A compound that assigns particles a gradient color depending on the local particle density. Look at the author's vimeo video for details.

local backup: tcParticleDensity.1.6.xsicompound

Small ICE framework that allows for a simulation to be timed at sub-frame steps. From the area page: At each iteration : 1. set SimulatedFrameFraction to the value proportional to number of iterations (CalculateFrameFraction.xsicompound) — 2. apply all we need in simulation (forces we need to apply through AddForces.xsicompound) — 3. apply Simulation Node.

Look at the author's vimeo video for a short tutorial. Since Softimage 2012, subframe simulations are factory supported.

local backup: SubFrameCompounds.zip

ICE implementation of a shrinkwrap operator (mesh on mesh projection). Smoothing option for mesh border/inside - controllable profile. Example scene available in the area download (backup).

local backup: ShrinkWrap_ICE.1.1.xsicompound

Allows you to scatter ICE instances across a mesh, it has functionality to avoid intersection between the instances as well as the ability to stick the instances to a secondary deformed mesh without the instances jumping around when animated (this requires Softimage 2011 to work). If you layer several compounds on top of eachother each one will only affect its own set of instances.

local backup: abScatter.xsicompound

Here's another little compound that takes any polygon object as an input and draws strands along all the edges turning it into a wireframe mesh.

Related plugins: WireD, Wiremaker, DL3D Wireframe Shader

local backup: abStrandWire.xsicompound

Two helper nodes to get/set kine.global as individual SRT values for further processing in the ICE tree.

local backup: TransformComponents.zip

V1.3 - StudioNEST Momentum is an implementation of the Bullet Physics engine for Autodesk® Softimage®.

Momentum allows you to do very precise rigid body dynamics with high performance including full control over the simulation using the ICE framework.

StudioNEST channel

local backup: momentum.zip

V1.5 - This addon (previously released under the Sixbirds label) implements a very novel and interesting concept by Helge Mathee: For each pixel of a texture image, an ICE particle is created and positioned at the UV projected position of that pixel on an object. The particle remains associated with the pixel and the texture can be regenerated at any point from the particles, whatever modifications are applied to them using ICE.

This can be used for baking surface effects, procedural texture (or texture sequence) generation, feather systems and for probably a lot more. Sourcecode of the compiled operator (C++) is released by Studio Nest under the GPL license and is included in the archive. For documentation and video examples see the Softimage Blog link. Installed under ICE Tree > Task > Particles > Pixels. Video introduction available here.

StudioNEST channel

Note that the local backup contains a bugfixed and repackaged version of the addon (»1.5b«). The original version can be downloaded here.

Related plugins: Image I/O from ICE, Image ICE Node

local backup: nest_pixelparticles1.5b.xsiaddon

V1.4 - StudioNEST's Melena is a hair styling and simulation framework based on the Autodesk® Softimage® ICE platform. Its toolset features various hair generation tools, effects as well as custom simulation nodes and forces. By supporting lattices for styling as well as for simulation, Melena enables artists to create controllable simulations. Melena has been used in production to create the stylized hair for our No Pets Allowed project, and is now released under GPL for download.

StudioNEST channel

local backup: melena.zip

Build curves from strands of a pointcloud. It creates a snapshot of the strands at the moment the command is called, then the curves are ICE deformed to follow the original strand animation.

See the si-community link for more details. Also have a look at the introduction vimeo video.

local backup: strandsToCurves.xsiaddon

Here are a couple of little Softimage ICE compounds that I've found to be very useful over the last couple of months, when dealing with meshes generated from particle simulations.

In particular, I've been working with the great SPH solver from Thiago Costa and Grant Kot, which when used in conjunction with a mesher, such as Pwrapper can make some awfully cool, splashy fluids. Unfortunately, Pwrapper lacks the vital ability to render correct 3D motion blur, nor can 2D motion vectors be generated from its meshes. I've also heard that meshes produced by RealFlow can suffer from broken motion vectors. [..] (cont'd on author link page)

local backup: motionv.zip

Softimage ICE is fast, no doubt. But, there are more than a few occasions when even ICE grinds to a halt. Dealing with stupid numbers of particles is usually not so much of an issue (as long as you have the memory). But, when all those particles have to interact with geometry, more often than not things aren't so smooth.

One issue that users may have to deal with very regularly is emitting particles from a geometry volume. The built-in node does a fine job, making sure each .. (cont'd on author link page)

local backup: SDF.zip

Makes strands on a given surface that are curvy to look like grass blades. The zip contains a shader preset for the grass; copy it to your »DSPresets/Shaders/Material« folder

Related plugins: New Grass

local backup: Create Grass v1.1.rar

Averages the positions of points with similar U or V coordinates. Useful with TGen and cylindrical objects, for making growing vines. Please see the vimeo video for more details.

local backup: UV Thinner.1.2.rar