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Welcome to Houdini For The New Artist! In this course, we will create this beautiful animation of Mr. Chameleon from scratch.


To get things started, we begin with "What is CGI?" This video is designed for those who are brand new to studying CGI in general. If you're someone who has already practiced CGI in other applications, then this video is optional.


Once we establish some basic concepts, like what "models," "textures," and "renders" are, we then explore some Houdini-specific tasks with the Chameleon project.


There are a wide array of topics. Some of these include:


  • Steps for installing Houdini
  • Recommended computer specs
  • An overview of the interface elements
  • Node visibility and parameter options
  • Timeline and global animation settings
  • Contexts
  • Viewport Hotkeys
  • How to discover nodes
  • Establishing a new project directory
  • Importing geometry
  • Viewport lighting options
  • How to read error messages
  • Using the “Object Merge” node
  • How to render with Mantra
  • An overview of USD
  • Creating lights and shaders with Karma
  • Discovering viewport display options
  • Adding an HDR / Dome lighting
  • How to add a gobo
  • Using the light mixer
  • Karma light override settings
  • Reading texture maps with Material X
  • Creating a backdrop that’s separate from the HDRI light
  • Creating depth of field
  • Generating point clouds
  • Copying geometry onto points
  • An overview of attributes... what they are... where to view them in the interface
  • The attribute noise node
  • How to discover various attribute names
  • The attribute randomize node
  • Data types (floats, vectors, integers, and strings)
  • The attribute adjust node
  • How to animate parameters
  • Controlling keyframe values
  • The animation editor
  • Output nodes and purple render flags
  • Importing color attributes into Material X shaders
  • Splitting viewport panes
  • Groups and selections
  • $ variables and path expressions
  • Troubleshooting Karma renders
  • The render manager
  • Path traced samples and managing noise in renders
  • Nvidia and intel de-noising options
  • Importing frames into Davinci Resolve
  • Color correcting 32 bit images
  • Adding a vignette
  • Color correcting imagery
  • Adding glow
  • Final video output settings


Once you get through the course, you'll be well on your way to success in Houdini.


