Houdinski

Hi there,

I'm trying to create a toggle parameter that would enable me to switch on the display flag for various nodes. For example, I use the paint node a great deal. So in the custom param, it would be useful to just tick the box for this node and use it.

Thank you

Hi, thank you for the reply.

Up until one month ago I didn't have a computer that could handle Houdini. I bought Andrew's PDF early on and am waiting till 3dBuzz competition is over to dive into it properly.

I understand the idea that an application can be developed in many different ways. There is, after all ‘more than one way to skin a cat’ they say. And that's ok.

I have no problem with something being complex. The idea of ‘emergence’ says that a complex system comes about naturally out of a ‘soup’ of quite simple conditions.

When it comes to ‘Attribute Create’, and this is just a random example, I'm still looking to understand the absolute basic of this cat. My attitude towards ths attribute is that I need know what its basic purpose is. And I'm well aware of the relevant help pages on this. I'm really trying to ask someone to make some more cool videos about this and other nodes.

Once I know the principles of the matter I can then start doing little applications. But I'm still not 100% with what this thing does and how its connected, in principle, to other nodes.

I really am at the start of all this, as I'm sure, are quite a few others. Although, with the little understanding I do have, thanks to the video tutorial currently available, I've already succeeded in developing and emergent system.

I think there is a fear that if something is explained easily and simply then its power suddenly disappears and it becomes a kid's toy perhaps.

I do believe that each of the nodes can be explained simply in a good video tutorial which gives it that human touch. Such tutorials, which are usually more engaging than written text, can also provide enough of the background and possible usages to allow a student to start making their own experiments.

If you take a look at the principle behind ‘Piano Wizard’, a child is taken from playing a musical game to reading proper sheet music, seamlessly. That's what I'm talking about. Sure, get them to study theory and learning Rach.3 sitting at the piano, but get them started in a more interesting, sustainable and natural way. Its in the very beginning that our defining impressions are formed. Some are put off learning learning right at the start because its too difficult. Many students would benefit from a gentler learning curve.

This truly accommodating, procedural approach to learning would in no way compromise Houdini's status, any more more than Bach is compromised by someone learning to play chopsticks, so long as the student is infused by the potential.

I'm really here as a student, a relative beginner (I've gone from Bryce to Amorphium, Carrara, 3dMax , Maya, Scratch, Starlogo, Alice and tiny glimpses of Virtools and Max/Msp), and someone very curious about how this all works. I know for sure that Houdini will be my software of choice and I'm trying to build a very solid foundation. Ideas like procedural way of working, the use of various data types, graphical representation of channels are all very interesting indeed.

It would be nice, as I said before, to have something on the lines of Digital Tutors ICE audio-visual node reference for Houdini. I don't know if that is too much to wish for from a budding Houdini apprentice. I suppose I should be grateful for what I have, and I'll always have enough.

peace and blessings.

Hi,

Thank you for the reply. I've done as you suggested and I think everything works ok now.

I'm also really happy with myself as I was able to create my one ‘make surface’ OP simply by using group paint to paint the outside faces of the geometry. The resulting group was the very same surface I was looking for.
In fact I just down the number of polys 15 times!

I was wondering though if there is a dedicated tool for this task. It must be a pretty standard technique when doing a lot of heavy modelling.

Thank you once again.