Archive notice: This article was originally published on July 19, 2006. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
After a beta version provided a first look at Houdini 8.1 in May, Side Effects Software has now brought the final version to market in time for Siggraph.
One highlight is the new rigging tools, which are intended to make it much easier for the artist to create rigs for bipeds, including all controls.
Houdini 8.1 is also intended to greatly simplify the construction of a realistic muscle system and the movement of the skin over the muscles. With Metaball Capture and a Metaballs-based muscle system, the user no longer needs elaborate simulations for this either. The resulting muscle system and the skin over it can be deformed in real time.
Another new tool is the Character Picker. A Pose Library is likewise new. Houdini also supports the Collada exchange format for importing files from other 3D applications.
At launch, two Houdini Master packages are available until September 30 togetther with the book “The Magic of Houdini” at the bundle price of 9999 dollars. Customers who rent Houdini Master receive one month free from a minimum rental period of three months.
More information about Houdini 8.1 can be found on the website.
Further links:
- Side Effects Houdini
