MPM
Step into the next generation of visual effects with Houdini’s Material Point Method (MPM) tools, designed to simulate complex materials like snow, sand, mud, and soft tissue with stunning realism. Create slushy impacts, deformable creatures, sticky surfaces, and more with physical accuracy and artistic control.
Post Simulation Workflows
There have been lots of significant enhancements to the MPM solver in Houdini 21. SideFX has added a lot of features, such as preset material properties, the ability to distribute the MPM solve to compute nodes, MPM post-processing tools and the ability to add a sleeping behaviour to settle down a simulation. There are also new tools for surface tension, colliders, post fracture and surfacing.
Surface Tension
H21 | The new MPM tools give VFX artists enhanced control over liquid simulations with features like surface tension, enabling realistic effects such as droplets, tendrils, and flowing water for product shots, motion graphics, and cinematic visuals.
Colliders
H21 | The enhanced MPM deforming collider improves accuracy and enables efficient upres workflows, allowing VFX artists to achieve visually detailed simulations equivalent to billions of points without requiring heavy, resource-intensive distributed simulations.
Post Fracture
H21 | The MPM Post Fracture and Deform Pieces nodes let VFX artists retarget simulation dynamics onto fully textured assets, automatically handling fracturing, UVs, and shading attributes to create highly detailed, production-ready renderings.
Surface
H21 | The MPM Surface node lets VFX artists convert particle simulations into clean meshes or signed distance fields while accurately transferring UVs and color attributes, ensuring detailed and stable texturing even in complex destruction effects.
Debris Source
H21 | The new MPM Debris Source node automatically detects breaking points in simulations and generates emission data for secondary debris, enabling VFX artists to add realistic, detailed debris layers to destruction effects.
Activation
H21 | The new auto switch mechanism optimizes simulations by deactivating static points, allowing VFX artists to achieve faster, more efficient simulations while maintaining high-quality results, such as realistic snow effects.
Continuous Emission
H21 | The continuous emission expansion feature lets VFX artists layer new material onto existing simulations, enabling realistic effects like pressure buildup and organic expansion, ideal for scenarios such as whipped cream or fluid growth.
Multi-Material Solver
MPM is a great solver when you need to mix different kinds of materials in a single simulation. This solver will let you identify the different material properties then the solver figures it all. The results are stunning.
MPM Workflow
Learn how easy it is to set up an MPM simulation using material presets and recipes.
Beach
MPM is great for mixing the physical qualities of materials such as water and sand.
Sand
MPM works well for the simulation of grains.
Snow FX
One of the areas where MPM excels is the simulation of snow. Whether you are bringing down a mountain or plowing the streets, MPM can create the right look for your snow simulations. You can also simulate ice cream which is fun.
Avalanche
MPM captures all the material qualities of the avalanche.
Snow Plow
There is lots of great detail in this simulation of a plow compressing the snow.
Snow Bursts
In this simulation, you can see the chunks of snow that then turn to powder.
Ice Cream
MPM can also capture the material qualities of ice cream being scooped into a bowl.
MPM Car FX
Here are some MPM simulations that involve cars where the tires move through water and mud and also the crashing of a car against a wall. MPM is a multi-physics solver that can account for all of these material interactions and get you the look you need for your shot.
Mud
Simulate mud and water at the same time for dramatic effect.
Spinning Tire
Explore the node network that create the spinning tire effect.
Car Crash
MPM can also be used to create this car crushing against a wall.
MPM Destruction FX
Creating destruction shots using MPM involves setting up the right materials then letting the solver do the rest of the work. Destruction shots using RBD generally require that you manage the relationships between materials, but MPM works more naturally. Materials often start solid then break into chunks then become powder-like.
Tornado
Set up custom forces inside the solver to drive your sim.
Building
Assign materials to parts of your model and they react properly.
Smashing Fruit
The outer skin and the inner part of the fruit react naturally.
Metal
MPM can handle more complex setups such as this space debris.
Nodes
Here some of the nodes to look out for when working with MPM in Houdini. These nodes let you initiate, add properties to and control the look of your simulations.
LEARNING RESOURCES
Check out a growing collection of lessons focused on MPM in Houdini.
MPM Fundamentals
MPM Snowplow
MPM Masterclass
MPM TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE IN:
Houdini FX | Houdini Indie | Houdini Education | Houdini Apprentice