Build a Sci-Fi Energy Core in Blender + Embergen (Rotating Rings & VDB Fire)

1. Basic Setup

• Open Blender (version 4.2.1 or 3.6).
• Create a new project.
• Add a Plane, scale it to 10, and position it in the camera view.
• Move your character or model to the back of the scene.

2. Geometry Nodes Setup

• Select the Plane → N → New Geometry Node.
• Add Subdivision Mesh.
• Add an Edge Loop in the center to maintain square shapes.
• Set subdivision level to 2 (adjust depending on system performance).
• Add Delete Geometry → set the type to Point.
• Add Extrude Mesh.
• Add Map Range to control the min/max height of extrusion.
• Add Noise Texture → set it to 3D or 4D for animation.

This gives a basic animated procedural surface that can be controlled via sliders.

3. Environment Setup

• Add a Cylinder → increase radius to form outer rings.
• Remove unnecessary faces, adjust thickness.
• Set Mirror Modifier if symmetry is required.
• Position and scale objects in camera view for proper framing.
• Use Shift + D or Alt + D to duplicate objects while keeping transformations linked.

4. Animation Setup

• Add a Timeline → set total frames to 150.
• Select objects → keyframe Rotation/Position at frame 1 and last frame to create looping motion.
• For procedural motion, keyframe Noise Texture parameters using I (Insert Keyframe).
• Adjust frame offsets for different layers to avoid overlap.

5. Export VDB for Simulation

• Select objects → export as VDB (make sure transformation nodes are connected for proper alignment).
• Assign export path and frame range.
• Ensure VDB layers are correctly named and aligned for easy management in other software.

6. Fire & Smoke Setup (in the Simulation Software)

• Import VDB layers.
• Add Emitter Volume → set shape (e.g., Sphere) and size.
• Enable Show Emitter for visualization.
• Connect emitter to geometry → adjust Fuel, Smoke, and Noise parameters.
• Add Forces (Push, Twirl, Oscillate) to interact with the environment.
• Use a Color Gradient for smoke and fire coloring.

7. Shading & Rendering

• Go to Shading → Smoke/Fire → apply Exposed Color Gradient.
• Adjust gradient sliders for the desired look.
• Render settings:
• Eevee → 100 samples.
• Volumetric Shadows enabled, step size checked.
• Reduce screen space resolution for faster preview (e.g., 1/2).
• Add a supplementary Point Light for better impact.