Hi guys! I've never used Houdini, but I've been doing alot of research on it. My company is looking for new modeling/animation software, and I'm just trying to get some perspective on what Houdini is good at..

I work at a publishing company, and a big part of my job is creating 3D illustrations for printing, mostly in textbooks and other educational materials…but an equally big part of my job is taking those 3D models, and animating them into videos that go a step further in explaining processes.

The models we create are pretty varied, and could be mechanical physics concepts, or organic biology concepts…and the animations include lots of moving shapes and arrows among other things…

Assuming that we would buy the normal $2000 version of Houdini…Would this program give us everything we need to make detailed models from scratch, render for print, AND tackle our animations?…

Any feedback is welcome…I hope to look at the demo version soon.

One the great advantages of Houdini is that works in a procedural fashion, meaning that you can always go back and change the way you built something.

Once you work this way, it's always funny to read that other software has the ability to now change ‘history’ for certain operations.

Best way to get the free demo and check it out.

Yes , Houdini is full 3D software for Modeling , Animating , Dynamics , Rendering or even Compositing.

But Houdini's workflow is very different to another 3D softwares.
Houdini is Full Node-Base and Procedural software , So If you search more about Procedural modeling , you will know that you can do some impressive stuffs in Houdini which creating them are very hard in others or even you should just use programming for creating them.

But important thing in my opinion is learning another softwares like Maya for only general modeling (non procedural) is simpler than Houdini.

So if you wanna use power of the Houdini , You should learn more and more about it , not only for static models ! 8)

I'd be pairing non-moniloth software such as Blender or Moi3d, maybe Modo before Maya.

You'd simply load the model into Houdini for all the fun stuff then.

Houdini+Blender is a really nice combo. As soon as they implement Alembic (its listed as one of the development targets in the near future) import/export it will become even better. You could then roundtrip:

1. Simpler projects -> model-Blender, animation-Houdini, render-Blender/Cycles
2. More complex -> model-Blender/Houdini, animation Blender/Houdini, render-Houdini/Mantra

el_diablo
Houdini+Blender is a really nice combo. As soon as they implement Alembic (its listed as one of the development targets in the near future) import/export it will become even better. You could then roundtrip:

1. Simpler projects -> model-Blender, animation-Houdini, render-Blender/Cycles
2. More complex -> model-Blender/Houdini, animation Blender/Houdini, render-Houdini/Mantra

Yes , I think so.
Houdini + another 3D software is really awesome and powerful.(for Modeling , Animation and Character Setup)
Houdini + Maya or Blender
Of course in the FX , I usually working just with Houdini :arrow:

Wow, thank you guys for all the insight…that's actually super helpful! Right now, we use a program called Strata Design CX 7 at work…and it's pretty painful. The code is archaic and buggy, and Strata hasn't even gotten around to adding basic features that free programs have had for years (the rendering is pretty good though) I used Maya before this, and liked it…the new versions look even better…

One of the things that I really need is good modelling tools…Strata has no modelling helps…like mirroring symmetry or smoothing/bulging brushes, and everything takes so long to create… so I think I'll jump into the Houdini demo and check it out. I hope I like the nodes!

I have been using and following the development cycle of Blender for the last 3 years and I totally agree that Blender + Houdini will be an amazing combo in the near future, as mentioned above as soon as Blender implements the Alembic support. Blender is very underestimated and extremely capable. I think it is a great complimentary tool to the Houdini. I believe that it is well worth the effort put in both.

Jesse Brady
Wow, thank you guys for all the insight…that's actually super helpful! Right now, we use a program called Strata Design CX 7 at work…and it's pretty painful. The code is archaic and buggy, and Strata hasn't even gotten around to adding basic features that free programs have had for years (the rendering is pretty good though) I used Maya before this, and liked it…the new versions look even better…

One of the things that I really need is good modelling tools…Strata has no modelling helps…like mirroring symmetry or smoothing/bulging brushes, and everything takes so long to create… so I think I'll jump into the Houdini demo and check it out. I hope I like the nodes!

Yes , Maya is a great tool that can help us for creating impressive projects (FX . etc).
If you search about VFX jobs on the net , you should see that too many big companies in the VFX industry , looking for a man who has perfect experience in the Maya (And/Or Houidini) !
You can have perfect relationship between Maya and Houdini with Alembic format.

Also you can export your assets and Procedural Tools to the Maya with Houdini Engine.
even you can use VDB for exporting Volumes to the Maya.

Both software support Arnold rendering engine.

I didn't work with Blender , But I hear this software is perfect choice if you wanna use a free and open-source 3D software , Blender is very powerful today , even you can create some special dynamics such as Fluid Effects with Blender too !

8)

el_diablo
Houdini+Blender is a really nice combo. As soon as they implement Alembic (its listed as one of the development targets in the near future) import/export it will become even better. You could then roundtrip:

1. Simpler projects -> model-Blender, animation-Houdini, render-Blender/Cycles
2. More complex -> model-Blender/Houdini, animation Blender/Houdini, render-Houdini/Mantra

This is exactly what I am doing for more than year now. Perfect combo.

Jesse Brady
I work at a publishing company, and a big part of my job is creating 3D illustrations for printing, mostly in textbooks and other educational materials…but an equally big part of my job is taking those 3D models, and animating them into videos that go a step further in explaining processes.

The models we create are pretty varied, and could be mechanical physics concepts, or organic biology concepts…and the animations include lots of moving shapes and arrows among other things…

Assuming that we would buy the normal $2000 version of Houdini…Would this program give us everything we need to make detailed models from scratch, render for print, AND tackle our animations?…

Any feedback is welcome…I hope to look at the demo version soon.

I don't know what guys above are smoking but they should definitely stop using it.

For illustrations and printing in a publishing company Houdini would be my last choice. There is a reason why concept guys and other artists doesn't use it. In your case my advice is to look into Modo + Zbrush. They will serve you better.

Beside VFX the only two good uses for Houdini are procedural creation of models for games (or some GIS company like ESRI) or 3D mapping companies that need parametric modeling for interactive visualizations. And if you are technically skilled you can also use it for Motion Design.

Illustrations and printing? If it's 3D printing of some procedural shapes, then yes. Anything other? Forget about Houdini.

Houdini leaner here; id go for it, because - although the learning curve is immense ( its the best 3D tool there is!) - why not equip yourself with new skills, new perspectives and horizons; and join a thriving houdini community.

Houdini cetainly isnt designed to focus on making easy / rapid fire attempts ( unless you have designed a tool for the job) - its designed to give you the flexibility and potential to let you create anything in your mind - no matter how complex; Just like Nuke in the compositing arena. But, the only caveat is that it involves major learning and thinking, and getting to grips with fundemental principles of 3D, math, physics etc etc - which is why it is so brilliant an application - you can make it as deep and as sophisticated as you wish to go; or fall into…..

mantragora
For illustrations and printing in a publishing company Houdini would be my last choice. There is a reason why concept guys and other artists doesn't use it. In your case my advice is to look into Modo + Zbrush. They will serve you better.

Haha, thanks Mantragora…I'm getting that vibe from some of the responses. I think my next move will be to try to get them to spring for Maya. I already know and love Maya, so I hope they go for it.

You guys have been great. If I ever get into Houdini, it's nice to know that there's a good group backing it.

Scratch that! Where has MODO been all my life! Looks amazing at half the cost of Maya! I cant believe it's only $1500 after looking at the tool set. Will definitely give that a try!! haha

Thank you to those that mentioned it here!