Houdini Course

Lesson 1 • Understanding the Node Graph

Introduces the network editor and node-based paradigm central to Houdini. Provides the mental model needed for all procedural work ahead.

Lesson 2 • Basic Parameter Editing and Expressions

Introduces parameter sliders, channels, and simple HScript expressions. Prepares students to drive node behavior through values and basic logic.

Lesson 3 • Project Structure and File Management

Teaches $HIP, $JOB, and path variables for organized project setup. Prevents pipeline errors caused by broken file references.

Lesson 4 • Houdini's Role in Production Pipelines

Establishes where Houdini fits within VFX, game, and animation pipelines. Grounds all subsequent technical learning in real-world production context.

Lesson 1 • Boolean, Merge, and Combine Operations

Introduces Boolean, merge, and cookie SOPs for combining geometry. Enables construction of complex shapes from simple primitives.

Lesson 2 • Primitive Types and Basic Shapes

Covers Houdini's geometry primitives: polygons, NURBS, curves, and volumes. Establishes the building blocks for all SOP-level modeling.

Lesson 3 • UV Unwrapping and Attribute Management

Covers UV projection, unwrap, and attribute SOPs for texturing readiness. Ensures geometry leaves the SOP context properly prepared for shading.

Lesson 4 • Procedural Modeling Techniques

Applies copy-stamp, foreach loops, and instancing to build repetitive structures. Demonstrates the power of procedural logic over manual modeling.

Lesson 1 • Noise and Randomness in VEX

Introduces noise functions, random seeds, and fit ranges for organic variation. Produces natural-looking procedural patterns essential to VFX work.

Lesson 2 • Vector Math for Procedural Effects

Covers dot product, cross product, and vector normalization in VEX. Enables direction-based effects like alignment, scattering, and noise.

Lesson 3 • Writing Attribute Wrangles

Teaches the attribute wrangle SOP and its run-over modes. Connects VEX code directly to geometry attribute manipulation.

Lesson 4 • VEX Language Fundamentals

Introduces VEX syntax, data types, and control flow structures. Provides the coding foundation required for all wrangle-based work.

Lesson 1 • Constraints and Object-Level Animation

Covers object-level transforms, parenting, and constraint networks. Enables hierarchical character and prop animation setups.

Lesson 2 • Driving Parameters with Expressions

Applies HScript and Python expressions to link parameters across the scene. Enables smart rigs where one control drives many dependent values.

Lesson 3 • Keyframe Animation Fundamentals

Covers setting keys, editing the animation editor, and interpolation types. Establishes baseline animation skills before procedural methods are introduced.

Lesson 4 • Procedural Motion with Math CHOPs

Uses math, wave, noise, and trigger CHOPs to generate motion algorithmically. Replaces manual keyframing with data-driven animation logic.

Lesson 1 • Caching and Rendering Particles

Teaches DOP cache nodes, file cache SOPs, and instancing for render-ready particles. Prepares simulations for efficient downstream rendering.

Lesson 2 • Attribute-Driven Particle Effects

Uses POP wrangles and attribute VOPs to vary color, size, and speed per particle. Connects VEX skills to simulation for art-directed results.

Lesson 3 • Collision and Interaction

Covers particle collision with static and animated geometry. Enables realistic bounce, stick, and slide behaviors for grounded effects.

Lesson 4 • Particle System Fundamentals

Introduces particle birth, life, and death cycles within the POP context. Establishes the simulation loop concept used throughout dynamics work.

Lesson 1 • Collisions and Solver Settings

Configures collision geometry, substeps, and solver parameters for accuracy. Balances simulation fidelity against computation time.

Lesson 2 • Rigid Body Dynamics Fundamentals

Introduces RBD objects, active/passive states, and the DOP network structure. Establishes the physics simulation loop for all rigid body work.

Lesson 3 • Fracturing Geometry for Destruction

Covers Voronoi, boolean, and material-aware fracturing SOPs. Prepares geometry for believable destruction simulations.

Lesson 4 • Constraint Networks

Teaches glue, spring, and hard constraints to control when and how pieces break. Enables art-directed destruction with predictable fracture patterns.

Lesson 1 • Volume Fundamentals in Houdini

Introduces VDB volumes, volume SOPs, and the volume visualization workflow. Provides the data structure knowledge needed before any fluid simulation.

Lesson 2 • FLIP Fluid Simulation

Introduces the FLIP solver for liquid simulations including splash and pour effects. Covers particle-to-surface conversion for renderable geometry.

Lesson 3 • Pyro Look Development

Applies color ramps, velocity trails, and custom fields to achieve stylized pyro looks. Connects simulation data to shading for final rendered output.

Lesson 4 • Caching and Optimizing Volume Sims

Teaches file cache, VDB compression, and sim scaling strategies for large volumes. Ensures simulations are manageable in memory and on disk.

Lesson 1 • AOVs, Compositing Passes, and Output

Sets up arbitrary output variables (AOVs) for multi-pass compositing workflows. Delivers render-ready EXR sequences with proper naming conventions.

Lesson 2 • Cameras, Depth of Field, and Motion Blur

Configures camera parameters, lens effects, and motion blur for cinematic output. Connects animation data to render settings for accurate motion representation.

Lesson 3 • Physically Based Shading with MaterialX

Builds PBR materials using the MaterialX and Principled shader networks. Covers texture connection, roughness, metalness, and subsurface parameters.

Lesson 4 • Houdini Rendering Engines Overview

Compares Karma XPU, Karma CPU, and Mantra for production use cases. Guides renderer selection based on scene type and hardware.