Choose the right role for each object
Every object in a Cloth neXt scene gets one role, called Object Type. It decides how the object behaves and which settings you see.
You know which role to give each object in your scene.
- Cloth neXt and the solver installed (previous lesson).
The roles
| Role | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Cloth | Garments, flags, curtains and other thin sheets. |
| Cable / Rope | Ropes, cables and strings made from a curve. |
| Soft Body | Squishy volumes such as cushions. Needs a closed, manifold mesh. |
| Rigid Body | Solid objects that move but do not bend. |
| Collider | Obstacles the simulation collides with, static or animated. |
| Force | An Empty that adds gravity, wind and air to the scene. |
Step by step
- Select an object
Select the object you want to simulate or collide with.
- Turn on Cloth neXt
In the Properties editor, open the Physics tab and click Cloth neXt in the list of physics types.
- Pick its role
Set Object Type to the job the object has, using the table above. Changing it only changes how the object is treated; it does not duplicate it.
- Repeat for every object
Give each object that takes part in the simulation exactly one role. Objects without Cloth neXt are ignored by the bake. Tip: Quick Assign sets the role for several selected objects at once.
Turn on Show Cloth neXt Role Colors in the add-on preferences, then use Solid shading with Color set to Object: every object shows its role color.
If something goes wrong
- Soft Body is rejected
- The mesh must be closed and manifold. Fill holes and remove loose geometry, or use Cloth instead.
- Unsure between Cloth and Soft Body
- Thin fabric is Cloth. Something with real volume that should squash is Soft Body.