Hi there,

my first post here.
First, a brief introduction. I've been working in the Motion Graphics industry for several years now. I started using C4D back in 2005. It was easy, the 3d app for mograph users and had one of the best integration with AE.
I never used Xpresso as my main interest is the design stage and what I always need it's something fast to deal with, in order to get the idea sketched out relatively fast.
Then I felt I wanted to learn more about particles and thus I started playing around with XSI. I loved ICE because I didn't need to have any particular math skills, yet I was able to take the available compounds that people were generously sharing on the net and mess around with them to get what I needed.
They killed Softimage and I moved to 3ds Max, which is now my weapon of choice. Fast modelling tools, Vray integration is some of the best on the market. To me is ideal solution in between motion graphics and vfx: great quality and versatility.
Where I'm stuck, though, is the particle side. PFlow is simple and I can do basic stuff, but I miss ICE. For instance, getting something like ICE strands in 3sd Max is just not possible.
That's where I get interested in Houdini. I never tried it, but from what I'm seeing it is definitely one of the best tool for particle simulation. My biggest concern is the techy side of it. From what I'm reading, in order to use it one needs to have some math knowledge.

So, long story short, I guess my question is: would make any sense looking at Houdini considering my main area of interest is motion graphics with particular attention to particles? All this considered I'm not a TD by any means.

Thanks for any info and sorry for the long introduction.

Best,
Andrew

What do you have to lose?

Apprentice is a full version, except for watermark rendering, that never expires. Part of the problem I have with other software is that I may have good intentions on learning it and pull down a demo but by the time I get around to it the software has expired and I can no longer try it. With Houdini the trial period is as long as you like.

Enivob
What do you have to lose?

Apprentice is a full version, except for watermark rendering, that never expires. Part of the problem I have with other software is that I may have good intentions on learning it and pull down a demo but by the time I get around to it the software has expired and I can no longer try it. With Houdini the trial period is as long as you like.

Well, I understand your point, in terms of what I have to lose there's actually the time factor. Learning a new applications takes time, and you don't know if at the end of the journey that's the app you needed or if you embraced a trip too long for your needs.
With 3ds Max it's been quite straight forward, I knew was pretty much good for motion graphics and I could rely on VRay in order to take some steps further from C4D render engine. What I didn't know was how much I could get from PFlow.

I guess at this point my question is:
1) Can learning Houdini be considered as easy as any other 3d app for what concerns general tasks (modelling, rendering, animation)?

If I can check mark that question, than my next question would be:
2) When it come to particles, do I need a deep level of knowledge, or can I mess around taking advantage of scenes and tools available around?

I know the second one is tricky, because it all depends on what I want to achieve. Let's say for now it's about something like this:
https://vimeo.com/98732317 [vimeo.com]
https://vimeo.com/51008275 [vimeo.com]
https://www.behance.net/gallery/5560557/quant [behance.net]
https://www.behance.net/gallery/5559623/search [behance.net]
http://emrah.ca/#/colr/ [emrah.ca]

My current knowledge of 3ds Max allows me to get quite close.
Last example for instance, color, I could do something similar in 3ds, but growing strands is not where it excels.
Or think to Tim Borgmann stuff..

I think that the easiest way for you to jump in on the Houdini train would be to use Houdini Engine for 3dsmax, which is still in development and not even in Beta. But you could ask SESI, maybe they could contact you with the guy that develops it and pick you as one of the testers.

That way you could stay in Max and learn Houdini along the way.

mantragora
I think that the easiest way for you to jump in on the Houdini train would be to use Houdini Engine for 3dsmax, which is still in development and not even in Beta. But you could ask SESI, maybe they could contact you with the guy that develops it and pick you as one of the testers.

That way you could stay in Max and learn Houdini along the way.

That's interesting.
I've seen news popping out here and there about Houdini engine (I believe for C4D and.. Maya I guess?) but I didn't read what it is actually about.

I'll take a look and read something about it.
Thanks for the heads up.

Edit: oh, and you use Max too?

verysame
Edit: oh, and you use Max too?

Well, I had some period with it couple years ago. Not anymore.

just learn it. You will not regret it.

The amount of understanding you will gain will allow you to create/understand tools in any other package on a much deeper level. You will see Houdini more as a platform instead of as an application. You will learn computer graphics instead of shelf tools.

There is a learning curve, but for the stage you are at, where you are looking for something similar to ICE, you are either looking for Houdini's vops, or the new Bifrost in Maya. – But Houdini is much more integrated across different contexts.