First off I dont intend this thread to be a VS. war by any stretch of the word. I just have a simple question in regards to known differences between Blender and houdini strictly in regards to modeling. I guess my question is this: Is houdini on par with or surpassing blender when it comes to modeling? I just wanted to know as I have been studying extensively with blender and houdini and due to the ease of modeling in blender I have neglected time learning houdini (I want to learn houdini for industry purposes). Could someone offer some unbiased advice and please no vs wars as this is not what this thread was intended for. Thank you.

Hairston

When I first started to play with 3d (was about 2005), I started with Blender. I found Blender a hard application to grasp at first, but once the methods were known, the speed to modeling was hugley fast.

Exactly the same with Houdini. Once you get the grasp of it, its just as fast and easy as any other modling app, however for certain deformers like a FFD/Lattice deformer, you have to build your own, which is very easy to do.

Sometimes I model in other packages and import into Houdini, but to be honest, I like to do everything right inside Houdini, as Ive never used a more intuative application than this. Ive even started to composite inside COPS rather than exporting out to another app, everything you need is right in 1 program.

Cheers

For me it depends on the modeling task i have to do.
If there is a need for parametric control over the model then i definitely choose Houdini but for orgaic modeling like characters and many other props
I still prefer modeling/UVmapping in other packages where i can model so much faster, i do not need the modeling history for that type of tasks. It allways ends up as obj file on disk anyways. Houdini is very good with external geometry, you do not need to include it in the scene and thus keep the scene very light.

It is up to your personal preference.
So if you are comfortable with blender modeling toolset there is no problem modeling in blender and do the rest in houdini. Meanwhile you can learn houdini modeling toolset . If you want to use Houdini in production you cannot avoid learning sops, so you can see on your own if the houdini modeling workflow suits you and for which type of tasks.

Thank you all very much for the courteous responses. I think im going to continue learning them both. Ive just spent more time with blenders modelling because it feels a little more natural to me..However, I have seen some of the amazing things that houdini has produced and for what im trying to specialize in (particles and rigid/soft body dynamics), I think houdini needs just as much of my attention. Thanks again!

ragupasta
Once you get the grasp of it, its just as fast and easy as any other modling app, however for certain deformers like a FFD/Lattice deformer, you have to build your own, which is very easy to do.

Lattice SOP?

edward

ragupasta
Once you get the grasp of it, its just as fast and easy as any other modling app, however for certain deformers like a FFD/Lattice deformer, you have to build your own, which is very easy to do.

Lattice SOP?

Yes lattice SOP, but I meant as in other packages, you add a lattice/FFD deformer and start tweaking right away. Whereas in houdini you drop the geo to deform into input 1, add a box (for example) into input 2 and 3, and drop an edit sop between the box and input 3 and use that to define the deformation.

I was mearly making a suggestion to the workflow differences between the packages mentioned.
I actually prefer the method of defining your own deformation cage/control system, gives much more flexability.

You can use the Lattice tool on the shelf, which lets you work right away. Then if you want to get more complicated you can define a separate bounding box. Then you get the best of both worlds.

moonlightkiss
You can use the Lattice tool on the shelf, which lets you work right away.

Unfortunatley I quite often neglect the shelf tools. A bad habit I still sometimes have from playing with H8 for so long… ops:

ragupasta
Unfortunatley I quite often neglect the shelf tools. A bad habit I still sometimes have from playing with H8 for so long… ops:

I believe that the viewport lattice state also wired everything up for you in H8.