Create Rain Drops System using 3ds Max & Thinkbox Frost

Vikrant Dalal reveals how to create Rain Drops System using 3ds Max & Thinkbox Frost Plug-in

Hello everyone Vikrant Dalal here! I've got an exciting new tutorial to share with you. In this tutorial we are going to take a look at how you can make Rain Drops System using 3ds Max and Thinkbox Frost system. You can achieve this effect using different Plug-ins or software, e.g. Thinking Particles, Houdini, Maya etc., but we are going to use Particle Flow System of 3ds Max and Thinkbox Frost Plug-in. As everyone knows that Particle Flow is easy to understand and thus it is very easy to create this effect. If you use your creativity and knowledge, you can increase the quality of this effect. So get ready for this exciting tutorial!

Create Plane

In 3ds Max we first create a plane as window glass and for that go to Create Panel > Geometry > Standard Primitives > Plane. Create plane in viewport with given parameters.

1. Length – 100
2. Width – 150
3. Length Seg – 10
4. Width Seg – 10

Set the Position of Plane
1. X – 0.0
2. Y – 0.0
3. Z – 50.0

Create Particle Flow System

Now we will create Particle Flow System to generate Rain Drops. For that go to Create Panel > Geometry > Particle Systems > PF Source.

Create Particle Flow System in Viewport.

Edit Particle Flow System – Event 01

Here we will modify the 1st Event & will create only Rain Drops. In this event we will use Birth Operator to generate particles. Then Position Object to emit particles on Glass. Then Shape operator to create Rain Drop Shape. Then Split Amount to use some particles to slide down on glass.

Edit Particle Flow System – Event 02

Here we will modify the 2nd Event, which is all about sliding drops.

We will use Gravity, Wind & Drag Forces to make variations in speed of sliding drops and to create these Forces go to Create Panel > Space Warps > Forces.

Now create all forces in viewport & change the parameters as shown in image.

Now add these Forces into particle flow event & set the parameters as shown in image. Then add Spawn to create trail of sliding drops or particles.

Edit Particle Flow System – Event 03

This is our last event of particle flow system. Here you have to add Delete operator to cut the trails after certain frames. Then add Scale to make the trail narrow in the end.

Use Thinkbox Frost Plug-in

To create a mesh of Water Drops & Trails, we are going to use Frost Plug-in. You can download it from Thinkbox Website.

Then go to Create Panel > Geometry > Thinkbox > Frost

Now create it in viewport & make changes in parameters as shown in image

Additional Details

You can create water material in Standard Material or you can use V-Ray Material & Lighting to finish the shot.

The raindrops in action!

Tip – You can use your knowledge of Particle Flow System and your creativity to make this Rain Drop Effect more advanced and dynamic.

Related links

Have a look at Vikrant's work here
Download the assets for the tutorial here
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