--- title: "Menus and Toolbars" canonical: "https://documentation.chaos.com/space/PHX4MAX/124658888/Menus%20and%20Toolbars" format: markdown --- **Overview** --- When Phoenix is installed, the Phoenix components will appear in different sections of the 3ds Max interface, including options found the **Tools**, **Create**, **Modifiers**, **Rendering**, and **Phoenix** menus. From these options, Phoenix components can be created. For advanced techniques, they can be accessed through [MaxScript](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/125310915) as well. The [Quick Simulation Setup](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124660109) buttons on the Phoenix toolbar can help you get started with using these components together. ## **Create Panel** ---   In the **Create → Geometry** panel, under the PhoenixFD category: - [Particle Shader](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124627003) – Shades particles such as splash, foam, mist, drag, etc. Can also be applied to a .prt sequence when using the [PRT Reader](https://docs.chaosgroup.com/display/PHX3MAX4EDIT/PRT+Reader+%7C+PRTReader). - [Fire Smoke Simulator](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124760253) – Creates a Simulator that produces realistic fire/smoke/explosion effects. - [Liquid Simulator](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/125052235) – Creates a Simulator that produces realistic liquid effects. - [Active Body Solver](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124361651) — Specifies the scene geometry which will partake in the [Active Bodies](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/125052033) simulation. - [Voxel Shader](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124660715) — Shades Fire and Smoke simulations, and meshes in a single Simulator.   In the **Create → Helpers** panel, under the PhoenixFD category: - [Fire Source](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124528247) – Contains parameters that describe the properties of the released fluid. - [Turbulence](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124660368) – Adds turbulence / noise to a simulation. - [Mapper](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124361806) – Allows textures to affect simulation grid channels. - [PRT Reader](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124528736) – Allows a .prt file sequence to be loaded and rendered with PHXFoam. - [Liquid Source](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124496461) – A simplified version of the Fire Source designed to be used with the Liquid Simulator. - [Follow Path](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124626800) – Provides a force that pushes a fluid along a spline curve. - [Plain Force](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/125083866) – Provides a force that pushes a fluid in a direction. Used to produce a wind effect. - [Body Force](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124528071) – Creates a force towards or away from a geometry object that can be used for shaping a fluid. - [Wave Force](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124528933) – Produces waves inside a liquid simulator based on a texture. Best used in conjunction with the [Phoenix FD Ocean Texture](https://docs.chaosgroup.com/display/PHX3MAX4EDIT/Ocean+Texture+%7C+PhoenixFDOceanTex). - [Voxel Tuner](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124660974) – Uses custom logic constructed with Expression operators to directly affect the cells of the Phoenix Simulator. - [Particle Tuner](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124395246) – Uses custom logic constructed with Expression operators to directly affect the particles of the Phoenix Simulator. - [Active Body Thruster](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124394994) — Creates procedural animations inside Phoenix — moves Active Bodies with a directable engine force. - [Active Body Axis Lock](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/125310748) — Restricts Active Bodies to move or rotate along a selected horizontal or vertical axis.   ## **Material Editor** ---   ## **Viewport Options** --- In the list of available extended views: - [Phoenix GPU Preview](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/125279754/FireSmoke+Preview#GPUPReview) - Enables a real-time preview based on the volumetric shading settings of the Simulator. The preview closely resembles the final rendered result.   ## ** Quad Menu ** ---   ## **Phoenix FD Menu** ---   ## **Additional Windows** --- **In the PFSource's Particle View window:** - [Phoenix Force operator](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124528505) - Enables particles to participate in a fluid's motion. - [Phoenix Test operator](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/125083397) - Checks the fluid in the particle's position. - [Phoenix Birth operator](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124361982) - Creates particles based on a fluid's parameters. ![image](media://c0f5142e-ac1a-41b4-bbf2-ace0eb72c52e)   ---   In the Environment and Effects window: - [Atmosphere Settings](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/125052102) - Provides settings that affect all Phoenix Simulators in a scene. These options are available only with Phoenix for V-Ray 5 and earlier V-Ray versions. Since **V-Ray 6**, the settings are located in **Render Setup window → V-Ray tab → ****[Global switches](https://docs.chaos.com/display/VMAX/Global+Switches)**** rollout**.