Knife modeling Basic || Houdini Tutorial

In this video will be shown how you can make a game-ready knife in Houdini.The tutorial will not be focusing on making it fully procedural but will use advantage of using a more non-destructive workflow.This makes it easy to make changes after modeling certain parts. Small parts of the knife are not fully modeled but the video gives you a good idea how you can finish it further. By practice you will learn more!
This is a beginner friendly tutorial for people interested in Modeling with Houdini. Some base knowledge will be useful when watching the video.
This workflow is also know as a boolean workflow, most shapes are created by boolean operations. This can be a very fast way of working for hardsurface models. Total time spend to get the final result was about 1 hour and a half. Around 30 min for making the knife and about 1 hour on texture (using Substance Painter).
Tutorial file on Gumroad gumroad.com/siver

[@KKsinsa]

I had never seen modeling so intuitively done in Houdini before. I always thought Houdini was a cumbersome program that made simple tasks difficult, but now I've realized that it also offers intuitive modeling. thank you!

[@vaidasokunis]

Helpful tutorial. Got really stuck when you switched to UV view without telling how you did it. For others who might get stuck the same way, the shortcut is SPACE + 5.

[@schmoborama]

Such a clear, no BS tutorial, xlnt. Good tutorials are so rare

[@HalitHarun]

Might be the best houdini starter video I've ever watched.

[@radiocitoyen]

Thank you for this, you're a good teacher mister Simon. Please make more tutorials :)

[@Ron-pv3zq]

One of the best tutorial ive seen with exactly what you need to know. Well done!

[@EClavel]

Wow 🤯 I never thought I would see Simon manual select anything. Still much more intuitive than traditional modeling… it’s like an intro to procedural modeling.

[@Rainbowlov15]

Thank you for your amazing tutorials! You always make everything very clear and easy to follow :)

[@ol1175]

Thank you very much Simon, nice tut. I hope people gonna believe Houdini it’s not only for vfx.

[@lukeagex]

Bloody awesome...I've only just learnt about Houdini and 'procedural modelling'. Turns out it's EXACTLY what I've been looking for. Thanks for the informative and straightforward video.

[@ihorkarpiuk4102]

Thank you for the tutorial, I learned a lot so quickly!

[@arekstefaniak6239]

Really fun tutorial. Much appreciated. Thanks for sharing.

[@RunTheTape]

Absolutely outrageously incredible. Houdini, I hope you’re ready for me.

[@henrydokie]

Houdini "feels" like a CAD software, specially the design history with more advanced parameters. I love it.

[@visualrhythm9101]

it reminds me of rhino + grasshopper

[@samtang6810]

Thank you for this,I think I am getting started from this video.

[@jonosvlog9913]

I must say Houdini is a very Boolean friendly software! Lovely!

[@SIgor420]

I am C4D hardcore modeler for years, but man, this seems like a lot of fun! :D Thanks for the video, hopefully I can start trying Houdini modeling approaches soon. Atm I am having some weird errors when trying to start the app, but hopefully, guys on the forum can provide solution for it. Anyway, thanks for the video! :D

[@zgmg9263]

Incredible. Thank you for sharing!

[@ivanpicas]

Thank you! Very helpful tutorial.

[@Byronx3000]

I literally thought modeling in houdini was super difficult and you made it look super easy

[@vladartiomav2473]

I'm discovering the real power of Houdini with your tutorials! It takes time to get in to this software, but in the end it pays off when you want to modify something in a project. I work also with blender, it is really cool and fast to work with, but when an error arrives somewhere and something needs to be replaced. It's a nighmare! Especially if there is allready a ton of keyframing Thanx a lot!

[@chillbro2275]

Definitely very informative, and presented well.

[@tetsuooshima832]

Nice tutorial, thanks for sharing !

[@dtphongla]

thanks for your video. I Love It. It is very clear and easy understanding

[@Sway55]

thank you for this great tutorial!

[@progmaster15]

Thank you very much! Awesome tutorial :P

[@NightWolfx7578]

Thank you! Please make more!

[@GDi4K]

Wow. This is amazing. I am blaming myself, why I didn't see this video six months ago. Plus, I really like your accent. (You just remind me Korg from Thor)

[@__SKYNET__]

Incredible modeling

[@danilodelucio]

Awesome man, thank you so much!!

[@Lewis2e]

Fantastic video, thank you so much.

