Nothing is more challenging for the 3D artist than to create a realistic simulation of an explosion. Blender's recent upgrade to the 2.5 series of 3D suites has provided a new smoke simulation system together with a true 3D texture called Voxel Data . These two physically based tools combine to offer realistic explosions, flame, and all kinds of smoke to enhance your scenes. However, as with any complex 3D tool, they require some expertise to make best use of their capabilities.
Because the smoke physics facility is so closely tied to the 3D Voxel Data texture, it can be considered a texture-related simulation as well a physical one. In fact, smoke without a material and texture simulation is impossible. For that reason, this first recipe will show the correct way to set up a smoke simulation from the physical simulation to some default material and texture setups. Further recipes will explore how the materials and textures can be modified and refined to...