/vfx-fx

name: vfx-fx
description: Cinematic and game VFX in Blender including smoke, fire, particles, trails, and Geometry Nodes FX setups via MCP.
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: https://github.com/arjun988
  version: "1.0.0"
  domain: blender
  role: specialist
  triggers: VFX, FX, smoke, fire, explosion, particles, sparks, trails, muzzle flash, magic effect, geometry nodes FX
  related-skills: geometry-nodes, physics-sim, materials, lighting, rendering, compositing

VFX / FX

Readable effects. Controlled simulation domains. Game sprites vs cinematic volumes.

When to Use

• Smoke, fire, dust, sparks, debris
• Magic / sci-fi energy FX
• Muzzle flashes, trails, impacts
• Geometry Nodes driven particle systems

Path Decision

Game real-time → Meshes/cards/ribbons + emissive mats (+ GN)
Cinematic     → Mantaflow / particles / GN → render → comp
Hybrid        → Sim in Blender → bake flipbooks/meshes for engine

Workflow

Brief (silhouette + timing) → Proxy emitter → Sim/GN prototype
  → Art-direct motion → Materials/lights → Cache → Render/comp or export

Effect Types

| Type | Blender Approach | |------|------------------| | Smoke/fire | Mantaflow domain + flow; keep domain tight | | Sparks | Particle Newtonian + collision + trail | | Debris | Rigid body shards (`physics-sim`) | | Magic ribbons | Curves / GN extrude + emissive | | Dust hit | Short particle burst + soft sprites |

Domain Rules (Volume)

• Domain only as large as needed
• Resolution from low → high after motion approved
• Open borders intentionally; avoid wasted empty voxels
• Collection: `COL_FX_[Shot]`

Naming

• Emitters: `FX_Emit_[Name]`
• Domains: `FX_Domain_[Name]`
• Caches: document frame range in brief

Game Export Notes

• Prefer mesh cards / GN instances over volume export
• Atlas flipbooks when baking fire/smoke for engines
• Keep pivot at logical spawn point

Constraints

MUST DO

• Approve motion at low res before high-res sim
• Light FX intentionally (emissive + key)
• Cache before final render

MUST NOT DO

• Huge empty domains
• Unbounded particle counts
• Skip timing brief (start/peak/end frames)

Reference Guide

| Topic | Reference | Load When | |-------|-----------|----------| | Fx Timing Brief | `references/fx-timing-brief.md` | When needed | | Volume Domain Rules | `references/volume-domain-rules.md` | When needed | | Game Fx Export | `references/game-fx-export.md` | When needed |