Archive notice: This article was originally published on June 5, 2019. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Many users miss various modeling features in Houdini. Alexey Vanzhula has addressed this problem with another plug-in. The Houdini Direct & Procedural Modeling Toolkit DM has now appeared in version 1.5 for the latest Houdini 17.5 release. The plug-in consists of a SoftBoolean toolset, a geometry library, InsertMesh and a classic Modeler tool. In the attached video, you can see some of the tools in use. The developer recently already created the toolset “Z for Houdini” for a live link between ZBrush and Houdini.
The Modeling Features of DM
SoftBoolean – procedural models can be created with it using Boolean operations. Compared with normal Boolean SOP, soft transitions between geometries can be created.
Geometry Library – is intended as a catalog for geometry data without having to create separate files. The goal is to use the library as a basis for kitbashing.
Insert Mesh – is a node that supplements the Geometry Library. Insert Mesh helps insert created geometries at any points on a model. The node
Modeler Tool – enables classic polygonal modeling. Alongside new interface improvements, a new menu and open Python code, the Modeler tool is one of the new features of DM 1.5.
DM 1.5 Availability
Anyone who wants to acquire the plug-in currently has to pay the equivalent of 89 euros. You can find the toolkit here on Gumroad.
