I believe it's because you need to manually create any directory(ies) you are writing to before rendering.
The Karma ROP doesn't have an auto-create subdirs toggle yet…
Cheers,
Peter B
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Technical Discussion » Anyone else have this weird issue with Karma?
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- pbowmar
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Technical Discussion » Substance plugins - Linux versions?
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- pbowmar
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Hi,
It appears that the Substance plugins are just for Windows at the moment. Any ETA on the Linux versions? Obviously one of Substances big selling points is that it works on Linux
Cheers,
Peter B
It appears that the Substance plugins are just for Windows at the moment. Any ETA on the Linux versions? Obviously one of Substances big selling points is that it works on Linux

Cheers,
Peter B
Houdini Lounge » LPE for lights using "Render Light Geometry"
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- pbowmar
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I just tested this with mwnorrie, and it works fine in a vanilla Mantra ROP, but in a DNEG tainted Mantra ROP it fails.
So… it's a DNEG problem
Cheers,
Peter B
So… it's a DNEG problem

Cheers,
Peter B
Technical Discussion » Laptop specs for Houdini
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- pbowmar
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We use Quadro at work, so for super crazy heavy geo they're good but if it's for home or casual use, GTX are fine. More system RAM and more GPU RAM also helpful.
Houdini Lounge » will Houdini run on this laptop?
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- pbowmar
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Yeah that laptop will run Houdini fine, but system RAM will be the biggest factor restricting you. GPU doesn't matter that much, I use a gtx960m and Houdini works great.
PDG » Q: Wedging preserving original value implemented?
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- pbowmar
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I forgot to thank you for all the Wedging keeping track of original values, it's very nice over all now

Houdini Lounge » Post Solaris Reveal Discussion
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- pbowmar
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Also, use SOPs for insanely powerful instancing, procedural + manual layout, and much more

Houdini Lounge » New Houdini License Tier for Lighting and Lookdev context
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- pbowmar
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I can only speak for myself, but to me the most exciting part of LOPs/Karma is that you have the full power of Houdini behind it.
I've used Clarisse and I know something of Katana, and the biggest problems with both those apps is that to fix many things you need to export from another DCC (maya, houdini, whatever). With LOPs, for the first time, is a lighting package that is truly a one-stop-shop.
I can't wait
I hope SESI don't cripple LOPs by offering it without SOPs, COPs, CHOPs and the other things that will make LOPs an outstandingly powerful lighting package.
I certainly can't comment on SESI's plans for pricing with Indie etc, but compared to Clarisse and Katana, LOPs in Houdini Core (Escape etc) is crazy cheap, as both those apps are around $8k per seat to get only 1/10th of what Houdini offers. It's incredibly good value.
Cheers,
Peter B
I've used Clarisse and I know something of Katana, and the biggest problems with both those apps is that to fix many things you need to export from another DCC (maya, houdini, whatever). With LOPs, for the first time, is a lighting package that is truly a one-stop-shop.
I can't wait

I hope SESI don't cripple LOPs by offering it without SOPs, COPs, CHOPs and the other things that will make LOPs an outstandingly powerful lighting package.
I certainly can't comment on SESI's plans for pricing with Indie etc, but compared to Clarisse and Katana, LOPs in Houdini Core (Escape etc) is crazy cheap, as both those apps are around $8k per seat to get only 1/10th of what Houdini offers. It's incredibly good value.
Cheers,
Peter B
Work in Progress » Bezier Handle Custom Python State
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- pbowmar
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Could you store the deltas on the node's Python data dict itself? Then no need editable nodes, which usually cause problems unless it's part of a specific artist workflow.
PDG » Hqueue questions/discussion
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- pbowmar
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OK nevermind, I had $HOME/houdini17.5/houdini.env that looks like was set up by the GameDev toolset or something. It seems to have broken everything. I've removed that and all is well.
PDG » Hqueue questions/discussion
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- pbowmar
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Hi,
Good advice thanks!
Sadly, Hqueue is steadfastly refusing to work for me and I can't figure out why
If I look at the debug info, I run this command in Bash and it fails:
In fact, just trying to run Hython gives me:
Any hints appreciated!
Good advice thanks!
Sadly, Hqueue is steadfastly refusing to work for me and I can't figure out why

