WhatIsHoudini?

From Odwiki

Houdini is the most complete visual effects and animation solution available. This award-winning and production-proven product handles the most challenging shots without the need for additional plug-ins or an army of programmers. Film production facilities can rely on Houdini Master to help them create stunning feature film effects and character animation.

Contents 1 Houdini Legacy 2 Houdini Trivia 2.1 Applications 2.2 Internal Names

[edit] Houdini Legacy

Houdini is a 2nd generation package which was re-written completely but originated conceptually in Prisms (similar to how SoftimageXSI originated in Softimage:3D or how 3D Studio Max originated in Autodesk's 3D Studio).

• Houdini 9.0 (2007)
  • Introduction of FluidDynamics
  • Python Scripting: HOM and SOHO
  • Mantra: Physically Based Rendering (PBR), VolumeRendering
  • SOHO: python scripted output
  • UI redevelopment and many other features
• Houdini 8.0 (2005)
  • Introduction of DOPs
• Houdini 7.0 (2004)
  • CharacterTools and OTLs firmly developed
  • Introduction of RSL VOPs
• Houdini 6.0 (2003)
  • Introduction of OTLs
  • NetworksWithinNetworks
• Houdini 5.5 (2002)
  • Redevelopment of COPs version 2
  • Total redevelopment of the CharacterTools
  • Introduction of VOPs
• Houdini 5.0 (2002)
  • New viewport Modeling paradigm
• Houdini 4.0 (2000)
  • New UI - Panes
  • Introduction of VEX
  • Significant leap for mantra
• Houdini 3.0 (1999)
• Houdini 2.5 (1998)
  • Introduction of CHOPs
  • Introduction of POPs
• Houdini1.0 (1996)
• PRISMS 7.0
• PRISMS 6.0
  • Introduction of Sage, the node-based package for modeling. This was the prototype of Houdini.

[edit] Houdini Trivia

Here is some legacy trivia for those curious souls.

[edit] Applications

• Action: The PRISMS executable.
• Ice : Ice was the standalone compositor shipped with PRISMS. It was a sister product to Silicon Grail's "Chalice" product and is the progenitor of COPs.
• Crystal : A scanline renderer in the days of PRISMS.
• Mantra: A hybrid scan-line/raytracer was also shipped with PRISMS and is still Houdini's primary renderer to this day (and has been rewritten several times).
• Lava : the Material Editor for PRISMS
• Mojo : Grid-based morpher/warper shipped with PRISMS
• Sage : a modeler (which was the predecessor/prototype of Houdini) which was shipped with PRISMS 6.0+

[edit] Internal Names

• JIVE - Channel editor
• JEDI - Object view
• COLA - old POP view (now POPUI)
• FUSE - Pane UI
• THOR - Render scheduler
• PSI - Parameter dialog
• SAGE - old PRISMS SOP editor
• CHILI - (CHOP UI) is now CHUI.