How to Create an Explosion

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Discover how to use the smoke simulator to create a realistic explosion.

Length:
38 minutes
Software:
Blender 2.5
Difficulty:
Advanced
Rate:
VN:F [1.9.11_1134]
Rating: 4.9/5 (39 votes cast)

In this tutorial you will discover:

  • The fundamentals of smoke simulation
  • The correct materials for realistic fire
  • How to create a shockwave

Time to blow stuff up!

You guys have been asking for this for quite sometime now so I decided to finally deliver on that request. Think of it like an early Christmas present (that explodes in your face).

Finished Result

Download finished .blend

Further Inspiration

Not sure where to take this tutorial? Here’s some more explosive inspiration:

I hope you enjoyed this week’s tutorial. Post any finished works in the comments below!

How to Create an Explosion, 4.9 out of 5 based on 39 ratings

About Andrew Price

I like long walks on the beach and yelling out during movies. My cat's name is dog, and my dog's name is cat. I am hilarious. I like Blender.
View all posts by Andrew Price →

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215 Responses to “How to Create an Explosion”

  1. Kryogen August 5, 2011 at 3:02 am #

    why didn’t u use the temperature channel for the color?
    That would be physically correct, and for me, it works well.
    http://vimeo.com/27295002

    Reply
  2. Wes August 8, 2011 at 2:50 pm #

    HELP! my esplosion keep apperaing VERY gravelly and chunky, its like a bunch of dots in most areas and somewhat how i want it im others. heres a picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/66140065@N06/6020427619/in/photostream

    Reply
  3. Wes August 8, 2011 at 2:50 pm #

    HELP! my esplosion keep apperaing VERY gravelly and chunky, its like a bunch of dots in most areas and somewhat how i want it im others. heres a picture:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/66140065@N06/6020427619/in/photostream

    Reply
  4. Wes August 8, 2011 at 2:51 pm #

    oops double post

    Reply
  5. Brandon August 13, 2011 at 4:00 am #

    Thanks Andrew! Here’s my final result

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTel3PFf9BQ

    Reply
  6. Markus August 15, 2011 at 2:48 am #

    Really cool. Do you have any idea of how to make a dragon head appear from the fire? I´d have some use for it.

    Reply
  7. tarik bagriyanik September 11, 2011 at 9:18 pm #

    hello i used this tutorial on a small “air strike” project:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zz9WEHI9FE

    Reply
  8. rob October 8, 2011 at 9:25 am #

    great website. I’ve tried this tutorial on version 2.59 (which crashes as soon as i click render), and I’ve tried it on version 2.5. it’l render the ground in frame 48. then if i try
    & increase the frame number to see the cloud or try to render it it instantly crashes.
    i just can’t get this one to work.
    error message i get doesn’t make any real sense either.
    i need my mushroom fix!

    Reply
  9. Kieran G. October 9, 2011 at 5:31 pm #

    Hello!
    If there is anyone who is just exploring the comments or something, and is reading this one, can you please answer my question!
    I made my explosion, and everything was working great! But then I moved it and my smoke isn’t appearing in the render anymore….
    Please Help!!
    Thanks

    Reply
  10. koivi October 22, 2011 at 11:09 pm #

    I heard the cat! :D

    Reply
  11. adam December 15, 2011 at 12:44 am #

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39IXy8pzTyg

    the smoke looks odd… I followed your tut and even made it higher quality than necessary, and it sill looks grainy and blobby

    Reply
  12. kostas January 11, 2012 at 5:57 pm #

    despite the fact i download your file, it crashes when i open it with blender…

    Reply
  13. MILMIL January 19, 2012 at 10:00 pm #

    Awesome turorial as usual!
    But for some reason i cant get the smoke simulator working in bigger scenes:/ tried nearly everything now!

    Reply
  14. PsalmWhan January 22, 2012 at 3:40 pm #

    Nice tut!

    How do we export it out to.. say… .FBX?
    Or just anything which a game engine such as Unity3D can use?

    Reply
  15. Cameron February 19, 2012 at 5:29 pm #

    I tried this tutorial, and encountered a unique problem. My explosion is flat as a pancake! There must be some setting wrong with the voxel mapping…

    Reply
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