In nuce: Autodesk has released a new update for its physics simulation software Bitfrost. This is according to a recent press release. According to this, the most important new features include: an open source integration of Bitfrost-USD, as well as a streamlined workflow. Improvements have also been made with regard to scattering. In the same press release, Bitfrost Senior Product Manager Jonah Friedman speaks positively about the open source integration of Bitfrost-USD. He says: “This allows our users to build a complete Maya-USD ecosystem – including Arnold-USD and Maya-USD. At the same time, users can work with their own USD core.”
In toto: The most important features announced in the new Bitfrost version are listed below.
- Bitfrost-USD is now available as an open-source USD ecosystem within Maya, as listed above, but also as a standalone project via GitHub.
- Bitfrost-USD also includes: wrapped USD types; the ability to monitor USD low-level operators; translation tables for integration with the host DCC; connections that expose Bifrost-USD functionality to users; testing to ensure all components work correctly; custom USD tools and builds to improve the flexibility and scalability of the pipeline.
- Redesigned backgrounds and sticky notes: This should be accompanied by more functionality. The backgrounds will enable team members to mark desired areas within a graph, while the sticky notes will allow them to communicate efficiently with team members.
- Revised user interface: This includes widgets such as sliders and pipettes (colour pickers). The new Combo Box can now be added by artists – without any programming knowledge.
- Improved MPM (Material Point Method) simulation: Thanks to the newly introduced collision behaviour, it should be easier for artists to simulate a bouncing snowball that sticks to a wall, for example. In addition, the simulation of kicks has been reworked so that it now also works depending on the location inside large rooms.
- Optimised simulation diagnostics: Standardised diagnostic tools have been added to the toolbox; artists can use these to visualise speeds and temperatures, for example.
- Evaluation with low overheads: According to the press release, overheads have been generally reduced, which should be accompanied by performance improvements. These improvements are particularly important for the Bifrost Board Node, but also apply to the Bifrost Graph Shape Node.
- Improvements relating to “Bitfrost geometry”, “Transferring properties” and “Alembics”: What is behind “Transferring properties”? This allows teams to streamline user-defined properties, while at the same time making it easier to create more complex geometry algorithms. On the other hand, behind the “Alembics” item is a performance improvement for indexed properties (which includes UVs and vertex normals); this should preserve user data better. Finally, “Bitfrost Geometry” refers to the option to convert Bitfrost data into a Maya mesh with a single mouse click.
Click further: If you need help working with Bitfrost: On 10/11/2022 ( “Lots of new video tutorials on Autodesk Maya!”), 31/08/2022 ( “Video tutorial on looping with Bitfrost!”) and 18/07/2022 ( “Tutorial series on USD with Bitfrost published”), Digital Production referred to helpful video tutorials on Bitfrost.
Source: Publication note on Bifrost(help.autodesk.com)
