Flexible Props

iClone provides you with flexible props, Flex Props, to simulate soft objects such as skirts, ponytails or curtains. This type of prop sways and vibrates along with the wind or any moving objects if it is attached to them.

After you apply a Flex prop, you may adjust settings to change its behavior:

  1. Select the flex prop.

  2. Go to the Set/Props/Modify page. Scroll to the Flex section and click the Flex Setting button.

The Flex Setting panel opens to allow adjustment to the settings.

Note:

  • You may play and modify the settings simultaneously to see how the settings influence the Flex props in real-time, just like with Particle effects.

  • Please refer to the Flex/Spring FPS Sync section for more information about the synchronizing solution for exporting a project with Flex objects.

  • You may click the Save Settings button to save all settings into a file and then apply them to another Flex prop by clicking the Load Settings button.

  • If you find it hard to get optimal results, please refer to the settings of the flex props in our template library which are all optimized.

    • Flex Property - Stiffness and lift

    The Stiffness defines the resistance of the Flex Props to deflection or deformation by an applied force. The higher the value, the more stiff the prop is and vice versa.

    Stiffness = 100

    Stiffness = 2000

    The Lift is aerodynamic force that is perpendicular to the surface of the Flex props. Increasing the value may have the surface raise higher. If one side of the flexible surface is fixed, the Lift may influence the angle for it to fly.

    Flex Force - Gravity, Wind and Centripetal Force

    The Gravity is the agency that gives objects weight. In iClone, this value may be manually set to go along the three axis. This value causes Flex props to accelerate along the specific direction.

    Gravity Z = -200

    Gravity Z = 200

    The Wind, however, influences Flex props to move along the specific direction with a fixed speed.

    Wind X = -200

    Wind X = 200

    The Centripetal Force is the external force required to make a body follow a curved path. Hence centripetal force is a kinematics force requirement, not a particular kind of force. For a Flex prop, Centripetal Force is the force toward the fixed ends.

    The blue arrow represents the direction of the
    Centripetal Force when the surface rotates.

    Turbulence - Frequency and Strength

    The Turbulence is a fluid regime characterized by chaotic, stochastic property changes. You may modify the Frequency to adjust the number of occurrences of the turbulence in one time unit. The Strength value, however, defines how hard of a turbulence force the Flex props can withstand.