Input

This page provides information about the Input tab of the V-Ray Volumetric Grid.

Overview

The Input rollout determines the path of the input files for rendering and preview and the playback effects. Note that some playback settings require a fractional input frame, in which case the frame is blended between the previous and the next.

Input

Volume Type – Determines what file type the Volume Grid is reading. The File Type supports the following cache files: Phoenix FD *.aur, Field3D *.f3d, and OpenVDB *.vdb. The VDB Generator allows Pyro Output objects to be linked to the Volume Grid, replicating the simulation while allowing the parameters of the Pyro simulation to still be editable.

Input Cache File – Gives the directory and the name template for the input files. Click the "..." to open a dialog for choosing one of several cache file types.

File Type

VDB Generator – Links a Pyro Output object to the Volume Grid. Drag and drop onto the field, or use the eyedropper tool. V-Ray recognizes it is a Pyro object, and a window pops up asking if you would like to use the Pyro preset. Click on Yes.
After linking the object, use the button to expand the Pyro's parameters, and you can further edit them there or directly inside the Pyro Output and the Pyro tag. Changes are reflected everywhere. The Pyro Output object needs to be located in the current scene. NOTE: For the best results, when using the VDB Generator Volume Type, we recommend the Volume Grid's Render Mode be set to Volumetric.

VDB Generator Type

Click Here to expand additional $(VARIABLE) and Channel Mapping information

Using Environment Variables with Volume Grid Paths

There are path environment variables in every OS, and they can be used with Volume Grid cache file paths.

For example, to access environment variables in Windows 10 and Windows 8, follow these steps:

1. In Search, search for and then select System (Control Panel).
2. Click the Advanced system settings link.
3. Click the Environment Variables... button.
4. In the System variables section, using the Edit System Variable (or New System Variable) window, specify the value of the PATH environment variable.

Using this, you can create a path (variable), give it a name, and use it for cache files in the V-Ray Volume Grid.

For example, the path D:\V-Ray\Cache can be given the environment variable name "Cache". In the Volume Grid Input rollout, you can specify the path as the following:

$env(Cache)\cache_name###.aur

This will load the cache files in D:\V-Ray\Cache.

Note that in order to reference environment variables, the following pattern must be used:

$env(<variable_name>)