Houdini Resources

Updated on Sept 1  2022


copyright © Deborah R. Fowler


Deborah R. Fowler



Houdini Modeling

Posted 2013
Updated on Jan 23  2022
Updated on June 26  2022 to include SideFX's modeling learning path https://www.sidefx.com/learn/modeling/
Updated on Mar 8  2024

Houdini is beautifully designed for procedural modeling. Personally, I also prefer to model in Houdini, however for those of you who model in Maya and Zbrush, you can always bring your models into Houdini. Keep in mind that if you bring in an alembic it may create packed primitives and you may need to unpack them.

Modeling Tips:
There is an excellent description of modeling, including procedural modeling, here. To start with procedural modeling, here is a video tutorial I created with some beginner tips on building a procedural house.

https://vimeo.com/247357809



Some of the nodes listed below for example as used to create this wheel of dropping marbles.
http://www.deborahrfowler.com/HoudiniResources/RBD-WheelDroppingSphere.html

Note that box modeling is a popular and powerful technique. However there are better methods of modeling objects that display radial symmetry.
For example revolving nurbs curves around an axis. You are expected to have modeling knowledge, however this page is to provide tips to Houdini methods and equivalents. Sometimes just knowing that the node exists helps. Some nodes to be aware of as you begin to explore modeling are:

General overview video (H19.5) of many of the nodes listed below https://vimeo.com/907301692
MISSING IMAGEH18 bend and paint node more intuitive, more features! (example file on tips and tricks) - click here for more info

Add Node / Polyextrude



Curves / Revolve / Resample



Sweep / Line / Circle / Join / Resample



An interesting pdf booklet on modeling in Houdini I ran across here. It is by Patrick Janssen from the Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore. Although this is written for earlier versions (9 or 10), it has some really good material.

More recently John Moncrief goes over proceduralism and builds a bridge system. (SIGGRAPH 2016)

If you are looking for examples of using Houdini for hard body modeling, here Akira Saito does just that! Look at the tutorials on the site from SIGGRAPH Asia Houdini Hive https://www.procedural-design.com