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.

Cebas Visual Technology has released ThinkingParticles 7.4, a physics-based VFX plugin for 3ds Max. This version adds key new systems for particle simulations, fluids, and logic-based debugging – and it’s certified for 3ds Max 2026. As usual, every feature is node-driven, logic-controlled, and built with the FX-artist mindset in mind. All updates should be tested carefully before deployment in production, especially under time-critical rendering conditions.

Explosion System: Prebuilt Destruction with Full Control

New in 7.4 is a dedicated Explosion System, implemented as a group of special-purpose nodes. These are preconfigured for classic explosion components like burst, shockwave, spike, debris, condensation ring, and more. While designed for fast setup, each parameter remains fully accessible to the artist, allowing procedural control of the underlying behaviour.

The system follows cebas’ usual deterministic simulation logic—meaning results are predictable and repeatable, even across different sessions and network rendering. Explosion behaviour can be tuned to create stylised or photorealistic blasts. Condensation rings can be triggered based on energy release or velocity thresholds, while debris is managed via procedural spawning logic.

SPH Solver 7.3: Responsive Pressure, Faster Sims

The SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics) solver has been updated to version 7.3. This update focuses on improved pressure responsiveness, especially useful for splash creation, and overall solver performance. The system now handles faster response times to inter-particle forces, helping to maintain fluid stability in violent interactions—like collisions, explosions, or high-velocity mesh impacts.

The SPH 7.3 solver is compatible with existing TP setups and does not require a reauthoring of fluid logic. It continues to support hybrid simulation setups, allowing for fluids to interact with rigid bodies, soft bodies, or shape-deforming meshes, all within the ThinkingParticles node graph.

ME-L Markers: Debug Visuals for Logic Systems

Debugging FX logic has never been particularly fun. Enter ME-L Markers, a new tool in the ME-L (Math Expression Language) scripting environment. These markers allow the display of custom visual cues inside 3ds Max: including points, lines, text, and coloured markers. Artists can now insert logical breadcrumbs directly into their simulations—for example, to trace conditions, flag node states, or annotate volumes.

ME-L Markers are non-rendering objects and exist solely for in-editor diagnostics. They’re processed with the same CPU-level speed ME-L is known for. The feature is especially useful in larger setups, where particle state changes are often hard to track, or when building node trees with multiple interdependent conditions.

Certified for 3ds Max 2026

ThinkingParticles 7.4 is fully compatible with 3ds Max 2024, 2025, and 2026. There’s no separate installer required for different versions, and existing setups migrate without conversion. cebas notes that all features are verified against the latest Autodesk releases. ThinkingParticles remains a specialised toolset—designed for logic-driven FX, not keyframe animation. The new features extend this design with more prebuilt behaviour (explosions), more responsive fluids (SPH 7.3), and actual visual feedback for logic debugging (ME-L Markers). Each update addresses common workflow bottlenecks without turning the system into a black box.

ThinkingParticles 7.4 is available now via the official cebas site. Pricing details are listed on the buy page, a subscription seems to be 660$ a year, but there is an unlimited free trail, upgradepricing and other options available. As always, use with care. Just because your sand sim explodes doesn’t mean your render farm has to.

The post ThinkingParticles 7.4: More Boom, Smarter Fluids, and Debugging You Can See first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.