I recently bought and installed Houdini HD… The application looks good and impressive, except one point: In every view that I have explored so far (Scene Viewer, Channel Editor, Render View, Composite View, etc.) there is a ‘HD Non -Commercial Edition’ at the bottom right of the view… There is even the same ‘HD Non-Commercial Edition’ in ‘Open File’ dialogs…

I consider this to be an unacceptable intrusion of my workspace… I think that every pixel of the workspace belongs to me and I don't want to be annoyed by the software continuously reminding me that this is a non-commercial version…

When I purchased the software, I agreed to the license agreement , and now I want to do my work, and not have a ‘Thought Police’ watching my every move…

This kind of reminder, if there has to be one, belongs in the ‘About’ Dialog… And by the way, Houdini's ‘About’ dialog does NOT say anything about a ‘Non-Commerciqal’ version… All it says is "Houdini Master Version 9.5.170'… Besides. the application window's title bar clearly says ‘Houdini Marer HD Non-Commercial’, and that should be enough of a reminder…

I would TRULY expect that someone from Side Effects provide an explanation for this and explain why several hundred precious pixels of my workspace, and that includes operating system's file dialogs, are taken-up by these reminders… Because, as far as I know, this is not part of the license agreement…

Many users who use Houdini become used to customizing their interface and so there are a good number out there who have turned off the environment variable that loads a splash screen. Also, many people might click to open houdini, go to get a glass of water, or check their email or what-have-you, and thus not look at the splash screen.

Considering how many people are using the full version of Houdini for commercial purposes and are kind enough to help out in the community by providing help when people ask questions, it is also not uncommon for someone in a studio to open a non-commercial file and do some work in a file before posting it back on the forums. It is extremely important however for these individuals to *know* when they are using a non-commercial file so that they do not corrupt shots in their commercial work with non-commercial files. These watermarks are not meant so much to be “thought police” as warnings for those with commercial licenses to help avoid the problems that could arise from them accidentally saving commercial files as non-commercial files.

Allegro,

I am not talking about a splash screen… I am talking about every view in the program… They all have a ‘HD Non-Commercial Edition’ in the bottom right corner…

By the way the Apprentice HD splash screen does NOT mention anything about it being non-commercial… It only says ‘Houdini Master. Version 9.5. Build 170. Copyright 2008, Side Effects Software Inc.’

I do perfectly understand your concerns regarding accidental mixing of commercial with non-commercial files, but this concern will be, in my opinion. better addressed with a warning message at save time, such as ‘You are saving a commercially produced file with a non-commercial version. Your file can no longer be used in a commercial production. Are you sure you want to do this?’…

I would agree with dr_bernie on his point and solution, if in fact the reason the previous poster gave is accurate in relation to the company. I think the reason though is probably due to the fact that HD is exactly the same as Apprentice except for a reduction of specific restrictions. A screen shot can be done of the interface without the watermark showing, therefore the non-comerical stamp on the interface is to protect against that for both versions. I am probably wrong but that's my 2 cents.

dr_bernie
Allegro,
I do perfectly understand your concerns regarding accidental mixing of commercial with non-commercial files, but this concern will be, in my opinion. better addressed with a warning message at save time, such as ‘You are saving a commercially produced file with a non-commercial version. Your file can no longer be used in a commercial production. Are you sure you want to do this?’…

At which point its too late to migrate your work over to a commercial version. The constant subtle reminder is the safest solution I can think of.

IMHO Houdini's Apprentice/Apprentice HD view pane watermarks are the least obtrusive of all the 3D applications.

Wolfwood

dr_bernie
Allegro,
I do perfectly understand your concerns regarding accidental mixing of commercial with non-commercial files, but this concern will be, in my opinion. better addressed with a warning message at save time, such as ‘You are saving a commercially produced file with a non-commercial version. Your file can no longer be used in a commercial production. Are you sure you want to do this?’…

At which point its too late to migrate your work over to a commercial version. The constant subtle reminder is the safest solution I can think of.

IMHO Houdini's Apprentice/Apprentice HD view pane watermarks are the least obtrusive of all the 3D applications.

OK, we have 2 problems here:

1) Commercial users run the risk of having their commercial files converted into non-commercial ones, which explains why there are watermarks in Apprentice/Apprentice HD's views/panes.

2) I have paid US $99.- for Apprentice HD, and I believe my rights to a watermark-free workspace are violated, especially since the license agreement does not mention it, as far as I can tell.

So how about we do this:

Apprentice HD's workspace is made free of watermarks by default. When a commercial file is opened with Apprentice HD then:

1) A warning pops-up telling:' You are opening a commercial file with a non-commercial edition of Houdini. Doing so will make your file unusable in a commercial production. Are you sure you want to do this?'

2) If the user opens the file THEN display the watermarks all over the place, just as it is now.

3) When the user saves the file display a warning: ‘You are saving a commercially produced file with a non-commercial version of Houdini. Your file can no longer be used in a commercial production. Are you sure you want to do this?’.

This way my rights to a watermark-free workspace will be protected AND the commercial users will not run the risk to have their commercially produced files turned into non-commercial files.

How does that sound? Would that work?

count your blessings:

and it's more likely to change the EULA than it is to change the application

Arctor,

I am not talking about a PLE, I am talking about a duly paid version of Houdini.

And I really don't see why a team of programmers who designed such a complex application wouldn't make such a simple change in the program, as long as it makes sense and as long as it makes everybody happy?

