[leifdk]

is it possible to model nearly every thing in houdini or should on use a program like wings or maybe something like zbrush
ps don't care on speed,
just a picture that shows how nice model's or animations can be done in houdini witout any other software

[Jim Crafton]

I've been doing modeling in nothing but Houdini since Feb. I've got some samples here: http://learning3dfromscratch.blogspot.com/.

Pretty much everything there is done in Houdini, with the exception of some of the newer entries for ZBrush. I've been able to follow along on a number of the Maya Adv modeling tutorials here with almost no issues. It mostly just getting familiar with Houdini, and getting to grips with where the various tools are. Time + practice.

For some pics of all houdini based models, try this:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/view?...&isOwner=true#

[dante]

Check out the modeling topics done by "stu" on the odforce.net forums. He also has something in the sidefx.com gallery:
http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?opti...388&Itemid=279

And of course, my personal favourite Houdini pieces:
http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?opti...097&Itemid=279
http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?opti...096&Itemid=279
This artist also has some other nice pics on his website like:
http://ptakun.tmdag.com/green.jpg
http://ptakun.tmdag.com/green_02.jpg
http://ptakun.tmdag.com/green_softbias.jpg

[leifdk]

ok that looks dam nice just gonna learn to model then

[Ricardo_F]

As someone who uses Houdini at work and at home daily, I wouldn't really recommend modeling in Houdini, unless you're going to have to create hundreds of different instances of that said object then that's where it excels at.

If you're just learning 3d it's alright to give it a try, but if you're going to get into more serious modeling, you're going to feel the speed slowdown of Houdini pretty quickly. If you wanna stay using Houdini, I'd recommend having a secondary modeling package like Silo, or Even Wings3D if you wanna go the free route, it's all very similar in the end, but you're able to fly through a model much more quickly than when it comes to using Houdini for it.

[Jim Crafton]

I'm curious why you would say that. I tried Silo for a bit, and while I liked it, and they do have a couple of extra or simpler tools for modeling, I didn't find it hugely better than Houdini. Maybe I haven't tried a complicated enough model.

[Jim Crafton]

I've done almost all my modeling with Houdini. It's a little different at first but I don't find it hugely slower than packages like Silo or even Modo. Plus as the model progress it's MUCH easier to go back and make changes in Houdini, whereas with Silo or Modo you end up have to tear apart geometry and redo things from scratch which is a royal PITA.

[lyonz]

Hi all i have also started modelling in houdini and finding it abit of a pain compared to 3ds max which ive used for years.

I do have a question about modelling in houdini though and thats, i have 2 normals on some of my primitives, which i think is causing a problem when using poly extrude. If anyone knows why its doing this please say

http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...Untitled-1.jpg

[Jim Crafton]

This probably should go into it's own thread, but at a glance it looks like you have 2 faces there? Maybe that's the problem?

[Ricardo_F]

Originally Posted by Johnell

I wonder if one could just create a python script and make a shelf that functions like Silo...or something. I guess that might be a bit complicated...

I could write a little shelf script that runs a command line command so it locks up Houdini and launches Silo, that would solve your problem.

As for modeling, the only time I ever use Houdini for it have usually been for effects or other kinds of gags, which is what it really is great for, need one car model? eh, just get a freelance modeler or whoever do it, he'll bang it out in a day or so in Maya.

Now if you need 100 instances of that car with different textures, animation, and all sorts of other things, then I can bring in that model in Houdini and work on some SOP magic.

It's all about the right tool for the job, no egos or fanboyness about it. That's all that It has to come down to, and that's what you as an artist should learn, the strengths of each software package.

Edit: lyonz, are you talking about the purple-ish normal in the center of the primitives? If so that's your Primitive Normals. You most likely got some extra faces or bad normals, just fuse and use a facet sop with Post-Compute Normals.