Hello dear Houdini experts.
Once again I need to ask you for your wisdom.

This is probably part one of a series of questions before I completely convert to Houdini.

1. In Maya I can easily, and permanently, set object's pivot position and its local rotation axis.
In Houdini, I cannot find an easy way for doing the same.
I know I can move object's pivot with Pivot parameters, but I'd rather like to move the pivot in the viewport, using a manipulator. How can I do this?
How can I change object's local rotation axis?

2. My next question is about snapping. Whenever I try to snap a selection to something (grid, points, etc.) on one of the axes, the point of snapping is where I clicked my mouse, instead of the centre of the manipulator. Any way to tell Houdini to snap manipulator's centre even though I click on one of its arrows?

3. Translating stuff in a 2D plane is simple in Maya. Just CTRL+LMB one of the manipulator's arrows. In Houdini I can't figure out how to do it. Is it even possible?

4. I'm reading through the documentation, and I'm currently in a chapter about fur parting. (http://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini13.0/shelf/addparting). [sidefx.com] I followed the steps described there, but the curve doesn't seem to affect the fur when I start combing it. Any ideas why?

1) You can hit the Insert key with the object transform handle active. This will manipulate the pivot parameter on the object. Note that this “pivot” in Houdini applies to the entire transform, unlike in Maya which I think will only affect rotates?

2) I don't think that's possible right now

3) Ctrl+LMB on the axis and a “plane” handle should appear.

Thank you Edward.

edward
1) You can hit the Insert key with the object transform handle active. This will manipulate the pivot parameter on the object. Note that this “pivot” in Houdini applies to the entire transform, unlike in Maya which I think will only affect rotates?

This works for translating object's pivot. Is it possible to rotate it?

2) I don't think that's possible right now

I see. In this case how can I accomplish the simple task pictured on the attached image below?

3) Ctrl+LMB on the axis and a “plane” handle should appear.

Ooh, this is embarrassing… ops:
I could have sworn I have already tried this. :roll:

2) Hit the detach/attach toggle hotkey ‘ (apostrophe). Now move the center of it snapping to the box corner. Hit the ’ (apostrophe) key again to re-attach. Now snap.

edward
2) Hit the detach/attach toggle hotkey ‘ (apostrophe). Now move the center of it snapping to the box corner. Hit the ’ (apostrophe) key again to re-attach. Now snap.

I followed your advice. Sadly, it didn't help me in what I am trying to achieve here. I'm looking for this kind of snapping:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rrpo54600dn3qdo/snapping.mp4?dl=1 [dropbox.com]

I (kind of) figured out how to do it, at least for simple objects aligned to world axis.
“Depth Snapping” must be turned off and I need to be in one of the orthographic views. I can then drag the manipulator's center without it snapping on the third axis.
But what if my objects are off-axis? Is it possible to align orthographic views with a construction plane so I can use this method for snapping on a 2D plane?

It would be great to have such snapping option that works in perspective and camera views. Unfortunately houdini will only snap to points relative to initial mouse pointer position and not absolute point position unless you are in the ortographic view and it is not always the most convenient way to model. I am very interested to have expert opinions on this one. I think this is very important for modelers.

I was quietly hoping that snapping would get a boost in H14 and lo and behold - my silent prayers were heard. 8)

Hi,

Can you elaborate on that?
Coming from Softimage, I'm having the same issues.

Most important one, how to snap the ‘floating’ pivot (Insert) onto a point or face on the model itself. It seems that is not possible?

rob

RobW
Hi,

Can you elaborate on that?
Coming from Softimage, I'm having the same issues.

Most important one, how to snap the ‘floating’ pivot (Insert) onto a point or face on the model itself. It seems that is not possible?

rob

I changed the “attach to geometry” or apostrophe ' toggle key to my c key. I use this function too much to have it all the way to the right of the keyboard. This helped me alot.

As for snapping like in Softimage. I pres c key (or apostrophe in your case) to toggle the attach to geomtry key off. Make sure point snapping is on (v key I think). Move/snap the pivot to another position on your mesh. Hit the apostrophe key again and you are ready to rotate or translate from this now pivot position.

I miss Softimage sticky keys.

Hope this makes sense.

Hi Werner,

I upgraded my graphic drivers, that seemed to be the culprit at that point.

After that I was able to all the above.

Nice to see a familiar name in these forums ;-)

cheers!

rob

And yes, sticky keys and middle click are some of the useful little nicknack's I miss from SI as well.