[@BehradDavoudi]

thank you so much simon!

[@MEEVOTUTORIALS]

Thank you very much for this tutorial

[@hossx2001]

Best ever, subbed

[@weslley3dezao]

Ótimo, gostei demais, obrigado.

[@christiancortes7523]

Very well Done!

[@magic8bit509]

very helpful, thank you !

[@umair2013]

great work ..need more !

[@motionarts4730]

Great tutorial 1 more please

[@Perjoss]

this is super helpful, thanks

[@CrossMindStudio]

Thank you

[@future5212]

gracias por hacer estos cursos exitos

[@jonosvlog9913]

Thanks for sharing!

[@selimsandal]

I can't figure out how to make the parameters window show inside the node graph like yours. Can you help me with that? Thanks for the tutorial.

[@user-hl5zx1qh7s]

wow!

[@antongrotov6840]

Hi! Very cool! But how you see circle control in mirror mode? I don't have this one

[@sathishr9954]

Thanks for this one bro

[@shitab]

感谢，thanks。

[@fiddybux]

Thank you for this Simon Houdini!

[@uuuuuu2242]

Thank u!

[@MEEVOTUTORIALS]

You're awesome.

[@Somethinginvisible1]

nice THANK YOU!!

[@medupemokone8503]

Respect

[@MUHIL]

I use blender and and I'm mindblown about this kinda workflow! Hopefully geometry nodes will catch up

[@DevGods]

It won’t catch up but it can get close. Houdini is always growing as well. This workflow is what convinced me to make the switch. That and Houdini engine. Blender is cool but Houdini is magic.

[@MUHIL]

@@DevGods yeahh. The workflow is amazing

[@IronMan-yg4qw]

very cool

[@risnandarmultimedia5296]

good job. please create more example to modelling and use new nodes

[@koltscats]

Other modeling software: Try never to use boolean, it can often cause issues. Houdini: BOOLEAN EVERYTHING. NO MORE, AGAIN!

[@Scultronic]

@ModuMaru yeah exactly you can do this in anything that supports modifiers, 3ds max and blender have the same workflow poly modeling while boolean with modifiers then onces you're done a voxel remesher modifier then a smooth modifier. Is the same procedural workflow.

[@Blastphemer]

@@Scultronic that is bullshit. Boolean in blender causing ugly triangles all over the place and the topology has messy artifacts. Same goes for ZBrush and Maya. Houdini keeps it clean with Ngons while you can remesh it with no problems later on.

[@EClavel]

Houdini is the best program. Anyone that compares blender or others to this just simply doesn’t know the power of Houdini. HDAs are gold!!

[@samduss4193]

@@EClavel I have a question for you cause i come from blender, and i feel blender is just the tool a bit behind ... I wonder if at the end i can make up everything with houdini... apart from sculpting right ? it manage properly compositing, modeling and animation and so one... cause i like the node system and at then end even if it makes it a bit slowlier at the end it allows it to build more stuff which is great :)

[@rajijain8005]

@@Blastphemer ever heard of geo nodes dude

[@rishashari8039]

Hi Simon, at 15:11 in the video, why does my TAB input Vox not have a Voxelmesh node? Sorry i'm a beginner. I'm stuck and I don't know what to do. Hope you can answer thank you very much

[@AlexPaleczny]

You need to install Sidefx Labs (formerly known as GameDev Tools) - www.sidefx.com/products/sidefx-labs/

[@oneday7922]

thank you from china

[@KaleemUllah-hg4fl]

Hi simon At 2:17 / 21:40 boolean effect is not working in my case im using houdini 18.0.532

[@xThe3xecution]

Hey bud, very nice and straight forward tutorial. Im following along right now and im almost finished.. but unfortunately i cant find the "voxelmesh". Do i have to install a specific asset or do i need full version? Im new to Houdini and trying to learn it now. Would be glad to hear from u.

[@lolvonlolipopp]

You need to download sdefxLabs to do so go to the + icon under the shef tools and check SideFX labs under shelves. After that restart houdini and you will have the node.

[@xThe3xecution]

@@lolvonlolipopp ohh man, thank you for your answer! really appreciate that!

[@TheWillvoss]

Did u do sci fi series on sidefx too? I love you.

[@simonhoudini5074]

Thanks and yes I helped creating the sci-fi series on Sidefx.

