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Pyro sim project
Current Iteration
Reference footage
For this project i decided to use this video for reference, in which a tennis ball is lit on fire and used for a game.
First steps
I spent the better part of my weekend just trying to look up videos of how pyro sims in houdini work. i don't really have much to show for it as of 5/9/2026 other than a few test pyro sims.
First steps #2
I have also been trying to figure out how to make a mesh be set aflame on its surface rather than in it as a volume, but no luck; I am having a lot of difficulty with it. i have decided to just try to at least get the pyro to work, but figuring it out has been eating on my time that i need to complete other things to graduate.
Shaping
I Have been trying to approximate the shape of the sim by playing with the pyro solver settings. to get it as close as possible to the reference video but I can't get it to flow quite the same
Growth
I added a fire spread effect on the beginning of it but i still can't quite figure out how to achieve that smooth look it has in the reference video
Shape
I was advised to add three separate pyro sims to help the shape develop better around the ball, and my first attempt was a little unsatisfactory. the plumes were clearly visible and they didnt blend as smoothly
Shape 2
in response, I moved the plumes lower on the sphere and increased the vdb density of the sphere collosion so thay would really wrap around it as the flame went up.
Weird Render
in the process, one of my renders also turned out kind of weird. i'm no really sure why if all I changed is the frame range
Cache optimization
In an attempt to get the render to look with color, I also optimized the file cache to go from 57.5 GB to 27 GB.
I have since added the pyro bake volume, and the file should be rendering if it is not in the next entry already.
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