From the course: Learning Reactor in 3ds Max (2011)

Unlock the full course today

Join today to access over 22,400 courses taught by industry experts or purchase this course individually.

Understanding how Reactor works

Understanding how Reactor works - 3ds Max Tutorial

From the course: Learning Reactor in 3ds Max (2011)

Start my 1-month free trial

Understanding how Reactor works

In order to best get a handle on just exactly what Reactor is--or better put, what it specifically does--it's important that you first understand the term dynamic simulation. A dynamic simulation can best be described as a process that allows the motion of one or more objects in a three-dimensional scene to be automatically determined based on the physical properties that you assign to those objects. In other words, a dynamic simulation plugs physics into the equation, using real-life properties like weight and friction and elasticity to determine just exactly how something moves or how it would react coming into contact with something else. So it's a much different way of creating animation for a scene, allowing math and a whole bunch of behind-the-scene calculations that work off the objects properties that you assign to determine the way that things move and interact within your 3D scene. Reactor's comprehensive set of tools gives you as an animator the ability to create a wide…

Contents