ClothFX Add-on Documentation

Version 4.6 for Blender 5.0+

ClothFX is a powerful Blender add-on designed to create realistic cloth tearing, inflation effects, and dynamic simulations.

It provides two main workflows:

• Generated tearing 
• Custom tearing 

Installation

1. Download the latest version from your SuperHive order downloads
2. In Blender:
   • Edit → Preferences → Add-ons → Install from disk
   • Select the .zip file → Install Add-on
3. Enable ClothFX in the add-ons list.
4. Find the ClothFX panel in the Physics tab of the 3D Viewport sidebar (N-panel).

Quick Start

Cloth tearing is done in real-time during playback. It includes two modes for tearing apart your mesh:

Generated Tearing (Fast & Automatic)

1. Select your cloth mesh.
2. Press Generated button in the ClothFX panel.
3. Adjust Cut Count and Seed (in General tab) as well as other cloth settings
4. (Optional) Enable Jagged Edges and Edge Detail.
5. Add a collider object or make any object a collider. (Make Collider button)
6. Play the animation and rip apart mesh with collider.

Custom Tearing (Manual Control)

1. Select your cloth mesh.
2. Press Custom button.
3. Use Knife Tool (Pencil icon) to draw custom tearing map.
4. Add a collider object or make any object a collider. (Make Collider button)
5. Play the animation and rip apart mesh with collider.

Generated settings:

• Cut Count: How many tear pieces.
• Cut Seed: Randomize tear pattern.
• Jagged Edges: Enable irregular tear edges
• Edge Detail: Extra explode modifier for finer edge detail.

Custom settings:

• Knife Tool: Draw tears directly in Edit mode (LMB to start, SPACE to confirm map, ESC to exit).
• Pin Editor: Select vertices to pin → press TAB to confirm selection

Collider Objects:

• Add sphere/cube → enable Make Collider button.
• Set Proximity distance (how close to trigger tearing).
• Can use Volume Distance or Particle System as triggering source.

Effects:

ClothFX offers two powerful effects that make your cloth simulations more dynamic and interactive:

1. Particle Triggering (Self-Triggering Particles)
2. Dynamic Inflate (Explode/Popping Effect)

These features are accessible in the Effects section of the ClothFX panel.

1. Particle Triggering (Self-Triggering Tears)

Allows cloth to tear or react when particles emitted from the cloth itself come close enough (proximity-based trigger). Perfect for self-tearing effects.

How to Enable

1. In the Effects box → check Particle Triggering.

Settings:

Tips:

• Start with Proximity = 0.2–0.5 and adjust based on cloth scale.
• Use Smooth Radius to avoid sharp, unnatural tears.

2. Dynamic Inflate (Inflate & Explode Effect)

Creates an inflation → explosion effect, like a balloon or airbag popping.

How to Enable

1. In the Effects box → check Dynamic Inflate.

Settings:

Baking & Caching

Advanced Cloth Settings

Tips

• Frame should be set slightly before the cloth would naturally tear from pressure.
• Use Preview Tears to see the tearing pattern before baking.
• If the pop is too weak, increase Pressure and Strength together.