Houdini 3.0 Ships
Realtime-interactivity and powerful new modeling technologies mark Houdini 3.0 as a momentous release
Las Vegas, NAB '99. -Side Effects Software unveiled Houdini 3. The product, which began shipping a week before the conference, marks a breakthrough in realtime/interactive animation and modeling. Due in part to significant speed increases, Houdini 3.0 will enable animators to work interactively with scenes while allowing for realtime playback of the animation. Always strong in the area of modeling, this latest Houdini version incorporates three powerful new modeling technologies including an enhanced version of Pixar's subdivision surfaces: a feature which quickly and easily allow modelers to add high levels of localized detail to their polygonal models. Other new features include advanced hidden line wire rendering (WREN) and IGES file format support.
Realtime/Interactivity
"Realtime/interactive animation
is a new way of working with motion that is especially well-suited to character animation,"
said Paul Salvini, Director of Research and Development at Side Effects Software. "Houdini
users have always enjoyed the ability to interact with elements in a live animation
playing in realtime. Now we've taken live animation to the next level by providing ways to
choreograph, record, layer and edit motion in a procedural and non-linear fashion."
image from eXistenZ
eXistenZ images© 1999 Alliance Atlantis Releasing. All rights reserved.
images courtesy of TOYBOX.
Using live performance animation recording devices such as motion capture hardware or such simple peripherals as a keyboard or mouse, animators will have a superior way to generate motion. One application of this technology is realtime puppeteering. Said puppeteer and Special Effects Supervisor for the film eXistenZ, Jim Isaac: "There is no question in my mind that a system that allows the puppeteer the ability to input realtime information into the computer, not only saves time, but gives you the opportunity to add nuances and personality to a creature that you might not get with traditional CG animation. A package like Houdini, that gives you a combination of the two is the best answer."
Modeling
Houdini 3.0 is shipping with support for an enhanced version of Pixar's subdivision
surface technology along with higher-order rational curve networks and procedural radial
fillets. These features extend Houdini's sophisticated modeling toolset. "With
support for both procedural and traditional modeling techniques, Houdini provides an
unmatched collection of polygonal, Bézier, and NURBS tools," said Salvini.
"These tools will provide our customers with new ways of working and superior
control over the shape of modeled surfaces. Moreover, they will allow modelers to enjoy
the benefits of mixing the three surface representations to achieve the best of all worlds."
Advantages of subdivision surfaces
Since the release of Pixar's Geri's Game the topic of subdivision surfaces has been the
focus of much attention. Modelers and game developers, in particular, are excited about
the potential of this polygonal modeling technology to break through traditional character
animation boundaries. "Subdivision surfaces is a great tool for creating
characters," said TOYBOX Senior Animator, Jim Rutherford, who recently completed
an extremely demanding character project for David Cronenberg's new release, eXistenZ.
"If our Houdini 3.0 upgrade with its subdivision surface technology had been
available when we were working on eXistenZ, our production times would have been greatly
reduced."
The Side
Effects Software implementation
Because the surfaces will be fully integrated within Houdini's powerful modeling toolset,
working with subdivision surfaces in this software will take on advanced dimensions. In
addition to the procedural benefit of full revisability, animators will be able to readily
convert NURBS to subdivision surfaces. In order to reduce the geometry count, Houdini will
allow users to sub-divide one part of a model and then seamlessly stitch it into the other
sections. Finally, because Houdini can apply subdivision surfaces to geometry in the
modeler, users will have the option to pre-visualize their subdivision surfaces before
rendering with Pixar's RenderMan.
Higher-Order Rational Curve
Networks
Those looking to create complex,
organic NURBS models will be able to take advantage of Houdini's rational curve networks
and radial fillets. Side Effects Software developed its rational curve network technology
while working with a client who had very specific demands for complex facial models.
Unique to Houdini is the fact that there is no restriction on the type or complexity of
the curves that can be networked. Moreover, Houdini's approach to skinning the network,
which is not limited to "bi-rails" results in fewer steps, fewer continuity
problems and cleaner surfaces. "With Houdini's rational curve networks, modelers
are free to explore the natural flow lines of organic shapes without resorting to polygons
or trimmed surfaces," said Cristin Barghiel of Side Effects Software R&D.
"This feature will be especially useful for facial modeling and muscle
deformation. It will also provide intuitive controls for natural looking animation."
WREN
Houdini 3.0 includes WREN: a
software-based solution for advanced hidden line wire-frame rendering with silhouette edge
detection. WREN allows wire-frame models to be rendered with very precise control over
interior lines in the final rendering. Users can choose to display all interior lines of
their 3D models, generate traditional hidden line style models, or eliminate almost all of
the interior lines resulting in a specific 2D cel animation look. This efficient procedure
was developed by Side Effects Software for a client that produces anime (Japanimation).
About Side Effects Software
Established in 1987, Side Effects
Software is a world leader in advanced 3D graphics and special effects software for use in
film, broadcast and game development. Under the leadership of co-founders Kim Davidson
(President) and Greg Hermanovic (Chief Executive Officer), Side Effects Software continues
to lead the field of procedural animation with its unique visual network technology. The
company's main product, Houdini, is used by a number of digital content creation leaders
including Digital Domain, DreamWorks SKG, Rhythm & Hues and Sony Pictures Imageworks.
Web Site: http://www.sidefx.com