In Atoms you can save your simulation on disk using USD caches, it is possible to reuse these caches with Atoms VFX integrations such as AtomsMaya and AtomsHoudini or in other softwares.
Exporting a cache
You can export a cache with the "USD Cache Exporter".
Before you can export a cache you have to set up a level sequence. Create one from the viewport menu.
Then open the sequence into the sequencer and drag and drop the agent groups you want to export.
For each agent group add a new track for the "Static Frame" property:
Set two or more key frames making sure their value actually match the frame number they are on. Set the interpolation of all key frames to linear or the exported simulation won't look right.
Open the USD Cache Exporter via the Atoms Crowd Toolbar Button: Exporters > USD Cache Exporter
There are few options in the UI:
- Level sequence
- Export path
- Cache Start Frame: The simulation will start exporting only from this frame in the sequencer. The "Set Start Cache Frame" button will take the start frame of the sequencer range and set on the "Cache Start Frame" field
Start Sim Frame: The simulation won't start until this frame in the sequencer. The "Set Start Sim Frame" button will take the start frame of the sequencer range and set on the "Start Sim Frame" field
- Texture Resolution X/Y: the resolution for the exported textures
- Assets Path: in case your USD cache should reference assets previously exported, you can assign the root path for those assets
Once all the fields are set you can click export.
