ubcsdelta

SIgor420
I want to be an artist that can do cool stuff without ever touching the code. If I wanted to a programmer, I would go to programming school.

I think it's not Houdini's fault, it's just the generative/procedural design methodology that is hard. I'm not a programmer myself but it seems sometimes the code might be the most approachable/readable way of expressing the complicated procedural system.
Anyway I think SideFX is doing a great job with making these advanced paradigms relatively accessible and pleasant to work with (Rhino Grasshopper, I'm looking at you シ)

Grendizer
Wow thanks for the long informative video! I'll try to follow it tomorrow just like a tutorial.
You should put it on a video site such as Vimeo and name it "some Hou modelling tips".
Also I like the relaxing music in the background!
So, I'll tell you more about it tomorrow but from what I saw your advices are very good.

Grendizer
Hey Slgor, I did a small video for you, hope you'll enjoy it Sorry for my accent!

Jonathan de Blok
Ok, maybe they were idiots All I'm saying is that there is a subtle cost by making things more accessible.

I gained a much deeper understanding of Houdini because I actually had to write a lot of tools myself, discovering a lot of stuff while going through API docs or even hacking stuff beyond the api. And looking back the most rewarding and enjoyable jobs I did are those involving both epic technical and artistic challenges, growing both skill sets in the process.

It a balancing act between challenging the users vs scaring them away.. Just like in videogames, no feel of achievement makes a project quite boring.

Grendizer
Hey Slgor, thanks for the help. However with Polysplit I have to click on each perpendicular edge. I'd like to select edges, drag the mouse for the location of the new perpendicular edges, then click ONCE.
See you

eikonoklastes
Ultimately, I want Houdini to be an easier app to work with, shed its "you need a PhD to work it" perception, attract more users, grow in popularity, and eventually be The One App That Does it All. Is that too much to ask? Maybe with H20...

Grendizer
Well imagine I need to add a perpendicular edge that runs on 3 parallel edges only. I want to choose where the subdivision will be. So I drag the mouse from left to right, viewing a preview of where the new edges will be.
It's just like adding edge using the Edge Loop button, but without adding it on a full ring of edges, just 3 of them.

Grendizer
Another question : is there a similar tool than edge loop, but only for selected edges?

tsiwt
Obviously SideFX needs to revamp its U.I/U.X I have to jump between so many windows just to render. This is absurd. Material assignment and the material interface is such a drag visually. Parameter windows needs better organization not everything on the same hierarchy. Just making some text bolder than other to differentiate the operations can go a long way. What if you hover over a node and there is another icon that if you click it gives you an example of how to use that node in a small window.

These are things at the top of my head, what if improving houdini was my job? hummm.

Grendizer
Thanks. I didn't know edge loop was a replacement for Edge Divide.
As for PolyDraw, this seems to be used only for retopo, if I understood correctly...

Grendizer
Ok thanks but what's the replacement tool?

Grendizer
the bug is still there in v18.5. the "tolerance" slider kind of fix it but it's not normal to be forced to use it. By default it should work.

Sygnum
UI design isnt`t anything someone should ever do on the side, and never some developer/programmer

wanglifu
As I know,UI/UX update should not influence the software development, the teams are independent.

Jonathan de Blok
I find Houdini has one of the most technically sound implemented UIs. It's fast, consistent, properly based on Qt and good API/Pyhthon access. (I come from 3dsmax background, so UI wise anything is brilliant compared to that )

It could use some additional features like more control types (2d sliders for example) and maybe some styling/layout tweaks but a big technical overhaul is not really needed imho.

wanglifu
So when will houdini update the UI/UX to modern?Nothing changed in H19.