SideFX has unveiled Houdini 19, the latest major update to the procedural 3D software at this week’s VIEW Confererence 2021. Take a look at some of the highlights with XRender!
| The 3Ls of Solaris
The solaris that originally introduced in version 18 and has been updated in version 18.5 is said to present an artist-level features to simplify the complex setting. Updates of the solaris including scene import improvement that allows artists to transit workflow seamlessly form object level to solaris level.
New nodes called Component Builder for well-constructed USD assets that can help to handle material assignments and smoother the connection of the imported assets such as proxy geometry, material assignments, and variants.
A panel called Asset Gallery has been add to the interface, allowing users to add multiple assets at one time and organize and tag them according preference for better access while designing. Also, a brush-based environment for large scale set dressing has been embedded to the Asset Gallery for fine-tune results easily by adjusting, scaling and deleting brushes.
In addition to the new Background render that allow to continue to work while render sample alive, Houdini 19 adds an extra feature that allows users to send files directly to a render farm to offload users’ computing resources by modify the scripts.
| Karma Render
Karma CPU in beta since the release of solaris is now production ready and will work with MaterialX, the ILM-developed open standard for the exchange of material and look dev data. Alongside, alongside Houdini’s VEX expression language.
What’s more, although a number of important features still needs to improved, the Karma XPU, which is said to be “safely into beta in mid-2022 and ready for a gold release in early to mid-2023”, is now included in Houdini 19 in alpha that supports many expected features.
| KineFX & CFX
Described as a “total re-envisioning of how one produces and manipulates motion”, KineFX, a toolset that originally focused on character rigging, retargeting and motion editing is now official in beta in Houdini 19, allowing artists to work alive with Houdini to monitor and modify as the Mocap Stream SOP doing its job.
CFX – A Completely redesigned muscle, tissue and skin simulation system that includes controls for adjusting lag and overshoot, is fully integrated into KineFX, and does not use Houdini’s existing, more technical Channel node (CHOP) networks. The new toolset is officially in beta, and is currently based on Houdini’s Vellum solver: SideFX says that it is working on even more realistic implementation based on the FEM solver.
| What’s more
Other new feature including a great structural change of the simulation toolset, Vellum, that now supports for fluids and rigid bodies; a varied set of new features for the Pyro solver for gaseous fluids like smoke and flames, new Volume Deformation system that lets users modify volumes using standard modelling tools and more.
The update of the latest version of the procedural 3D software, Houdini 19, is being previewed in a series of live sessions at this week’s VIEW Confererence 2021, is due for release on 27 October 2021. Check the release on Houdini Channel and keep up with the latest news with XRender.
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