SideFX has launched the latest version of its 3D software, Houdini 20.5. This version brings significant innovations and optimisations that should make the work of VFX artists considerably easier.

Houdini 20.5 Keynote from SideFX Houdini on Vimeo.

New features and optimisations

The outstanding new feature is the Material Point Method (MPM) solver, which allows you to create realistic simulations of solid materials such as snow, mud and concrete. The MPM solver extends the existing capabilities of the FLIP solver, allowing for a more accurate representation of solid and elastic materials in VFX production.

Another significant innovation is Copernicus, a 2D and 3D GPU image processing engine. This offers real-time image manipulation and is ideal for creating texture maps and rasterising 3D shapes. Copernicus supports tools developed using the OpenFX standard and can utilise machine learning to create custom filters. These functionalities offer artists the ability to create non-photorealistic, cartoon-like renderings.

Advanced rigging and animation tools

Houdini 20.5 also offers new rigging and animation tools that optimise the character animation workflow. The KineFX toolset, now supported by APEX, allows pre-configured rig components to be assigned and animations to be precisely controlled using constraints and handles. In addition, ragdolls can be activated in APEX Animate to simulate realistic movements.

Modelling and sculpting

The modelling tools have been extensively revised in this version. Key tools such as Clip and Sculpt have been rewritten to ensure interactive speeds even with dense meshes. The new Sculpt SOP offers additional brushes, stroke types and masking options, allowing for non-destructive editing in the interactive viewport.

Simulation and rendering

The Vellum Solver extension now allows the use of VDB collisions, making physically based simulation more realistic. Karma XPU has also been improved and now offers Adaptive Sampling for faster render times.

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SideFX presentations – Houdini 20.5 presentations

Houdini 20.5 Features – Official feature list

The post Here comes the new Houdini first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.