Hi All

I've just bought a $99 licence to Apprentice HD and although it looks amazingly powerful, like a lot of beginners, I'm struggling a bit to learn the ropes.

Eventually I do want to learn how to model/animate with Houdini, but right now I want to do something simpler I hope you guys can help me with. I've bought some 3d models from an online store. They're supplied in various different formats (including FBX) and each come with their own textures, normal maps, height maps, and specularity maps etc..

What I want to do is import a model and associated textures into a “scene” in Houdini, position the model, light the scene, and render it out to a 2d texture (a .png file with transparency). The reason for this is so I can use the texture as a sprite or background image in a 2d game.

Can someone please explain the process for doing this, or point me towards a relevant tutorial/guide for this please?

Many thanks!
Matt

If it is texture unwrapping you want, you need to add the necessary render properties to your output driver Mantra ROP.

Have a look at the OdForce wiki on Shader Unwrapping / Texture Baking here:
http://odforce.net/wiki/index.php/ShaderUnwrap [odforce.net]

The model should be UV unwrapped already if you bought it from a known vendor. After importing the FBX files, there should a material SOP inside the SubNet. You could modify the shader/material in there.

However, Houdini is not the same as other 3D package. You have to get used to its workflow. Once you get a hold of it, it is very powerful.

Try the intro tutorials of Digital Tutor or 3D Buzz to get you up to speed.

Try these great tutorials from Peter Quint. There are alot of information in there includind basic stuff to complex stuff.
http://www.vimeo.com/user2030228/videos/sort:date [vimeo.com]

Easiest way to bring geometry is using file->import. I would say that for now go with .obj format for time being because it would be easier for you. In many cases .fbx might offer you complete solution, but for a starter the way the imported fbx network looks inside Houdini panes might be confusing.

-import the obj
-open material palette
-create a decal material(double click)
-drag and drop the new material icon over your model in 3d view
-in the material settings there is a texture slot, go find your texture using the browser icon in the slot


If your model has uvs by default, these steps should be sufficient for loading a simple .obj file