Houdini 12

[Inisheer]

taitanik

lol


But seriously, that video looked great (except for the very scripted dialog by the speakers). Although, every promo video looks good on top of the line hardware and post production. Nevertheless, that smoke and water was killer.

[Memag]

show me if you have .now softimage is Worst program in vfx.what films make with softimage .300.narnia.or taitanik in 1998.or matrix.So????????????

I think Softimage was used in Jurassic Parking.



Houdini 12 looks stunning for a FX population, but how are the animation and modeling tools doing?

[benoit81]

I've made a lot of criticisms about Softimage, but I can not say that Autodesk developers do not work on it ! I complain, but when I have to work on another package, I'm very happy to come back to Softimage. Things are more logical for me in Softimage. For a freelance or a small studio (like me we only own 2 copies), Softimage is maybe not the best package, but when I ask a developer to code me a tool in Softimage it's very efficient (I'm not sure if any other package offer such a wide range of languages : vb,js, py, ice, c++, sdk, shaders...). When I see what a single person can do with it : QuickInset, quickprimitive, it's very promising.
I do not think that Softimage is out of date in the VFX area, it's the opposite ! Very creative tools.
The future of Softimage is of course due to Autodesk, but not only ! I'm very enthusiast about 3rd party tools : see what Exocortex develop, in the field of rendering the things are changing also : Vray, 3Delight, Maxwell, soon : Arion, Octane, Indigo...

So even if Softimage team does not always develop the tools that I need, I'm very happy with it !

[ace63]

Great now he starts insulting me through pms

@ Bellsey I understand you are not allowed to make any announcements or in this matter say anything at all.
It was just that the announcements took place at GDC the last few years so I was just guessing ;)

[owei]

BACK TO TOPIC, everyone, please! It became quite usual in the last couple of days that threads became off-topic quite fast. PLEASE STAY ON TOPIC. If other discussion come up, feel free to open a new thread! THANKS!

Back to topic:

Wow, yes this video looks amazing and the features also do. Fully multi threaded throughout the whole package will be a big step forward (was about time, as much as I know ;) ) It really underlines Houdini´s strength in visual effects, simulation and procedural content creation.

cheers,
oli

[bottleofram]

Looks great but the video gave me a bad case of "DSLR videomaking artflu" - all with teleprompter reading, strange angles, focus shifts and a coffee mug.

Im not familiar with houdini, but i know it was on a slow side. They say there its now "multithreaded throughout the whole package". Thats big. Especially if it means exactly what is says - not just threading this and that, here and there...

[McNistor]

I once installed Houdini and the first thing that came to my mind was War - Why can't we be friends.
Amazing features tho.

[owei]

@bottleofram
...your point about the video might be correct. But personally it feels good to see the people behind the software. It gives a face and some kind of character to the technology instead of just showing screen captures. I like this kind of approach as an introduction. Further videos could handle the tech-stuff in good old screen capture manner.

@McNistor
Yes, same feelings here. I always wonder how people can get those amazing things out of it....same feelings concerning Max and Maya, though. Installed, tried to do something, failed, uninstalled ;)

cheers,
oli

[Nizar]

Don't say nothing about Houdini VFX skills, I think the image and stunning video talk better.
But modelling in Houdini is a nightmare... also, animation and rigging is a real pain for me. A bit better rendering, but sure, not friendly at all.

[SreckoM]

But modelling in Houdini is a nightmare...

At the begging I had same feeling, but after some practice I will dare to say that is one of the best modeler I worked with.
Concept is different and when you get rid of previous concept ... everything is so smooth ..

[Nizar]

Can you doing some example?

[SreckoM]

Yeah, I am doing some tutorials, modeling various stuff while practicing. That is in my free time (rare) so I am not going to promise anything, but I will have something soon.

[Nizar]

Ops, not so much
Thank you very much, but I don't want you spend your free time for my curiosity. I mean if you can argument a bit modelling in Houdini, describing some example.

[SreckoM]

I find Houdini good or at least almost good, as XSI ...

I like that with Houdini you can make mistakes a lot And than go back and make changes, and everything will be propagated to final model.
You can back at the beginning, first point if needed. Much deeper than you can with XSI at the moment.
Also whatever I create I do that so I can create variation from it in future. Maybe it is slow for first model, but later ... For example this is what I made, several days ago.
http://screencast.com/t/suPXAMeYiY
http://screencast.com/t/1fvcd7FUmI

I know that someone can do this in XSI too, but I could not.

[Memag]

NIce!
How about non procedural approach, tools for organic/character modeling?
Are those interactive and easy to master or everything goes through nodes as well?
Thanks!

[SreckoM]

Everything is nodes, but you can model just using shelf buttons, and it is, basically, same as every other app.
I am not that good in organic modeling so maybe I am not competent, but it has every tool you need. So it is up to artist I would say. Any specific tools. or features you need?