Houdini is built from the ground up to be a procedural system that empowers artists to work freely, create multiple iterations, and rapidly share workflows with colleagues. In Houdini, every action is stored in a node. These nodes are then “wired” into networks that define a “recipe” that can be tweaked to refine the outcome then repeated to create similar yet unique results. The ability for nodes to be saved and to pass information, in the form of attributes, down the chain is what gives the app its procedural nature. It includes a wide variety of polygons, NURBS, and subdivision surface modeling tools. Procedural techniques can be used to maintain a robust construction history and to create complex models such as environments. The Cloud FX tools offer an artist-friendly way of building, sculpting, and rendering cloud formations. This workflow utilizes sparse volume sculpting tools created as part of the OpenVDB open-source initiative. It has an animator-friendly workflow which includes a channel editor, dope sheet, and interactive timeline. Set keyframes on any parameter or use App’s Advanced Motion-editing tools for even more control. The program’s node-based approach fits perfectly with the working methodology of a typical character rigging TD. Characters can then be wrapped up into a single Digital Asset node and delivered to the animation team. App’s lighting workflow provides a flexible and powerful environment for managing lights, building shaders, and defining the look of a shot. Environment and GI lights work well with Mantra’s physically-based rendering. With the software, you can rely on a robust built-in rendering solution called Mantra or create custom support for a wide variety of third-party renderers. Mantra is particularly good at rendering volumes such as smoke. Features and Highlights Artist Friendly Tools While the nodes are what makes unique and give it power, there are lots of viewport and shelf tools that allow for artist-friendly viewport interactions. Behind the scenes, It builds up the nodes and networks for you. Houdini lets artists explore different creative paths because it is easy to branch off a new node to explore alternative solutions. VFX