Please visit this page:

http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=589&Itemid=221 [sidefx.com]

where it clearly states that Houdini Apprentice HD has no watermarks.

it's understood that this is refering to a rendered image, not the viewport…could this be made more clear to prospective customers? sure why not…can't hurt…

and frankly I don't understand what you feel you are loosing with the (very small) watermark in HD…it isn't taking away UI space from anything else, it's just on top of what is already there…

for $99 you're getting HD res watermark free animations and unlilmited res still images…and the entire Houdini Master toolset…

arctor
it's understood that this is refering to a rendered image, not the viewport…could this be made more clear to prospective customers? sure why not…can't hurt…

and frankly I don't understand what you feel you are loosing with the (very small) watermark in HD…it isn't taking away UI space from anything else, it's just on top of what is already there…

for $99 you're getting HD res watermark free animations and unlilmited res still images…and the entire Houdini Master toolset…

Nothing in that web page refers to the render watermark. It just says: Watermark: no.

You are talking as if a favor was done to me and I don't think it's the case, if you don't mind my saying so.

The solution I offered above makes sense, and I don't see why it can't be implemented.

SESI is doing all of us a favor..
for $99 you get almost full access to a program that used to be $17000 and that had no demo/apprentice/ple version available at all.

for $99 you can render still images with no restrictions at all
for $99 you can render HD res animations

you will not find a better deal. period.

Apprentice HD is a non-commercial version - there MUST be an obvious, constant reminder of that fact at all times when using the application.

as someone who make his living using Houdini I'd really rather SESI edit the web page (and anyting else that mentions the restrictions of HD) than make changes to the application - which is a huge waste of developer time.

I've been trying to think of why you have a problem with a UI watermark that is tiny and I honestly can't think of one, is there one?…if your entire argument is about what a web page says versus what you see in the viewport then I've wasted my time posting in this thread.

The Apprentice FAQ explains where the water mark is removed from in the first question.

http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=146&Itemid=267 [sidefx.com]

arctor
SESI is doing all of us a favor..
for $99 you get almost full access to a program that used to be $17000 and that had no demo/apprentice/ple version available at all.

for $99 you can render still images with no restrictions at all
for $99 you can render HD res animations

you will not find a better deal. period.

Apprentice HD is a non-commercial version - there MUST be an obvious, constant reminder of that fact at all times when using the application.

as someone who make his living using Houdini I'd really rather SESI edit the web page (and anyting else that mentions the restrictions of HD) than make changes to the application - which is a huge waste of developer time.

I've been trying to think of why you have a problem with a UI watermark that is tiny and I honestly can't think of one, is there one?…if your entire argument is about what a web page says versus what you see in the viewport then I've wasted my time posting in this thread.

Arctor,

I am answering your post. And please don't answer this one unless you really want to waste your time, and mine.

1. I would like someone from SESI tell me that a favor was done to me.

2. I wil not find a better deal, period? I remind you that Truespace 7.6 is now free and is supported by Microsoft. Please don't tell me to go with Truespace then, because I will not consider it as an acceptable answer to the watermark issue.

3. I think your voice has been heard and SESI will probably decide of what to do (Change the program or change the web site statements)

4. There must be a constant reminder of the fact that this is a non-commerrcial version? The application window title bar clearly states: Houdini Master HD Non-Commercial.

5. You don't see why I have a problem with the watermark? Because I simply don't like watermarks. Period.

The fact that it's there in the bottom right hand corner of the viewport all the time has actually saved our users and us a LOT of headaches. It's helpful, not ‘obnoxious’, and it's unlikely to change.

I like it

if you don't, get another more money and buy HOUDINI ESCAPE, but I can tell you this, no one else give more than sidefx, they offer a no time limit apprentice edition, non-obtrusive watermark, lots and lots of videos.

when was the last time you saw autodesk give away almost 3 hours of fluids training?

be happy that you can buy a HD version, for 99 bucks and make good use of it, couple of years back you got 2 option, apprentice, and $16000 or so for the master version.

even the apprentice version has even MORE than ESCAPE, apprentice does everything that master does, ESCAPE is limited a little.

I love it, don't remove it , they won't anyway

varomix
I like it

if you don't, get another more money and buy HOUDINI ESCAPE, but I can tell you this, no one else give more than sidefx, they offer a no time limit apprentice edition, non-obtrusive watermark, lots and lots of videos.

when was the last time you saw autodesk give away almost 3 hours of fluids training?

be happy that you can buy a HD version, for 99 bucks and make good use of it, couple of years back you got 2 option, apprentice, and $16000 or so for the master version.

even the apprentice version has even MORE than ESCAPE, apprentice does everything that master does, ESCAPE is limited a little.

I love it, don't remove it , they won't anyway

You like it? Then keep it… As far as I am concerned I will uninstall Apprentice HD from my computer the minute I get a chance… Nobody puts a watermark in my workspace…

Truespace 7.6 it will be… BYE…

Your loss.

chrism
The fact that it's there in the bottom right hand corner of the viewport all the time has actually saved our users and us a LOT of headaches. It's helpful, not ‘obnoxious’, and it's unlikely to change.

I'm using one of the darker grey skins with HD. I had to open HD to even see what he was on about. Upon looking, there is an area approx 2“ long by 1/4 ” high that is taken up by the ‘HD Non-Commercial’ logo on my 22" monitor.

I had honestly not even noticed it until this thread. Looks like anyone who has the time to even bother complaining about such trivialites has way too much time on their hands! :roll:

BTW-Bernie? It's not a watermark unless it's on your finished work of ‘art’. In this case, the printing is discretely on one corner of the interface. And that is NOT a watermark.

ROFL is this a practical joke? I read this tread for the pure entertainment. That is the mot ridiculous complaint I have ever seen in my life…. some people must be on another planet… lol.

I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to SideFX for providing such an excellent resource at so little cost, it is truly remarkable! Please keep on developing this awesome community!