I was hoping there was a printable manual so I can study the software thoroughly. I searched around with nothing in sight. Does anyone know how I can possibly do this?

nope…

there has been talk of being able to do this in the future….

Is there anyway I can buy the manuals that comes with the package?

no
there are no ‘manuals’…just the included docs…
search the fourm and you'll find lots of chat about it…SESI is aware of the need for something that can be accessed outside of houdini…

Not too long to wait until Will Cunnigham's “Magic of Houdini” book [odforce.net] is available. Maybe that will do as a stop-gap until hard-copy manuals are available?

I sure hope it's not a stopgap, but the definitive learning guide for those new to Houdini! Not that I'm biased or anything )

There's a manual, it's just not (easily) printable yet.

This is one reason why Houdini is so difficult to learn.

tis true. tis true. the book will be coming out in the near future and it is specifically directed at easing the learning curve into this amazing, and sometimes baffling, software.

and peter is hopelessly biased as he has contributed a good deal of material to it! though, from my own hopelessly biased perspective, he did a great job. hehe.

salud,

will

It's not the learning curve I'm having trouble with. I just want to read the entire manual and know it well. I do look forward to your book though.