Breaking objects?

[Samione]

Can anyone help? I'd like to know where to begin with the breaking up of quite complex objects, my aim is to get a skyscraper type building and animate a demolition of it. The building will only have one material, glass, but i'd like to know how to make it break! Any tutorials or some places to start would be much appreciated thanks

[Jelmer]

I don't think there's an automated way of doing it properly, I would try keyframing the major motions in the building, and then use lots of particles for debris, and especially dust.. some of that could be done in post production as well (combustion, after effects), but it is a very challenging project if you start doing it, would be nice to see.

[tyree]

you can break the objects/cut them before hand and put them in reactor as a fracture
try and distort the area that you cut

[Samione]

Well it seems this is going to be a massive undertaking :/ I better get watching some demolition videos! Another question I have, i'm going to make each building entirely out a glass material, what's the best way to get that prismic splitting of the rays of light? It'd be really nice to see this is each fragment tumbles to the ground! I've been playing with layered materials, using Red green and blue for different reflection colours, it doesn't seem to work very well though; I heard something about mia_materials? I can't seem to find them in max though :S