The Houdini 17.5.257 environment has been initialized. Can't open dophints.cmd Traceback (most recent call last): File "/mnt/suse42_3/opt/data_root/hqShared/hqShared/pdgtemp/31863/scripts/rop.py", line 35, in <module> import hqueue.houdini as hq ImportError: No module named hqueue.houdini # ---- Running onError ---- # ---- Finished running onError ----
If I look at the debug info, I run this command in Bash and it fails:
export HFS="/opt/software/hfs17.5" && cd $HFS && source ./houdini_setup && "$HFS/bin/hython" "/mnt/suse42_3/opt/data_root/hqShared/hqShared/pdgtemp/31863/scripts/rop.py" The Houdini 17.5.257 environment has been initialized. Can't open dophints.cmd Traceback (most recent call last): File "/mnt/suse42_3/opt/data_root/hqShared/hqShared/pdgtemp/31863/scripts/rop.py", line 35, in <module> import hqueue.houdini as hq ImportError: No module named hqueue.houdini
In fact, just trying to run Hython gives me:
export HFS="/opt/software/hfs17.5" && cd $HFS && source ./houdini_setup && "$HFS/bin/hython" The Houdini 17.5.257 environment has been initialized. Can't open dophints.cmd /opt/software/hfs17.5/python/bin/python: No module named houdiniInterpreter
Any hints appreciated!
Edited by pbowmar - June 9, 2019 13:28:28
Technical Discussion » Menu script called multiple times
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- pbowmar
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Yes, it's a very longstanding problem that causes a lot of extra dev work unfortunately
It would be amazing if it was fixed someday.

Technical Discussion » Render time estimation ?
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- pbowmar
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Yes, that is the same as a “farm” which is what jsmack was trying to point out. It just happens to be on your machine only

Technical Discussion » Render time estimation ?
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- pbowmar
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Render times are super basic. Render your image at a low res, and then calculate how many times bigger the final image will be. Each time you double the res, it takes 4x longer (approximately! since rare is the image that is square) minus the initial startup time which stays approximately the same.
So, you render at 320x200 resolution. The setup time takes 1 minute (let's say) and the final render takes 2 minutes (let's say).
So if your final render is 2560x1600, then:
320x2x2x2 means final time of 2 minute X4 x4 X4 or 128 minutes. Plus 1 more minute for the setup time.
All approximate of course but gives you a decent idea.
There is no render engine that can estimate even vaguely a render time without having rendered the image at least once. That I'm aware of! If there is, I would love to know about it.
Cheers,
peter B
So, you render at 320x200 resolution. The setup time takes 1 minute (let's say) and the final render takes 2 minutes (let's say).
So if your final render is 2560x1600, then:
320x2x2x2 means final time of 2 minute X4 x4 X4 or 128 minutes. Plus 1 more minute for the setup time.
All approximate of course but gives you a decent idea.
There is no render engine that can estimate even vaguely a render time without having rendered the image at least once. That I'm aware of! If there is, I would love to know about it.
Cheers,
peter B
Edited by pbowmar - May 23, 2019 16:20:10
Houdini for Realtime » Game Tools | AliceVision
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- pbowmar
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Hi Paul,
I just noticed this created in $HIH:
\tmp\AV_Cache\testApple
However I'm on Linux so… I'm guessing some Windows-specific code snuck in?
That's created as a single directory. Also given how big that could potentially be, is $HOME/houdini17.5 the best place for it? Why not $TEMP? I could be missing something though.
17.5.253 Linux
Cheers,
Peter B
I just noticed this created in $HIH:
\tmp\AV_Cache\testApple
However I'm on Linux so… I'm guessing some Windows-specific code snuck in?

