How to Learn Houdini

Check out cgforge.com for more Houdini courses & resources

[@QuesoGr7]

The project based course advice where you watch for a few minutes, and then do the thing, is not just good advice for learning this program but others as well. That's why I like instructors like Grant Abbit who tells you to "pause the video, and have a go" with his Blender courses and tutorials.

[@barbiechm08]

so what is a better way to do this on houdini? please I start to learn and idk how to learn

[@bifrostbeberast3246]

Your point about jealousy was really important for me to hear. I kept feeling inferior when starting out with Blender watching other peoples works, being taught by younger people in youtube, etc. Once I changed my mindset to "Everyone is my teacher, life is my teacher", things suddenly started to change and I found home in the artist community, realizing how many friendly people are there, learning things TOGETHER and improving on each others works.

[@cgforge]

Being a part of the 3d artist community feels rather counter-intuitive at first because that's not similar to other things in life - like sports or school. In those arenas, "winning" is more easily defined and understood. You either won or lost the game. Or, you're either a top student because your grades are high, or you're not because a teacher gave you an F. It's not like that though when you're an artist. People might try to make it like that because that's how they understand everything else, but it's not like that. "Winning" doesn't work in the same way, and it can mean something different for everyone. The other thing I would add is that it's completely normal to feel jealousy, so don't beat yourself up too badly if you feel that way. We all do at some point. But, at the same time, realize that it's not helpful either. Try to replace jealousy with honest admiration, and remind yourself that you're on a completely different path than someone else with a different set of strengths and weakness to content with when making your art.

[@bifrostbeberast3246]

@@cgforge Exactly that! I did actually replace it and joined a discord server. The artists there are super friendly and help wherever they can. Totally restored my believe in humanity :) Sometimes I just feel too old learning CGI with 35. Most people in this industry are young and dynamic. They excell at an early age. I am not sure if I will ever be able to produce similar things when starting so late in life. I would like to turn it into a career, since I really love working in Blender, but I am afraid this might ruin the fun in it due to deadline, bitchy customers, boring projects, etc. Also not quite sure where to niche down, as right now I am more of a generalist, which doesn't really help in getting excellent at it.

[@jonosvlog9913]

I wish I had someone to tell me all these when I first started learning Houdini. Cool stuff and renders might look cool and all but at the end of the day, start with the basics. Understand how points, Prim, details attributes work etc........ Learn the fundamentals of VEX and VOPS. Don't spend half of the time trying or rendering something cool try to get results only. Houdini requires a different mindset and thinking compares to other 3D software. I think I learnt it the hard way just like 90% of the people out there.

[@cristyp.516]

any tips for a guy like me who wants to learn it?i whould appreciate....

[@jonosvlog9913]

@@cristyp.516 I just mentioned those in my comment above. Good Luck.

[@RubaQewar1]

These are not Houdini advices. These are life skills advices.. Awesome video by the way

[@cgforge]

Thanks Ruba! Life skills are a big deal, and it's probably one of the most important factors when it comes to someone's success with Houdini.

[@Novemmusic]

Fantastic video. Of course, like majority, I'm guilty of making most of the mistakes you mention, like starting with cool but too complex tutorials - where I could achieve the good result by copy and pasting what tutorial was saying, but didn't understand most of the stuff and would never be able to do it myself without a step-by-step tutorial. The Node Bible seems like a great way to start, since for me it's like Lego - the more blocks (or nodes in this case), you have/know, the better things you'll be able to build. Again, thanks for this - very, very helpful.

[@ankanghoshdiscoverme]

These tips works for every situation. Its a good practice to be self dependant and practicing priorities. These practices are very needed when working on productions. Thanks man!

[@glmstudiogh]

I've learned more in Houdini within these few days as I read the documentation whenever I drop a node that is strange to me, I'm pretty new in Houdini, I'm a comper, and you're super right about getting inspired to create by watching other artists work, I've got a whole library of studios reels and others

[@fanglinzhu2562]

Thanks Taylor! I was lost in my quest to become a tech artist for a while and every piece of advice in this video was spot on and helped me a lot!

[@cgforge]

That's awesome! I'm glad that you were able to find the video to be valuable.

[@sunitjoshi3573]

Thanks a lot for taking the time and effort to put this out. 🙏

[@yinon_tal]

Thanks Tyler! Really good to learn courses from your website.

