Hello,

I am new to Houdini. I wanted to use its animation feature for 3d storyboarding. Can anyone suggest the right beginners resources for the same - video/documentation, etc.

Thanks

I think the question might be who do you want to storyboard for? and for what purpose?

Storyboarding can take many forms.

For my projects it involves just an 8.5“ x 11” paper with some notes, it doesn't even look like what one would expect for a storyboard.

The other day I went by the local grocery store near closing time and there was a huge film crew setting up to work on doing a commercial.

I walked by an aisle where some equipment was set up and I saw their complete storyboard.

It was only 12 black and white pieces of paper(about 5“x5” each) posted on a cardboard backing with artist “action” drawings you might see out of a marvel comic book.

There's software out there that you can internet search too as well that provides all kinds of features to do quit in depth; available from high priced packages to open source.

So you have to ask the original two questions I opened with because it can be very simple or quit complex and detailed.

BabaJ thanks for the response. To answer your queries:

1.I want to storyboard for a feature film.
2.I am doing it for the lighting crew, cameraman, vfx and ofcourse for the direction team.

Now I am aware of the convetional ways of storyboard and they are all good, like you mentined, for the respective purpose in context. In my case though I have 3 camera setup, moving camera and vfx hence the detail is essential. To top it all we are shooting under killer timelines.

So I would like to do as much homework as possible. Going back to my orginal query, I would like to do a 3D storyboard using the animation facility. Since Houdini is new to me hence understandably there is a learning curve. But there is also as much reference content to learn. So I am looking to be pointed in proper direction correspnding only to Houdini.

Hope that makes things clear.

Thanks

Ok…I think I have a better idea of the direction you want to go.

Hopefully, with the information you have already given, someone who has gone down that same road you are on will see this and chime in.

Otherwise, you've already mentioned having 3 camera set up and moving.

Perhaps that will be your first step.

Do searches in the tutorial section:

These two from there will get you started and as you go perhaps you get ideas and become aware of what other areas you need to research and learn.

https://www.sidefx.com/tutorials/create-lights/ [sidefx.com]

https://www.sidefx.com/tutorials/create-camera/ [sidefx.com]

Of course any beginner Houdini tutorial is useful no matter what final area of application it is going to be used for.

Hi Aneri,

sorry if this sounds a bit rude, but why exactly did you choose Houdini for this task?

Houdini is the one 3D package that takes the most preparation to get scenes set up. If you just want to plan camera movements and quickly create scenes I would use something like Blender or Cinema 4D because they are fast and simple to use. Apart from that node-based Houdini will get really messy when you set up hundred of objects.

Hello Konstantin,

Don't mind at all explaining.

Firstly I wasn't and still not aware of the problems that you have higlishted in Houdini. Secondly ours is a independent feature and we function on shoe string budgets. So plan well I was looking for a 3D solution. I was aware of Houdini and its free version i.e Houdini apprentice. Hence the choice.

If there is another free 3D solution with all the features required for the purpose, I am all ears.

Thanks

Hi Aneri,

- http://www.tokeru.com/cgwiki/index.php?title=Main_Page [tokeru.com]
- http://www.sidefx.com/docs/ [sidefx.com]
- http://www.papicrunch.net/GC-houdb/?collec=0&model=list&filter=none&sort=idASC&p=6 [papicrunch.net]
- http://vimeo.com/channels/54102 [vimeo.com]
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLShEm1_z6_cyBOAKQSH2ck-enGSnovMjD [youtube.com]
- http://forums.odforce.net/topic/20617-garmans-vizy-acky-houdini-intro-vol100-now-on-youtube/ [forums.odforce.net]
- https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=houdini+modeling+tutorial&page=1 [youtube.com]
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0VQvtms-36ilCVgJQXEM_Q/videos [youtube.com]
- http://www.youtube.com/user/Khermah/videos?view=0&sort=dd&tag_id= [youtube.com]
- http://houdini.dreamerzstudio.net/ [houdini.dreamerzstudio.net]
- http://lesterbanks.com/category/houdini/ [lesterbanks.com]
- http://training.adrianlazar.com/free-houdini-training/ [training.adrianlazar.com]


- http://forums.odforce.net/topic/17105-short-and-sweet-op-centric-lessons/ [forums.odforce.net]
See post “old school” !! !! !! !!

Houdini is used for automating 3d animations and is therefore mostly used by effects people. If you are looking for a free solution to create animatics then I would just choose Blender.

https://www.blender.org/ [blender.org]

Just to make sure we are talking about the same thing, you can do quick animations with it like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy3M_5H9lOs [youtube.com]

It also allows freehand drawing on top of 3d scenes:
https://vimeo.com/164067136 [vimeo.com]

Learning Houdini just for doing animatics would be like learning chinese language just to order some noodles.

Stefan, thanks for the resources. Will have a patient look at all.

Konstantin, so I took the lead from your first post and realized that Blender was open source, what joy .So I have downloaded it. And yes we are talking of same animatics as pointed by you ….but much fewer key frame storyboards.

The learning curve I am guessing is going to be similar. As for the differences you had pointed out still wouldn't be able to tell, but will take your word of experience for it. Will start toying around and will figure where I end up.

But thanks a ton for setting me in the right direction.

Thanks

Konstantin Magnus
Houdini is the one 3D package that takes the most preparation to get scenes set up.

Disagree with houdini being slow for setup… but in any case best avoid for previz, too many OGL issues.
Agree you should try Blender 1st, see how it goes.