Am using the cache manager.
1. I create a 4x3 grid (rectangular flat grid) - this has uvs and will simulate a photo paper.
2. I assign texture (image sequence 0-128 pictures) and assign to mySpriteID compound on Ice to feed source time.
3. I create an Ice tree so I can use Syflex to create a cloth sim (paper) without gravity. I use syflex wind to create turbulence.
4. I go to the (4) Ice tab and select : Cache manager. Write the entire timeline, caching ALL parameters (color, mass, etc..) I get my sim played in "all".
5. Re-apply the cache (.icecache) sequence to the grid, warning message: you will delete your live sim, and use a mixer operator (yes). So
I apply the cached sim to the grid and now it´s a cached sim on the mixer (orange track color).
6. I duplicate the grid 2 more times, and on the mixer, offset their position so they will have different times to playback
7. I create my pCloud. And assign a group instance to read all 3 grid (photo papers with already cached sim)
8. Set random sizes, and playback timeline in "RT".
9. I simulated a 1000 frames, so I scrub forward (say frame 200) and since the photo papers were reading an image sequence I see all my photo pictures
generated when I "Q".
So here´s the problem: In order to get variations for the instances I use: Instance displacement control node, offset 2, start at 0 end 200. But the paper simulation now WONT play, and I see some instances started at different times but they are not animated (cache is not reading into them). And also at this point if I preview (Q) I get a blank black screen. then I preview the same frame over and it will display particles.
Part of this problem is a message on render stats mentioning "recalculating instance animation" and then I get a black screen, but I manipulate the previewer (q) just a little and particles jump back to their position.
To try to solve the problem I made an "set initial state" on the particles (kinda like to freeze all pictures) and then I made a cache on them. But like I said, then what happens is I loose the instance read of the main instance group objects (the 3 photo paper grids) and then I only see FLAT static papers (grids) when I re-apply the cache to the pCloud that emmits the pictures.
Basically like so, a week, breaking my head around this...