Houdini procedural techniques

software used in this course:

Houdini

Advanced procedural techniques with Houdini, Karma and MaterialX

Price: $650.00 USD per person

Classroom: 6 seats

5x 2h sessions

Course start date: TBA

Sessions run: every Tuesday

at 18:30 PT ()

Timezone: America/Vancouver

Language: English

Albert Szostkiewicz

admission by application only

Description

Step into the captivating world of visual effects with Introduction to Houdini. Whether you're an aspiring artist aiming to break into the film industry or a hobbyist looking to enhance personal projects, this course offers comprehensive guidance on leveraging Houdini, one of the industry's premier FX software. This course will cover everything from understanding Houdini's core functionalities to mastering the art of creating a range of effects.

By the end of the course, not only will you have a basic understanding and beginner level at using Houdini, but you'll also understand the underlying principles of creating engaging and realistic visual effects. Take the plunge into the vibrant world of visual effects and bring your creative visions to life.

You will gain exclusive access to our internal Slack channel to send any pressing questions, anytime!

All sessions are live, not pre-recorded, and you can always contribute to the session.

Curriculum

Week 01:

First look at Houdini
UI and Navigation
Nodes and Parameters
Object Space and World Space
Geometry Attributes
Assignment #1

Week 02:

Geometry SOP
Deformations
Groups and Attributes
Assignment #2

Week 03:

procedural thinking
point and primitive VOPs
creating masks
Modifying geometry using VOPs
Assignment #3

Week04:

Packed Geometry, Poly soup
Vector Math 101
Copying and Instancing
Assignment #4

Week05:

For each loops
Introduction to Solaris
Material X
Assignment #5

Week06:

Cameras
Lights
Karma and Mantra Rendering
Compositing
Final Assignment

Class Prerequisite

Basic knowledge of 3D Graphics and VFX in general
Basic knowledge of any 3D package
Installed copy of the Houdini software. You can download Houdini Apprentice for free from the SideFX website
Installed ZOOM software with working camera and microphone for online classes

Mentor - Albert Szostkiewicz

FX, Scripting, Coding, General VFX

VFX Supervisor, Pipeline Innovator, and SideFX-Certified Mentor Albert combines two decades of on-set and post-production VFX experience with a passion for art-meets-math problem-solving. He’s led teams at Weta Digital, ILM, Sony Pictures Imageworks, and DNEG, contributing to Academy Award–winning films like “Dune” and Oscar-nominated hits like “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” As a SideFX-Certified Mentor, Albert loves demystifying complex Houdini workflows, from advanced simulations to ACES color science and custom Python/C++ tools. He believes in empowering artists with a deep technical foundation, so they can create fearlessly and adapt to the ever-evolving VFX landscape. Whether you’re a newcomer or a mid-career professional, Albert’s mission is simple: help you unlock industry-level artistry and become a self-sufficient problem solver.