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Abstract FX in Houdini

Abstract FX in Houdini

An 8-week course using Houdini as a design tool that focuses on abstraction and non-traditional FX
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Overview Trailers Gallery Instructors Interview Pricing Benefits Testimonials

Create abstract effects using Houdini

Create abstract effects using Houdini
Virtually every tool in Houdini can be used for abstraction. Houdini is a means to an end, but not the end in itself. This class will focus on using Houdini outside of the traditional FX pipeline. Houdini can do much more than simulations and explosions. Here, we’ll be using Houdini as a design tool, focusing on abstraction and non-traditional FX. We’ll be looking at lots of inspirational forms from nature and architecture and learning how to create procedural networks that capture the essence of them. Rather than completing one large project, we’ll be tackling small tools and concepts that you can use as building blocks for larger ideas and visions. The goal is to get you thinking procedurally, embracing the core concepts of Houdini, and pushing you into new creative territory by expanding your tool set. NOTE: Lectures were recorded using Houdini 18.5
Registration Now Open
Registration Period
Oct 09, 2024 - Jan 29, 2025
Course Start
Jan 24, 2025

Course Format

Standard

Skills Level

Intermediate

Duration

8 weeks

Q&A

Live recorded session

Feedback

Individually recorded

Lecture Type

Pre-recorded
Assignment
Due each week. Expect to spend 10-15 hrs/wk viewing lectures, Q&A, and time on assignments.
PREREQUISITES
Working knowledge of Houdini and some coding experience is recommended.
MATERIALS
Houdini 18.5 or latest Houdini, Nuke

The more you know, the better.

We’re going to start off the course with a look at various methods of procedural modeling in Houdini. We’ll go through examples of some of the common modeling nodes, and then put everything together to create a procedural Haeckel-inspired organism.
We’ll break apart the various methods of instancing geometry to points. We’ll learn about how to control their attributes through VEX and VOP operators, and how to randomize or use animated instances in production. Out demo for this week will be a procedurally animated garden.
This lesson will focus on the core concepts of particles and particle behavior in Houdini. We’ll learn various methods of controlling particle behavior, leading to a demo project of a particle-human being formed from abstract clusters of environment particles.
We’re going to break down rigid-body simulations this week, learning how to art-direct and control bullet-solver simulations. We’ll focus on choreographing a simulation where parts of the simulation are controlled by an underlying animation, while other parts are allowed to break free and become simulation objects.
Houdini’s Vellum solver is great for more than just cloth. While we will cover cloth, we’ll mainly focus on building a layered granular simulation for this week. We’ll learn how to set up and use Vellum constraints, how to art-direct Vellum simulations, and how to have vellum objects interact with other Houdini objects.
This week is all about volumetric fluid simulations. We are going to take a big tour of FLIP fluids and volumetric smoke simulations. We’ll go into various solver settings and cover meshing fluids, as well. For our demo project, we will combine both a volumetric smoke simulation and FLIP simulation to make something truly weird.
KineFX is Houdini’s new system for procedural rigging. While KineFX is still under development, we want to make sure to get you up to speed with as much info as we can, so you’ll be ready to run when it becomes fully production-ready. This week will focus on building a character rig in KineFX. In addition to building a rig, you’ll also learn how to apply motion-capture clips to it.
The entire world of your imagination is open to you, once you get a proper grip on Houdini. In this lesson, we are going to explore some math-heavy, and some easier low-tech, ways of making intricate designs.

Trailers

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Course Trailer

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Instructor Trailer

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Demo Reel

STUDENT GALLERY

Unleashing your creative potential

David Ferreira
CG Supervisor
LECTURES BY Adam Swaab
Course Start: Jan 24, 2025
David Ferreira was raised by the sea of Nazaré, Portugal. He graduated in Biology and then pursued studies in Architecture. During his third year, he had his first encounter with 3ds Max. David began to earn a substantial income from simple 3D projects, which led him to make the decision to abandon Architecture and embark on a career in Computer Graphics. This marked the inception of his primarily self-taught journey, with a focus on Architectural Visualization (Archviz). Over the years, he also worked as an instructor while maintaining the role of a generalist freelancer. Most recently, he achieved the position of a full-time CG Supervisor at Accenture Song VFX (formerly Mackevision).

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Instructor's Gallery

VFX
VFX
VFX

Bringing Out the Best in Talent

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Finding Your Flow for Abstraction With Houdini

Introduction I am Akshay Tiwari, a Houdini designer. I love math and art. Both disciplines pursue questions surrounding beauty and truth in their own distinct ways – there...

Interview with

Akshay Tiwari

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From Earth: Abstract Liquid Vase Simulation in Houdini

Introduction My name is James Tupper. I’m a multidisciplinary designer and filmmaker originally from the coast of North Carolina and currently based in Raleigh, NC. I...

Interview with

James Tupper

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Making a Procedural Citadel in Houdini

Introduction My name is Nikola Damjanov, born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia, and currently working at this incredible mobile gaming company called Nordeus, which I really consider...

Interview with

Nikola Damjanov

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The Captive: Tips on Creating Monsters in Houdini

Introduction My name is Wolfram Neuer. I am from Vienna and have been working in the games industry for about 16 years. Early in my...

Interview with

Wolfram Neuer

PRICING SCHEDULE

Even though our courses are the most affordable for the quality of education, these finance options allow you to focus on your goals instead of the barriers that keep you from reaching them.

3x Payments

$233

2x Payments

$349.50

Full payment

$699

Winter TERM REGISTRATION Now Open
Oct 09, 2024 - Jan 27, 2025
COURSE BEGINS on Jan 24, 2025
Abstract FX in Houdini

What makes this learning experience unique?

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK

Receive personalized feedback on all assignments from the industry’s top professionals.

LIFETIME ACCESS

Enjoy lifetime access to the spectrum of course content, including lectures, live Q&As, and feedback sessions.

CERTIFICATION

Show off your Certification of Completion when you turn in 80% of course assignments.

FLEXIBLE LEARNING

Learn anywhere, anytime, and at your own pace with flexible, online course scheduling.

Testimonials

Adam is an incredible teacher and this course far exceeded my expectations. I really appreciate his ability to teach a technical subject while keeping us engaged / grounded in the high-level theory behind it all.

James

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