Before I start retrieving the CDs, I would like to find out the following (I have used Houdini 3.1 in the past)

(1) Does Houdini Apprentice have RIB output capabilities or are they
disabled?

(2) Does Houdini Apprentice have Vex procedural shader capabilities?

(3) Does Houdini Apprentice comes with the HDK? I have an idea for a
plug-in OP using multi-resolution images (http://www.earthetc.com). [earthetc.com]

(4) Does Houdini Apprentice still retain the Python scripting capabilities?

The focus of Houdini Apprentice is allowing 3D artists the opportunity to work with Houdini's built-in tools and techniques. Connections to the outside world have been disabled. Therefore:

(1) No. RIB output or Renderman rendering from Apprentice.

(2) Yes. There is now an interface for building these shaders that can be found in the Vex builder.

(3) No.

(4) No.

Robert Magee
Customer Experience Specialist
Side Effects Software Inc.