That's created as a single directory. Also given how big that could potentially be, is $HOME/houdini17.5 the best place for it? Why not $TEMP? I could be missing something though.
17.5.253 Linux
Cheers,
Peter B
PDG » RFE: DnD parms into Wedge TOPs
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- pbowmar
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Hi,
Currently there is no easy way to get parms into a Wedge TOP other than doing a Drag and Drop and choosing “Absolute reference” then manually editing out the expression bits. The Parm chooser dialog is waaaay too slow in a file with 100's of nodes and many parms on each node.
RFE: Please add a new DnD “drop” action “Parm Path” that simply types in the path to the parm.
Cheers,
Peter B
Currently there is no easy way to get parms into a Wedge TOP other than doing a Drag and Drop and choosing “Absolute reference” then manually editing out the expression bits. The Parm chooser dialog is waaaay too slow in a file with 100's of nodes and many parms on each node.
RFE: Please add a new DnD “drop” action “Parm Path” that simply types in the path to the parm.
Cheers,
Peter B
PDG » Q: Wedging preserving original value implemented?
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- pbowmar
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Seems to work now thanks!
I do notice that if I use the Orient parameter from the Torus (as an example) and use its String value (i.e. x, y, z) I will get errors on the Wedge node:
The Int version of that parm works though.
Calling parm.set(“x”) etc does work, so not sure why it's failing.
I do see where “bad” data could be entered in the Wedge top though when wedging strings, perhaps this could be a little more artist friendly if that happens?
17.5.253 Linux
Cheers,
Peter B
I do notice that if I use the Orient parameter from the Torus (as an example) and use its String value (i.e. x, y, z) I will get errors on the Wedge node:
Error running callback 'onDeselectTask': The attempted operation failed. Invalid menu item Traceback (most recent call last): File "/opt/software/hfs17.5/houdini/pdg/types/utils/wedge.py", line 92, in onDeselectTask top_node.hdaModule().restoreAllCallback(args) File "opdef:/Top/wedge?PythonModule", line 87, in restoreAllCallback File "opdef:/Top/wedge?PythonModule", line 62, in _restoreImpl File "/opt/software/hfs17.5/houdini/python2.7libs/houpythonportion/ParmTuple.py", line 72, in set self._set(value) File "/opt/software/hfs17.5/houdini/python2.7libs/hou.py", line 45860, in _set def _set(*args): return _hou.ParmTuple__set(*args) OperationFailed: The attempted operation failed. Invalid menu item
The Int version of that parm works though.
Calling parm.set(“x”) etc does work, so not sure why it's failing.
I do see where “bad” data could be entered in the Wedge top though when wedging strings, perhaps this could be a little more artist friendly if that happens?
17.5.253 Linux
Cheers,
Peter B
PDG » Q: Wedging preserving original value implemented?
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- pbowmar
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PDG » Q: Wedging preserving original value implemented?
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- pbowmar
- 6474 posts
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Hi,
Giving it a try! However, I can't make it work or I don't understand… Please see video for trivial example.
Also, the attached .hip throws up a Python error when I try to restore a String wedge.
17.0.252 Linux
Cheers,
peter B
Giving it a try! However, I can't make it work or I don't understand… Please see video for trivial example.
Also, the attached .hip throws up a Python error when I try to restore a String wedge.
17.0.252 Linux
Cheers,
peter B
Technical Discussion » Linux Distribution
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- pbowmar
- 6474 posts
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“It depends” 
If you're using Houdini exclusively, then basically any modern Linux distro will work, as Side Effects are easily the best since Houdini works on almost every Linux I've ever tried.
Are you a technical person? If not, you may find OpenSUSE or Ubuntu easier to deal with setting things up. I recommend Kubuntu over Ubuntu since Ubuntu only has the Gnome desktop which is (personal opinion) crap.
If you use other software such as Maya, Substance Painter/Designer, then you should likely stick closer to an RPM based Linux distro, which means OpenSUSE, Centos 7 (or higher) and others. You can get Maya etc to work on non RPM based systems but you'll start to get technical and it can be frustrating if you prefer making images over running command line scripts
If you're on a Laptop I definitely recommend Kubuntu or Ubuntu, as it's the best I've found for laptops. It even supports the Intel/Nvidia hybrid cards. Again, if you're technical and don't mind spending a lot of time on tech setup, you might be able to get other distros to work on the laptop.
I'd say just as important as the distro is the graphics card. There is only one choice for Linux: Nvidia for better or worse. The drivers “just work” and with OpenSUSE and Kubuntu (and probably others) you just install them and away you go.
Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Peter B

If you're using Houdini exclusively, then basically any modern Linux distro will work, as Side Effects are easily the best since Houdini works on almost every Linux I've ever tried.
Are you a technical person? If not, you may find OpenSUSE or Ubuntu easier to deal with setting things up. I recommend Kubuntu over Ubuntu since Ubuntu only has the Gnome desktop which is (personal opinion) crap.
If you use other software such as Maya, Substance Painter/Designer, then you should likely stick closer to an RPM based Linux distro, which means OpenSUSE, Centos 7 (or higher) and others. You can get Maya etc to work on non RPM based systems but you'll start to get technical and it can be frustrating if you prefer making images over running command line scripts

If you're on a Laptop I definitely recommend Kubuntu or Ubuntu, as it's the best I've found for laptops. It even supports the Intel/Nvidia hybrid cards. Again, if you're technical and don't mind spending a lot of time on tech setup, you might be able to get other distros to work on the laptop.
I'd say just as important as the distro is the graphics card. There is only one choice for Linux: Nvidia for better or worse. The drivers “just work” and with OpenSUSE and Kubuntu (and probably others) you just install them and away you go.
Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Peter B
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