Rendering Animated VDBs in UE4

Jack9333 · Tue Dec 01, 2020 12:49 am

Hi all,
I've been having a blast testing out the ue4 plugin as well as utilizing ORBX files for scene export/import.
I ran into a few problems I'm hoping you could help me out with.

-I can't seem to figure out how to animate my imported VDB via the UE4 sequencer. Is this possible, and if so how?

-Additionally, it appears that the parameters on the vdb are animated, and any modifications I make to them are overridden due to this animation.
Is there any way I can modify the keys through the nodes in the standalone?

https://i.imgur.com/qhDgNu1.png

All the best,
Ryan

Fri Dec 04, 2020 1:05 pm

No you don't bring the VDB into unreal that way. I would recommend just bring it into the OctaneGUI and importing it there.

Fri Dec 04, 2020 4:03 pm

The UE4 sequencer should animate vdbs that are contained in ORBX proxies by changing the animation time in octane.

Atm there is no way to animate settings inside orbx proxies with blueprints or the sequencer. Blueprint/settings animation support is on the feature list.

Fri Dec 04, 2020 4:09 pm

Proxy works too, check your scale it can get crazy, I wish there was an empty actor I could place in unreal and plug it into a volumetric light.

Jack9333 · Sat Dec 05, 2020 11:33 am

ChrisHekman wrote:The UE4 sequencer should animate vdbs that are contained in ORBX proxies by changing the animation time in octane.

Atm there is no way to animate settings inside orbx proxies with blueprints or the sequencer. Blueprint/settings animation support is on the feature list.

Thanks for the info both of you!

I made some progress and am at the point where I can animate my vdb via the OctaneGUI, however I can't seem to get the sequencer to have any effect on the time in octane.
In other words, scrubbing in OctaneGUI updates animated orbxs. Scrubbing the UE sequencer doesn't update the render.
Any ideas on how to get the two synced up?

Sat Dec 05, 2020 5:53 pm

Here is a quick Youtube video I made for you, Importing a VDB and animation. Sorry I can't get the frames to line up. I know what you mean.

https://youtu.be/btunEvwU9o0

Jack9333 · Sun Dec 06, 2020 2:03 am

EvolverInteractive wrote:Here is a quick Youtube video I made for you, Importing a VDB and animation. Sorry I can't get the frames to line up. I know what you mean.

https://youtu.be/btunEvwU9o0

Hey thanks a bunch for taking the time to create a vid outlining your workflow!

So from what I understand, there is no way to currently preview animated VDBs in octane using only the ue4 sequencer. To preview a certain frame you'd have to scrub in your sequencer and then scrub in the OctaneGUI as well.
You then export an ORBX via sequencer to view the animated VDB.

I'll give this a shot and see where it gets me and will follow up later with any questions / insight.

Thank you!