Good luck! Have fun,


  • Tyler


What is CGI?
This video starts from the very, very beginning. For those who are new to CGI, you shall discover a land of endless possibility. More specifically, we'll learn a bit of history while exploring what pixels, models, textures, and renders are all about. By the end, you'll have a solid idea of what we're trying to accomplish as CGI artists, and it will help you understand what we're trying to do accomplish in general when we're working in Houdini.
Exploring the Interface
In this video, we take a whirlwind tour of the Houdini interface. In addition, we make some nodes, explore parameters, and cover all the basics to get you making glorious cubes and spheres.
Introducing Mr. Chameleon
Once we get done exploring the interface, the next step is to download Mr. Chameleon from Sketchfab. This also requires that we set up a new project directory. Staying organized when you start a new project is quite important. In fact, it's a virtue.
Rendering With Karma
Now it's time for the fun part. Lets get to making pretty pictures with Karma. This video also provides an introductory explanation for USD. Just remember: Geometry --> USD --> Karma is what you need to make a pretty picture.
Shading and Lighting with Karma
Lights, camera, action! This video demonstrates what needs to happen to prepare Mr. Chameleon for the big screen. We'll assign shaders using Material X while exploring a basic lighting workflow to make him shine.
Adding Textures to Lights
People often wonder what the "secret sauce" is for professional looking renders. Adding textures to your lights is one of those ingredients. It's like kind of like adding jalapeno bacon jam to a hamburger. So, likewise, lets take things up a notch with a HDRI light and gobo on our key.
Material X
Material X is a fairly new addition to Houdini with a lot of fantastic features. In this video, we explore the basics of how to bring in texture maps and plug them in properly into the Mtlx Standard Surface shader.
Camera Settings + Adding a Backdrop
Now lets add a little Hollywood magic to Mr. Chameleon Dude. That means lots of blur and fancy camera settings. We also can't forget about a nice backdrop. We can place Mr. Chameleon in a jungle, in outer space, or even at SideFX headquarters in Toronto, Canada if we want to. The choice is yours.
Test Renders + Shot Planning
All great artists have something in common: They all tend to day-dream and doodle. Improving Mr. Chameleon will be no exception either, so it's time to embrace our artistry. All we need is a bit of imagination and a fancy doodlin' pen at our disposal.
Copy to Points
Now for something exciting: Copy to Points. This fancy node gets used in just about every Houdini project. It, as you can imagine, copies geometry onto points.
Attributes
Attributes are at the heart and soul of Houdini. Simply put, attributes describe something about an object. With these descriptions, you can then control the behavior of other nodes, shaders, simulations, and just about anything else.
Animating Parameters
Now lets get those particles dancing! ... Literally... So to do that, we need to use keyframes, understand the animation editor, adjust animation tangents and much more.
Network Organization + Node Flags
Remember, organization is a virtue! I said that earlier right? Yep, I did. Anyway, that's why you need to pay attention to purple render flags and output nodes. If you don't, then you'll certainly run into hard times.
Material X Standard Parameters
Exploration is for the brave, and material X parameters are no exception. In this video, we apply material X shader parameters to some particles. Along the way, we discover the magic of specular highlights, transmission, and so much more.
Dolly Zoomin'
It turns out that it's a good idea to dilly dolly around sometimes. In this video, we do just that with our camera. The end result? Movie Magic ️‍🌈
Groups + Selections
Houdini offers you a fine selection of selection options! All you need to do is group stuff. To make a group, just select stuff. This allows you to select groups and... well... actually... just watch the video.
Additonal Selection Methods
We weren't having enough fun in the last video, so this one keeps the party going. Nothing is better than being more selective over selection options. That's why the group node has some other selection parameters. By the end of this madness, we'll have a nifty system for creating zero-gravity upwards deformation of a probabilisticly chosen set of particulate matter. Remarkable!
Rendering with Karma
In this video, trouble finds its way to paradise. We need to troubleshoot some problems with our Karama render. Things aren't as they seem, and someone's gotta fix it.
Karma Render Settings
It's time for the final countdown... which took roughly 23 hours and 17 minutes. In this video, we vanquish noisy renders with the help of path traced samples and de-noising algorithms.
Post Processing with Davinci Resolve
Alas, we have made it to the finale. In this last battle of the whits, we are confronted with compositing while applying view transformations to 32 bit imagery. Then, add in some color correction, a tad bit 'o glow, and rendering a video sequence with our mighty sidekick - Davinci Resolve. Bada-bing-bada-boom - We did it.

CREATED BY

tbay312
TYLER BAY

Tyler Bay is the owner of cgforge.com - which is an online Houdini school that offers high quality courses, resources, and individual mentorships to help you achieve your Houdini goals.

More from Tyler Bay

COMMENTS

  • LukeP 1 year, 4 months ago  | 

    Love it, Tyler, you rock!

    • MrVFX 1 year, 4 months ago  | 

      super.....Thanks a lot.

      • Yash_Chouragadey 1 year, 4 months ago  | 

        Thanks A Lot Sir, Really Loved Your Content... Respect From INDIA.

        • CarterMultz 1 year, 3 months ago  | 

          Great content, this is very useful instruction.

          I couldn't find the node called, "Karma Material Builder" described in the video at :59.
          Using Houdini Indie Limited Commercial 19.5.569-Py3.7 on Win11
          I was able to use "Material Builder" and added a Principled Shader.

          • tbay312 1 year, 3 months ago  | 

            Hey Carter,

            Thanks for checking out the video. The "Karma Material Builder" is newly available with Houdini 20, so that's why it wasn't popping up for you.

            Hope that helps!

            - Tyler

          • andybeers1 1 year, 3 months ago  | 

            hello. I got stuck at 7:47 as I did not see the Spread option in the Key_Light Karma settings. I'm on version 20.0.547 on Mac. Was this recently renamed or moved?

            Thanks!

            - Andy

            • andybeers1 1 year, 3 months ago  | 

              Sorry this comment is related to the 'Adding Textures to Lights` video.

            • vfx-Dimitri 1 year, 1 month ago  | 

              I got Houdini because of this course :D
              Great tutorials, Tyler!

              • FrazTheWizard 4 months, 2 weeks ago  | 

                Great course, thanks!

                • sammyk909 1 month, 3 weeks ago  | 

                  looks like the option to select primitives at 16:45 option has been removed.. what is the new location for this?

                  • willseverson 1 month ago  | 

                    I'm trying to follow along in 20.5. Im having an issue where my model has textures with lighting disabled but is completely white with lighting enabled. I havent found a solution yet.

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