For those who don’t know the tool: tyFlow is a particle and simulation plugin for 3ds Max. It is commonly used for particle effects and procedural simulation within pipelines. The tool expands 3ds Max application simulation features with node-based operators and GPU-accelerated modules.

A CUDA fluid solver arrives

The 2.000 release of tyFlow introduces a new GPU fluid simulation solver named ZENITH. According to the official release notes, the solver runs on CUDA and integrates directly with the tyFlow simulation environment.

The update also introduces twenty new operators for the Inferno module. Inferno is tyFlow’s internal system for simulation tasks, including volumetric and fluid workflows. The release notes confirm that the operators are designed to support the new GPU fluid pipeline introduced with ZENITH.

CUDA modules distributed with tyFlow have also been updated. The package now includes machine learning models intended for fluid up-rez and compression. These models ship inside the CUDA module package together with a defined installation location described in the included documentation. The release raises the minimum supported CUDA version to 12.8. Users are instructed to ensure that GPU drivers are updated accordingly.

Updated CUDA modules

The updated CUDA modules are a central part of the release. The vendor states that the package now bundles machine learning models used for fluid up-rez and compression. Fluid upres workflows typically reconstruct higher resolution detail from a lower resolution simualtion. The release notes do not specify the training method, dataset, or inference process used by these models. No benchmarks or performance figures are provided.

The CUDA modules also now require installation in a specific location. Users are directed to the README documentation included with the CUDA module package for installation details. The vendor also updated the CUDA cub and thrust libraries used internally by tyFlow. According to the release notes, the update addresses rare CUDA crashes during Multifracture operations. (Multifracture is tyFlow’s system for procedural mesh fracturing used in destruction simulations.)

Twenty Inferno operators

The release introduces twenty new Inferno operators designed to work with the new GPU simulation capabilities. Inferno operators in tyFlow provide node based controls that modify simulation behaviour or generate simulation data. The addition of twenty operators suggests a significant expansion of the Inferno system.

New operators for general workflows

Outside the Inferno system, the release adds several new operators and modifiers for tyFlow workflows. A new Global operator has been added. The official documentation referenced in the release notes is required to understand its full functionality.

The update also introduces a MAXScript operator. MAXScript is the scripting language used inside 3ds Max. The operator presumably enables scripting access within tyFlow simulations, although the exact capabilities are not described in the release notes.

A new tyMeshBlend modifier has also been introduced. The modifier blends normals where meshes intersect. This behaviour is typically used to reduce shading artifacts where two meshes overlap or intersect.

Another addition is a new SDF shape mode for the PhysX Shape and PhysX Collision operators. SDF stands for signed distance field. According to the release notes, the new mode allows more accurate concave collisions.

Signed distance fields are commonly used to represent complex shapes in simulation because they encode the distance to the nearest surface point in volumetric form.

tyCache improvements

The release expands tyFlow’s caching capabilities. The tyCache modifier can now cache spline data. Previously, the system primarily cached particle and mesh data. The Export Particles operator now supports subframe export of tyCache data. Subframe data enables simulation playback at time steps smaller than a single frame. This is typically required for accurate motion blur in rendering workflows. The tyCache object also now displays PhysX bind connectivity.

Mesh and material improvements

Several modelling and mesh related updates are included in the release. The multifracture, tyBoolean and tyWeld modifiers now include UVW seam weld options. A new Merge mat IDs mode has been added to the tyMaterial modifier. The same option is also available for the tyMesher object. According to the release notes, the feature merges and concatenates material IDs across instanced objects and generates a compatible multi material with the new ID layout. This behaviour can simplify material management in procedural setups where multiple objects share or generate different ID sets.

UI and usability changes

The update includes multiple interface adjustments aimed at improving usability inside the tyFlow editor. Comboboxes, checkboxes and radio buttons now display non-default values in blue. Previously, this behaviour was limited to numeric spinner controls.

Large dropdown comboboxes now include a text entry field at the top of the list that allows users to search items using fuzzy matching. The release also introduces a Houdini-style value stepper dialog. Middle Mouse Clicking any spinner control opens a dialog that allows incremental changes across multiple orders of magnitude.

Export and procedural variation

The Export Particles operator now supports exporting ranges for tySwitcher indices and reseed values. According to the release notes, this allows permutations to be exported from the same operator during a single export operation. Exported object names and layers now also support symbol replacement variables such as $tySwitcherIndex and $tySeedIndex. These variables allow procedural naming during export operations.

OpenVDB update

The OpenVDB SDK used by tyFlow has been updated to version 13. OpenVDB is an open source library widely used in volumetric workflows. It provides sparse volumetric data structures for storing grids such as smoke, fire or fluid simulation volumes.