[@Beyon1ck]

Thank you! That was a magnificent help in such hard doing alone

[@cgforge]

Thanks Nick! I'm glad that video could be helpful

[@niklovessyou_ru]

really great thoughts

[@Kitv3]

Thanks for this video! I’m fresh out of university and have been struggling trying to find my own path. I graduated in film production but I live in norcal where the job opportunities are very limited. I’ve always been interested in VFX and have been trying to jump the gun but I’m glad I stumbled upon this video. Will definitely take my time in developing and learning this craft. Thanks again 🙏

[@cgforge]

You're welcome! Good luck with your studies

[@ThraceKelsick]

Great video, great advice

[@MdP-wo8vc]

thanks a lot for sharing your best advises who wanna enter 3d artist career👍

[@hillofarts7653]

Great Video! Thank you bro

[@victorp9361]

Actually a great way to learn almost anything ))

[@nosirve9458]

I loved your video. This deserves so many much views. Really wise words. Thank you

[@cgforge]

Thanks for watching @nosirve9458 🙏

[@emkjuslen]

Thanks for the tips. I am a developer and want to learn it as a hubby.

[@MoorishMade]

Thank you.

[@ancelotiv]

He gave me the best advice ever 10 minutes watch , 10 minutes try , thanks

[@rendermanpro]

"Dark Souls" of VFX world

[@yunismukmenov1576]

Thank you Tyler! Really usefull tips. Can you advice what areas I should focus on mostly (besides solid general basics of Houdini) in case of chasing carreir as Houdini Tech Artist in game development? And what kind of projects should be done and placed into portfolio in this case. Actually I have 3d modeler background and doing "general purpose" techart things coding in gamedev and do understand proceduralism benefits but I have no idea what exactly houdini artist day at BB or A/AA studio could be. I'm right if I say that Houdini is mostly for big projects only and Houdini knowledge must be really really high to even start to find any vacancies? Sorry for so many questions - any tips would be great) Thank you again I really glad to find your channel and so usefull learning source as cgforge. Keep it up!

[@cgforge]

Hey Yunis, In order to give you specific advice, I would need to know you, your goals, and your work much better because what you ought to do really depends a lot on where you're at and where you want to go. But, in general, if you're trying to go after a tech artist, then you would need to demonstrate a strong combination of artistic and technical ability in your demo reel. I would also say that Houdini is not just for big projects. It can make a great impact on small projects too. And the day-to-day life really just depends on the position that you're talking about. If you haven't watched my video on different Houdini jobs, then check it out because that's exactly what I talk about here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h167ioOnh9umbpI But anyway, as far as specific projects go - again I'd have to sit down and talk with you about it. But, take a look at those job positions, pick one, figure out the requirements, and demonstrate those requirements on a reel. That's the general way to go about it.

[@Helios.vfx.]

I did start doing sims and all that stuff but later down I realized it wasn't the way to go. Now I'm learning how data flows throhg the nodes nad all that stuff to get some sort of foundation and lastly go to sims

[@cgforge]

Nice 👍 I'm glad you went back to figure out how data flows. Houdini definitely forces everyone to pay their dues with that foundational knowledge at some point or another, and once you get that, then it opens up to all sorts of possibilities.

[@Helios.vfx.]

@@cgforge Yes that's true. To be honest, I didn't even know what a vector was, and all different terminologies when I was doing sims or why such node was used so on so forth. I went the hard way. Now with foundation part is still the hard way but enjoyable. Cause there's a reason of why something it's done. Thank you mate for your video. The last part was very insightful for someone who had a mess going on how to make things works.

[@cgforge]

@@Helios.vfx. No problem! I'm glad if I can help. Going back to the basics after skipping forward is definitely the harder way to do it, but fortunately it's all stuff that makes everything else fall into place. Good luck with your studies, I hope it all goes well.

[@andrewmcculloch9577]

Hey there. Great video. I'm a classically trained artist. Until recently I was grinding to become a professional illustrator. Ai has kind of killed that market. I have 2 year experience with 3d modelling and am determined to get comfortable with Houdini in my 3rd year of design school. I'm lucky enough to have some great mentors around me so there are no excuses. I sort of have 2 questions. Do VFX artists commonly have a background in illustration or traditional art or am I swimming in untested waters. Also if crunching how long would you say it would take to become comfortable enough to produce a competitive demo reel for a junior position. Love the content by the way!

