 2020 and above, running on Windows 10 or newer. Licensing remains subscription‑only: workstation licences cost US $365 per year, and additional simulation licences are US $95 per year. At release, Maya and Cinema 4D editions have not yet been updated to version 7.0.

Editorial Note

With NodeWorks Ocean, Sitni Sati extends FumeFX into full multiphysics territory. Artists can now drive cohesive scenes where fire burns on water, objects float and interact dynamically, and oceans churn with foam and spray—all GPU‑accelerated. As always, production teams should test new features in controlled environments before adopting them into active pipelines.

Sources

Sitni Sati – FumeFX Release History

The post FumeFX 7.0 on Water: New Version Adds NodeWorks Ocean first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Mike Kuhn.

The fire is lit—again. Version 6.7 of FumeFX for 3ds Max brings practical updates for visual effects artists working with fluid dynamics in postproduction, real-time graphics, or game cinematics. Known for its specialization in fire, smoke, and explosion simulation, this version emphasizes workflow efficiency, compatibility, and—yes—flames. As always: test before committing it to production, because new features can spark both joy and bugs.

New Fire & Explosion Presets

Version 6.7 introduces fire and explosion simulation presets designed to streamline setup time and reduce parameter guesswork. These presets allow artists to quickly initiate realistic simulations, focusing effort on creative choices instead of numeric tweaking.

Arnold Shader Updated for 3ds Max 2024

Arnold users can breathe easy—FumeFX’s Arnold shader is now compatible with 3ds Max 2024. No manual workaround needed to maintain your rendering pipeline if you’ve updated your environment.

Thinkbox Stoke MX Support Returns

Back by demand: support for Thinkbox Stoke MX, a tool enabling the manipulation of simulation data via particle reflow techniques. Stoke’s utility in retiming, blending, and customizing fluid sims is once again accessible within the FumeFX pipeline, offering TDs and simulation artists greater control over cache data.

Technical Snapshot

FumeFX uses a highly optimized simulation core with GPU-accelerated rendering for viewport previews and final output. It supports simulations involving fire, smoke, explosions, and other gaseous phenomena. The plugin integrates seamlessly into 3ds Max, supporting Arnold, V-Ray, and mental ray for final rendering workflows.

Licensing & Pricing

A perpetual license for FumeFX 6.7 is available for $695, with volume licensing options for studios. Pricing and purchase details can be found via Toolfarm or directly through Afterworks.

The post FumeFX 6.7 for 3ds Max: Stoke Up Your Sims first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.