Practical implications

The most significant change in this release appears to be the introduction of the ZENITH CUDA fluid solver and the expansion of the Inferno operator set. However, the official release notes do not provide technical descriptions, performance data or architecture details for the solver. GPU fluid simulation inside particle frameworks can reduce iteration times when compared to CPU grid solvers. Whether this holds true for ZENITH cannot be determined yet – so it is time to have a good long playing session with Tyflow!

Users interested in adopting the new system will likely need to examine the updated CUDA modules and example scenes to evaluate real world behaviour. As always, new tools and innovations should be thoroughly tested before use in production.

// https://pro.tyflow.com/

The post tyFlow 2 adds CUDA fluid solver and 20 Infernos first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Maxon released Cinema 4D 2026.1 on 3 December 2025 as part of the Maxon One December update.
The version expands the unified simulation framework, enhances MoGraph placement tools, improves project-variant management, and delivers a wide set of smaller workflow fixes.

Liquid Flow: GPU-accelerated fluids inside the unified simulation

The new Liquid Flow system extends Cinema 4D’s unified simulation framework to support fully GPU-accelerated fluid behaviour. According to Maxon’s documentation, it integrates seamlessly with existing Pyro, Cloth, and Soft Body solvers, and supports interaction among all simulated elements in a single scene. Liquid Flow exposes parameters for viscosity, surface tension, and emitter behaviour, allowing artists to iterate interactively. GPU compute mode is available on supported NVIDIA and Apple Metal devices.

MoGraph: Advanced Distributions and Capsule-based control

MoGraph’s Advanced Distributions introduce new procedural placement types (Stack and Cannonball and a Hexagrid) designed for building layered or spherical arrangements of clones without custom formulas. These distribution modes work with Effectors, Fields, and Capsules, and can be baked or referenced for product-visualisation layouts or dense motion-graphics assemblies. The update also refines Field layer previews and caching behaviour, reducing redraw lag in high-clone scenes.

Take System: faster iteration and clearer hierarchy

Cinema 4D 2026.1 updates the Take System to simplify the creation of multiple look variations. The new behaviour includes automatic naming, consistent render-setting inheritance, and improved preview switching.
This revision targets motion-graphics artists who iterate colourways, camera setups, or lighting passes for client reviews.

Cineware for Unreal: better fidelity and re-import handling

The Cineware for Unreal Engine plugin gains improved lighting consistency and material assignment during export and re-import. Updated metadata handling preserves naming and hierarchy when projects move between Cinema 4D and Unreal. Interactive playback performance within Unreal has also been tuned for scenes containing animated geometry and dynamic caches.

Viewport, interaction, and asset fixes

The 2026.1 release delivers numerous stability updates and UI refinements documented in Maxon’s changelog:

• Viewport stability: reduced crashes when manipulating large MoGraph instances and multi-viewport setups.
• Spline modelling: corrected Tangent and Control-Point editing behaviour.
• Redshift integration: improved synchronisation of material previews and displacement updates.
• Pyro caching: faster cache rebuilds when adjusting simulation domains.
• Capsule Assets: fixed scene-reload issues with procedural Capsules containing nested Field nodes.

While not as headline-grabbing as the Liquid Flow rollout, these smaller changes contribute directly to daily production stability.

Unified Simulation Framework: one solver, multiple domains

Cinema 4D’s unified simulation approach continues to consolidate solvers under a shared architecture.
Liquid Flow joins Cloth, Pyro, and Soft Body within the same system, allowing bidirectional interactions such as fluid–cloth or smoke–liquid coupling. Simulation caches remain GPU-accelerated but can still be baked to CPU for network rendering. This alignment also simplifies export to Redshift’s volumetric rendering and compositing in After Effects through Cineware.

Quality-of-life improvements

The release notes list over 50 usability and reliability adjustments. Highlights include:

• Faster Undo/Redo operations for geometry-heavy scenes.
• Corrected timeline scrubbing when previewing cached dynamics.
• Updated OpenColorIO configuration handling for consistent colour management across Maxon One apps.
• Restored Viewport Filter settings persistence between sessions.

Collectively, these fixes target workflow friction rather than headline innovation — an area professionals will likely appreciate more than marketing slogans.

Availability and testing reminder

Cinema 4D 2026.1 is included in active Maxon One and Cinema 4D subscriptions, downloadable through Maxon App v2025.12 or newer. Users with perpetual licences under maintenance can check eligibility through Maxon’s support portal. As always, artists should benchmark GPU simulations and rendering performance before updating production environments. Pipeline compatibility with render-farm nodes and Unreal export should be validated per project.

The post Cinema 4D 2026.1: Fluids, Distributions, and Practical Fixes first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

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.