I'm trying to achieve a specific look using Pyro (or any other method). While I can't post my reference material here's a link to an image that has a very similar look.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1203/5153264249_be62c6205f.jpg [farm2.static.flickr.com]

Essentially this is a dust explosion with distinctive ‘pointy’ peaks that I guess are being cause by debris being ejected from the impact. I've tried a few things so far but I can't get any kind of sim that doesn't have the classic ‘dome top’ look of billowing smoke. The element should be explosive and have that distinctive sharp look and I've tried playing with really high initial temperature and velocity values without much success, I just get a solid ball of dense smoke.

Anyone have any ideas how I might go about creating such an element?

Cheers.

Here is a simple file similar to that in your reference. Basically use the debris itself as emission volumes for the pyro.

Thanks ragupasta that was really helpful.

I wasn't too far in off in that I was emitting from a particle system but I had way too many particles and that's why I was getting the definition I needed.

Cheers

Hi,
Instead of starting a whole new thread I thought I could tie in some questions I have that will be applicable to whookam's project. When trying to shape Pyro effects.

I want to control the size of flames coming off an object > Theres a lot of fields that can be controlled to effect the fire + smoke. do you often find that you need to alter multiple fields to get the desired effect ? . Right now I can cool the temperature field right down but still end up with a very large density field which Im not sure makes sense. As temperature seems to drive everything. Would love to hear some thoughts on the art direction of pyro !

rob

Hi,
Instead of starting a whole new thread I thought I could tie in some questions I have that will be applicable to whookam's project. When trying to shape Pyro effects.

I want to control the size of flames coming off an object > Theres a lot of fields that can be controlled to effect the fire + smoke. do you often find that you need to alter multiple fields to get the desired effect ? . Right now I can cool the temperature field right down but still end up with a very large density field which Im not sure makes sense. As temperature seems to drive everything. Would love to hear some thoughts on the art direction of pyro !

rob

For controlling the flame size, a nice way of doing it is to lower the heat cool time parameter in the combustion tab on the pyro node. This will reduce the height of the flames, as it cools the heat field.

As for the large density field, I'm not sure actually. I always end up with a large density field.