[@cgforge]

Hey Andrew, welcome to the party! Having a background in illustration / fine arts is certainly a very good thing to have as a Houdini artist. It may not always directly apply to what you're doing, but I've found that having a fine art background helps in noticeably indirect ways that will serve you well over time. My background is in photography and fine art as well, so I would say that you're in good company here with that. Everyone takes a different amount of time to produce a competitive demo reel for a junior position, but in general, I would suggest this: 1. Gain a base / broad understanding of Houdini first. Skim over the topics briefly so that you're generally accustomed to what is there. 2. Pick one topic that you like and study hard on it. Get really good at one thing, put it together in a project that can go on your demo reel, and learn a lot as you go. 3. Then pick a neighboring topic that's complimentary to what you focused in, and do a project around that. For example, if you study hard at hair/grooming, then do another demo reel project that is vellum/cloth related. That will help you apply for CFX positions. Pyro goes well with RBD, procedural modeling goes well with shading / texturing, etc. etc... 4. Then, lastly, get some professional feedback to refine what you have and start getting yourself out there in the world. Message people on Linkedin, look for jobs (and apply for them even if it doesn't say "junior" in the title). In general, don't be shy, get involved, and have fun. That's how you develop opportunities over time. Good luck with your endeavors! And let me know if there's anything else I can help you with, Cheers, - Tyler

[@sat8141]

Really cool! I was wondering if you have any advice on how to find a mentor, I'm kind of lost in that respect..

[@cgforge]

Well, I offer one-on-one mentorships / video calls at cgforge.com. There are others as well who offer those services, and you can find that by just googling around. But check it out if you're interested. There's an option I have on there to set up a free on-boarding or mentorship call for free.

[@tutorialtutorial8418]

Hello sir. thanks for content. it was helpful. I wanna become a fx artist. I learned everything a little bit at a time. I can do all sorts of effects on tutorials. I haven't chosen a direction yet. I like fire, explosions, water and distraction. Could you give me advice or a pipeline? where should I start? I've already finished foundation.

[@cgforge]

Hey there, I'm glad that you asked! I just put out a video that goes into all the different job positions you can get with Houdini. Check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h167ioOnh9umbpI Picking a direction is a personal decision, so I can't give you good advice without knowing your work, values, and who you are a bit more. But take a look at these job titles, visit the studio websites, and figure out what you need based on the requirements. That will help you decide what to do next and hopefully specialize in something that you really enjoy. Good luck!

[@tutorialtutorial8418]

@@cgforge Thanks Sir! Respect to you. I am from Uzbekistan. when I become a fx artist I'll work with you God willing ☺

[@Vizeral]

Quick question. Did you use ornatrix or xgen for your beard? Liked and subbed.

[@cgforge]

It was sculpted in zbrush actually

[@Vizeral]

@@cgforge heh.

[@edwinlopez8588]

Well, today is going to be my first day 🤜🏽🤛🏽

[@cgforge]

You got this!

[@user-ii2ck1nw6d]

Is the flat price for The Node Bible really 5k or is that a mistake?

[@cgforge]

It's 5k for studio flat price access. It's permanent access, and I plan on continually increasing the number of entries for the next few years, so that's why it looks like a big price. For most users, you'll just want to become a subscriber. That'll unlock all the entries as well as long as you stay subscribed.

[@h.s.narasimhan8107]

Should we learn something specific in Houdini like grooming, VFX, modeling or just learn all of Houdini?

[@cgforge]

I typically suggest to get a general overview first and then picking something to focus on for awhile. If you take a look at the certifications I have at CG Forge, I set it up so that the beginner cert gives you an overview of everything in general, the Houdini specialist picks something more specific, and then the mastery refines the projects you've done into a great demo reel. It'll take many months of hard work, but that's a pretty good path to take if you're looking for a specific job.

[@h.s.narasimhan8107]

@@cgforge thanks for the reply, I am going to watch ur 'Houdini for beginner artist series' I am actually a blender user, I've been wanting to learn Houdini for a long time, i think this new year is the best time for me to start. Thanks for the support.

[@cgforge]

That's awesome! Welcome to the community. Let me know if you need anything along the way, and I hope your studies go well.

[@hoodinie1637]

sometimes i feel lost while studying houdini maybe bcoz of ur answer like i am being a copycat!!! i was like i learned nth now i found the solution i will try again

[@cgforge]

Absolutely! Playing the copycat game is the most common mistake I see people make. It's like trying to learn how to ride a bike and never taking off the training wheels. Plus, if any of the foundations topics are a bit fuzzy, then it helps to go back and review those as well.

[@melantheoszimurri9981]

$5000 for the node Bible wow

[@cgforge]

That's studio pricing. If you subscribe to CG Forge, you can get access to the Node Bible + all courses for $100

[@branthan8215]

Change the title to ...how to learn any software 😌

[@MirceaGoia]

How to learn Houdini if you already know Nuke and another 3D program :)? So you are not a beginner in this VFX world....

[@cgforge]

Play at 2x speed until you get stumped would probs be your best bet. And then once you have a general feel for it, try exploring on your own and hit a bunch of walls