Hi everyone!
As a long-time user and UI/UX Designer (Sergio Arboleda University), I’ve been working on a comprehensive “vision board” for what the next generation of FWsim could look like [cite: 2025-10-06, 2026-01-11]. My goal is to achieve absolute photorealism with a zero learning curve [cite: 2026-01-11].
I’d love to hear your thoughts on these concepts:
1. “Rockyt”: Your AI Creative Mentor
To make advanced tools accessible, I propose Rockyt, a rocket-shaped assistant with a neutral and professional expression.
- Onboarding & Guidance: Rockyt acts as an in-program mentor, guiding users through complex features to eliminate the learning curve [cite: 2026-01-11].
- Creative Suggestions: He analyzes your show to suggest effects or visual combinations based on famous real-world displays.
2. The AI-Powered “FWreal” Core
This suite automates the technical heavy lifting to bridge the gap between simulation and reality [cite: 2026-01-11]:
- AI Effect & Light Recreator: A “lasso” tool to replicate pyrotechnic effects or exact light structures from a photo/video directly onto the 3D model [cite: 2026-01-11].
- AI Mapping & Clipping Mask: The AI automatically creates a clipping mask adjusted to the structure’s geometry, ensuring lights and projections stay perfectly within the building’s silhoutte [cite: 2026-01-11].
- Atmospheric & Acoustic Physics: Volumetric smoke reactive to light and a physical sound engine that calculates building reverb and speed-of-sound delays [cite: 2026-01-11].
- AI City Synthesis & FBX Export: Generate real 3D architecture by entering a City/Country, optimized for high-fidelity FBX exports [cite: 2026-01-11].
- Professional Watermark: An official FWsim stamp certifying that a render has been processed with “Real-Life” AI settings.
3. Structural Mastery: The Smart Bowl & Dynamics
These tools solve the challenge of designing for complex structures like the Sydney Harbour Bridge or London Eye [cite: 2025-12-23]:
- Anatomical Bowl Tool: A 3D interface where touching the “base” triggers Funnel mode (converging) and touching the “basin” triggers Flower mode (volumetric expansion from points or rings).
- Blender-Style Manipulation: The Bowl can be scaled and moved easily using intuitive gizmos, automatically snapping to circumferences and points.
- Integrated Lighting Structures: Support for placing and controlling complex light arrays directly on 3D structures, synchronized with the timeline.
- Movable Dynamic Fronts: Fronts animated with keyframes along hand-drawn trajectories to simulate moving yachts or mobile barges.
- Magnetic Brush & Symmetry: A “pencil” that snaps to 3D geometry and a one-click mirror tool for perfect structural symmetry [cite: 2025-12-23].
- Parent Mode & Smart Grouping: Link multiple fronts to a leader for synchronized changes, or group effects as “Steppers” while maintaining timeline order [cite: 2025-12-23].
- Letter, Number & Stamp Boxes: Instant text-to-pyro with “Falling Stars” physics for realistic waterfall effects on buildings.
4. Integrated “Music Station”
A complete studio to manage the emotional core of the show without external software [cite: 2026-01-11]:
- Smart Mix & SoundAlike: Automatically mix soundtracks and generate royalty-free versions that maintain the original “vibe” and intensity [cite: 2026-01-11].
- AI Show Planning (Skeleton): Generates a rhythmic base for long-duration shows to save the designer from repetitive tasks [cite: 2025-12-23].
- One-Click Disclaimer: Automated legal documentation for using real audio tracks in private simulations.
5. Professional Workflow & Stage FX
- Cross-Edition Compatibility: Seamlessly copy cues and open projects between Creative and Pro editions, bringing the Pro “neat sequence” tool to everyone [cite: 2025-12-23].
- Stage FX & Camera Zoom: Native support for flame projectors/CO2 jets and a dedicated Camera Zoom Mode for optical-style zooming from a fixed point.
What do you think? Which of these would improve your workflow the most? Let’s discuss!
Andres Sanabria UI/UX Designer | Sergio Arboleda University Bogotá D.C. Colombia