Tools for creating RBD and PryoFX simulations are now available at the SOP level in Houdini. This creates a perfect environment for preparing and directing the look of your simulations. Learn how to take a house model that has been prepped for destruction, start by fracturing the parts then build up constraint networks to hold the pieces together. Learn about all the nodes needed to set up and run both an RBD and PyroFX simulations. There are some places where you can choose to dive into DOPS to refine the results. You will also learn how to render these effects using both Mantra and Solaris/Karma.

PROJECT FILES

Note: With most of this lesson taking place at the SOP level, many of these techniques can be used in Houdini CORE. To dive into DOPS to add secondary effects, Houdini FX would be needed.

CONNECTED LESSON:

The project files for this lesson include the house geometry. If you would like to build the model yourself, you can follow the procedural house tutorial which teaches how to properly organize a model for future destruction.

INTRODUCTION

Take a quick look at the final destruction shot and learn what techniques were used to set it up.

Length: 00:41

1 | Fracture the Geometry

Start by taking the different parts of the house model and applying material-based destruction. This provides unique fracturing for stone, wood and glass. Next, setup Custom constraint networks for all the places where different materials connect to each other.

Length: 1:38:23

2 | RBD Simulation

The RBD Bullet solver will be added in SOPs to run the simulation. To create the explosion, a blob will be added with velocity vectors that can be transferred to the fractured pieces to drive them out. You will then tinker with the constraint networks to get just the right look for the simulation.

Length: 38:35

3 | Pyro FX | Burst Source & Solver

The new Pyro FX workflow using the burst source and the PryoFX solver in SOPS are used to create the fire and smoke. Learn how to set up the interactive "minimal" solve and then how to refine the simulation to get the right look. The burst source is also used to transfer velocity to the house to get a better integration between the house explosion and the Pyro FX.

Length: 1:25:01

4 | Mantra Render | Shaders & ACES

Set up the shot using materials, lights, a camera and render settings. This rendering will be accomplished using the Mantra renderer which works at the object level of Houdini. Groups on the different parts of the house will be used to assign materials and time will be taken to get the look of the Pyro Shader just right.

Length: 1:23:59

5 | Add Soft Constraints in DOPS

Refine the look of the RBD sim by setting up soft constraints and diving into DOPS for added control. Create a more elastic look as the house explodes by loosening up the constraints.

Length: 20:29

6 | Tweak Microsolvers in DOPS

In the DOP network found inside the Pyro FX solver, you can add microsolvers to tweak the way in which the noise is handled using gas disturb and gas blur. Learn how it is possible to further direct the look of your simulation once you start working at this lower level.

Length: 24:53

7 | Solaris | Karma Render

Export the house destruction and the PyroFX explosion using USD then reimport into Houdini's Solaris context where you can render with Karma. Learn how to pull cameras and materials from your Mantra rendering and reuse them in Solaris.

Length: 35:12

CREATED BY

spev
MARK SPEVICK

Mark Spevick is the Head of 3D at Escape Studios, Pearson College London, and combines teaching with working at the highest level in the industry. He has 10 years working in industry and 6 working in higher education and teaching. He got his big break at Peerless Camera, the production house co-owned by Terry Gilliam, and worked on every Gilliam film from ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ to ‘The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus’, starring the late Heath Ledger. He also worked with director Martin Campbell on ‘Zorro’ and ‘Mask of Zorro’ before supervising on the set of ‘Casino Royale’. Mark also managed the CG team that worked on the parachute scene in ‘Angels and Demons’, on behalf of post-house Double Negative. Mark was heavily involved in the design and development of our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

More from Mark Spevick

COMMENTS

  • melong8608 3 years, 10 months ago  | 

    all explanation was so detailed and neat. thanks for the amazing tutorials! it helped me alot

  • svc_sidefx 3 years, 10 months ago  | 

    Hi Mark. By using this method of RBD simulation are you limited to just the initial point velocity acting on the sim? Since we keyframe the "overwrite attributes in SOP" for the blast. Is there a way to do multiples instead of just one? Like several small bursts breaking the geo at different times. If you turn the overwrite back on for another burst like you said everything stops in the air. Is there a way around this using this method? Thanks.

  • spev 3 years, 10 months ago  | 

    Hi jag80
    Not at all..for proper interaction use a full dop network. This lesson was designed to use only core license. This is why it is done this way.
    I would go into dops for more options.

  • nmerves 3 years, 9 months ago  | 

    Hey mark

    I'm just learning more about Houdini so this may be an easy fix or I just missed a step and not realizing it, but I got the point in video 3 trying to connect the burst source to the rbd solver. but for some reason when I switch the point wrangler input from the point velocity node to the burst source my rbd no longer functions right. a few bricks fly away but the rest of the building just starts to fall due to gravity. https://imgur.com/a/Ypy7jrg has two screenshots of the setup and the spreadsheets. there is the impact attribute visibly changes and is there in the Force Out null. I'm stuck and can't figure out how to fix this.

    thanks in advance for your help

  • nmerves 3 years, 9 months ago  | 

    I got it to work I think. I had to expand the keyframes on the overwrite attribute from frames 5-6 to frames5-8 to gett it o explode from the burst source. I'm not sure what caused that difference between my project an dyours

  • ihatecheez 3 years, 9 months ago  | 

    Amazing, long and detailed tutorial. Thank you for taking the time and effort to do all of this. really helped me out understand a good workflow.

  • gnomer 3 years, 7 months ago  | 

    Volume light at the end in Solaris... there is no such option in Solaris light menu. How to get the fire illuminate objects?

  • Parpa 3 years, 2 months ago  | 

    Anyone got this to work in Apprentice version? Is it FX license really required for DOPS? I've gotten to Ep 5 but when I try and change the constraints I get the the warnings:
    Warning
    rbd_object - /obj/HouseModel/rbdbulletsolver2/dopnet/bulletrbdsolver1/bulletrbdsolver: Required point attribute "name" not found
    Warning
    rbd_object - /obj/HouseModel/rbdbulletsolver2/dopnet/bulletrbdsolver1/bulletrbdsolver: Geometry does not contain any primitive types supported by the solver.

    When I compare apprentice and FX both tings include RBD and pyro-stuff. https://www.sidefx.com/products/compare/

    I'm going to go over the VODS and nodes again and see if I missed something.

  • Stanley00 2 years, 6 months ago  | 

    Hello. I am stuck at the third video. I cannot see impact data in the constraints output. I could not find too much info about it

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