Reference

Subtopics

Expression functions

Expression functions let you compute the value of parameters.
Expression cookbook

Tips and tricks for writing expressions to accomplish various effects.
Python Scripting

How to script Houdini using Python and the Houdini Object Model.
VEX

VEX is a high-performance expression language used in many places in Houdini, such as writing shaders.
HScript commands

HScript is Houdini’s legacy scripting language.

Starting Houdini from the command line
Stand-alone utilities

Houdini includes a large number of useful command-line utility programs.

What’s new in Houdini 17.5

New features and changes in Houdini 17.5.
Basics

The basics of working with Houdini’s user interface.
Shelf tools

How to use and customize the icons on the shelf at the top of the main window.
Networks and parameters

How to use the network and parameter editors to work in Houdini.
Examples

Example files showing how different nodes work.
How to use the help

How to use the online help and document your own tools.

Geometry

How Houdini represents geometry and how to create and edit it.
Copying and instancing

How to use copies (real geometry) and instances (loaded or created at render time).
Animation

How to create and keyframe animation in Houdini.
Character

How to rig and animate characters in Houdini.
Rendering

How to render images and animation from the 3D scene.
Materials

How to assign materials and create custom materials for shading.
Compositing

Houdini’s compositing networks let you create and manipulate images such as renders.
Digital assets

Digital assets let you create reusable nodes and tools from existing networks.
Import and export

How to get scene, object, and other data in and out of Houdini.
Dependency networks
MPlay viewer

Using Houdini’s stand-alone image viewer.

OBJ - Object nodes

Object nodes represent objects in the scene, such as character parts, geometry objects, lights, cameras, and so on.
SOP - Geometry nodes

Geometry nodes live inside Geo objects and generate geometry.
DOP - Dynamics nodes

Dynamics nodes set up the conditions and rules for dynamics simulations.
VOP - Shader nodes

VOP nodes let you define a program (such as a shader) by connecting nodes together. Houdini then compiles the node network into executable VEX code.
ROP - Render nodes

Render nodes either render the scene or set up render dependency networks.
CHOP - Channel nodes

Channel nodes create, filter, and manipulate channel data.
COP2 - Compositing nodes

Composite nodes create, filter, and manipulate image data.
TOP - Dependency nodes

TOP nodes live inside TOP objects and do work.

Menus

Explains each of the items in the main menus.
Viewers

Viewer pane types.
Panes

Documents the options in various panes.
Windows

Documents the options in various user interface windows.
Stand-alone utilities

Houdini includes a large number of useful command-line utility programs.
Python Scripting

How to script Houdini using Python and the Houdini Object Model.
Expression functions

Expression functions let you compute the value of parameters.
HScript commands

HScript is Houdini’s legacy scripting language.
VEX

VEX is a high-performance expression language used in many places in Houdini, such as writing shaders.
Properties

Properties let you set up flexible and powerful hierarchies of rendering, shading, lighting, and camera parameters.
Python Panels

You can script custom pane types using Python to create your own UIs.
Galleries

Pre-made materials included with Houdini.
Houdini Package

Tips for creating an installation package for plugin tools.