In Atoms you can save your simulation on disk using the Atoms cache, then is possible to reuse these caches using the "cacheReader" behaviour module. The Atoms Cache is lightwave and fast. Compared to live simulation it can increase the performance of your scene.
With the cache reader and the agents layout tool you can edit and tweak your cache.
Exporting a cache
You can open the cache exporter GUI using the shelf button or via the Atoms Menu: Atoms > Export > Cache Exporter
- Select the agent groups you have created from the list, then choose a path where your cache will be saved.
- Finally select your start and end frame.
- Click on the "Export" button
There also few other options:
- Multithread: to be used for high number of agents
- Compress: compress each cache file
- Random Access Compress: compress each agent in the file. Best if you are planning to read randomly the agents keeping the benefit of compression; for instance, if you will time offset agents singularly later on.
Importing a cache
You can import a cache back in a scene using the cacheReader behavuour module
- Create and agent group
- Add a cacheReader behaviour module
- in the cachePath attribute of the cache reader module pick the cache file (the file named youCacheName.atoms)
- Rewind the scene and atoms will load the cache. It also automatically load all the agentType that are missing from your scene
- You can move, rotate the agent groups to place it where you want and you can create multiple agent group to load different caches or the same cache multiple times
Editing a cache
When a cache is loaded in your scene you can still edit it to change your layout or simulation.
Apply a new height field
Even if you exported the cache from some agent groups on a height field you can apply a new height field to your cache
- Create a new height field
- Create an agent group and import your cache using the cacehReader behaviour module
- in the height field attribute of the cache reader module select the new hegith field
- Rewind the scene and press play
Move agents
- Create an agent group and import your cache using the cacehReader behaviour module
- To move agents you can use the transitionOffset attribute or you can use the Agents Layout Tool
- Select the agent group and from the Atoms menu: Atoms → Tools → Agents Layout Tool
- Press Q to switch to the seleciton mode or press
or RMB on the viewport and choose Select mode
- Select the agents you want move
- Press W to switch to the move mode or press
- Use the manupulator to move the agents where you want, in maya 2016 the manipulator doesn't work so just press the LMB where you want move the agents
- Rewind the scene and press play
Rotate agents
- Create an agent group and import your cache using the cacehReader behaviour module
- To retate agents you can use the rotationOffset attribute or you can use the Agents Layout Tool
- Select the agent group and from the Atoms menu: Atoms → Tools → Agents Layout Tool
- Press Q to switch to the seleciton mode or press
or RMB on the viewport and choose Select mode - Select the agents you want rotate
- Press E to switch to the rotate mode or press
- Press the LMB and move the mouse on the left or on the right to rotate the agents
- Rewind the scene and press play
Delete agents
Resim agents- Create an agent group and import your cache using the cacehReader behaviour module
- To delete agents you can use the filterAgent attribute (set value of 1 to remove an agent) or you can use the Agents Layout Tool
- Select the agent group and from the Atoms menu: Atoms → Tools → Agents Layout Tool
Change agents speed
Retime agents
Duplicate agents
- Press Q to switch to the seleciton mode or press or RMB on the viewport and choose Select mode
- Select the agents you want delete
- And from the ui press the "Delete Selected Agents" button or RMB and "Delete agents" from the menu
- Rewind the scene and press play
Change agents speed
You can also change the agent speed changing the frameRate attribute. This attribute is a multiplier on the input time.
- Create an agent group and import your cache using the cacehReader behaviour module
- To change the speed of some agents open the override agent dialog
- Select the agents you want modify form the list or use the Agents Layout Tool to select the agents, the selection inside the override dialog changs automatically
- Set a value of 0.5 in the value field and then press "Set Value" button
- Rewind the scene and press play
Offsetframe
You can offset the cache frame for each agent, so an agent can start playing the frame 10 instead start from the frame 0
- Create an agent group and import your cache using the cacehReader behaviour module
- To offset the start frame of some agents open the override agent dialog
next to frameOffset attribute - Select the agents you want modify form the list or use the Agents Layout Tool to select the agents, the selection inside the override dialog changes automatically
- Set a value of 10 in the value field and then press "Set Value" button
- Rewind the scene and press play
Duplicate agents
You can clone agents inside a cache
- Create an agent group and import your cache using the cacehReader behaviour module
- Select the agent group and from the Atoms menu: Atoms → Tools → Agents Layout Tool
- Press Q to switch to the seleciton mode or press or RMB on the viewport and choose Select mode
- Select the agents you want duplicate
- Press the button "Duplicate selected agents" or press RMB and choose "Duplicate agents"
- Atoms duplicates the selected agents and moves the new agents a little bit
- Press W to switch to the move mode or press
or RMB on the viewport and choose Move mode and move the new agents where you want - Rewind the scene and press play
Resim agents
The cache reader module giv you the possibility to risimulate some agents, so oyu can apply modules that change the atoms direction etc...
- Create an agent group and import your cache using the cacehReader behaviour module
- Select the agent group and from the Atoms menu: Atoms → Tools → Agents Layout Tool
- Press Q to switch to the seleciton mode or press or RMB on the viewport and choose Select mode
- Select the agents you want duplicate
- Open the override agent dialog next to directionFromCache attribute
- Set a value of 0
- Create a curve near the selected agents
- Add a follow curve module
- Attach the curve to the follow curve module
- Rewind the scene and press play, now the selected agents will follow the curve