[@buffetbar8231]

Can you please explain the method for making breakdown of the houdini project?

[@w_szon3115]

hey I was following your tutorial but in my version I don't have voxelmesh node... Is there a way to get around this? (to get high poly)

[@simonhoudini5074]

Voxel node is found in the Sidefx Labs tools www.sidefx.com/products/sidefx-labs/sidefx-labs-tools/ I recommend installing them, these are very useful tools

[@farshadhardcore]

modeling in Blender so easy than Houdini but for working with unreal( USD assets and digital assets ) in Houdini, learning modeling in this software worth it ......

[@covidcarl7480]

wow, i was wondering how the heck you would smooth this bad boy- PRESTO

[@Flo16xx]

2:05 when i make on the button output back on than its not close me cyle , sorry me bad beginner englisch not translator and new version froem free houdini with standard settings. what i make wrong and a bride i become too not and i find not with new houdini version, on old its not hard when i see the video but the houdini show other out in 6 old year version help

[@KZLR]

Thanks for this great tutorial. Do you find Houdini to be adequate for modeling (I'm an aspiring FX Artist and just want to be able to do some supplementary traditional and procedural modeling.) Or should I use another app to do most modeling?

[@simonhoudini5074]

For traditional modelling that's up to what the artist prefers. I'm used to modelling in Houdini. Strong side of Houdini is procedural modelling and building custom tools (hda) for your workflow. That's what I think is very powerful and build a custom tools for your workflow

[@KZLR]

@@simonhoudini5074 Thanks Simon, and that's been my thought. I just am or was unsure if I can utilize Houdini for the set pieces that don't require procedural modeling or to be an HDA, and avoid going outside Houdini for those pieces. If you find Houdini capable of all that, and a capable modeling app altogether, then I'll just stick in Houdini and try to learn traditional in it as well. It is more convenient this way for sure (bc I use Houdini for sims and terrain too.)

[@KZLR]

@@korbendallas5397 I've seen this but I wasn't sure how hard it would be to learn without a lot of documentation, and haven't seen a lot of people talk about it. Have you used that Modeler, do you have thoughts on it? Thanks Korben!

[@korbendallas5397]

@@KZLR yes I have used and it's easy to use at least in my experience it's straight forward stuff, package comes with. pdf file with some tips how to use some tools not sure about price it could be cheeper I guess but it's a great tool imo.

[@KZLR]

@@korbendallas5397 I will have to check it out then, thanks for the suggestion. I've just been intimidated by it for whatever reason haha.

[@chrisgg]

Is there any way to directly select another object on the viewport? Or do I need to activate it first in the nodes explorer and press enter on the viewport all the time? This feels so slow ... :)

[@simonhoudini5074]

There might be some options for that. Most of the time I click on the node itself. There is also a hierarchy/tree view of the scene on the left side.

[@user-mo5qq5dp6u]

I dont seem to have the voxelmesh options in the tab menu, is it because i have the apprentice non-commercial version?

[@savroful]

look for "side fx labs"

[@andrekbloctba]

Hi, in the 2min, 45sec video time, how did you move to above the two booleans tube? Thanks!!!

[@andrekbloctba]

I got it!... :)

[@welldone9440]

Hello Simon, in 5:14 How did you select between the primitives?

[@welldone9440]

I figured it out.

[@obakeng1140]

@@welldone9440 How? and for 1:53, how did he copy?

[@youtubeuser12588]

damn i might use this insted of blender

[@ljiljankocurcic8893]

''... and for this shape I'm going to start bullying again... '' 😥

[@Sway55]

lol

[@IvinNayaYoesel]

Lol 🤣🤣

[@junechevalier]

Press space barbie to pay respect to the bullied

[@BUONCO]

i don't have voxel node or that uv node? how did you get those?

[@simonhoudini5074]

These are part of the Labs tools. Look in the shelf tools for the Labs and install them. (You can google it for more details on installation)

[@aujak]

Thank you. ^_^

[@psychoanima]

Great tutorial. The only complaint I have with your microphone that is making a whistling noise every time you are using words with "s".

[@Flo16xx]

or can you downloading the data ? than i can see perhaps me error

[@bearstudios101]

Hello. I'm using Houdini 17.5 and i'm not getting the same effect you are between 09:52 - 09:56. Could you help?

[@simonhoudini5074]

Houdini 18 is recommended to use for the tutorial. It has a new bevel node

[@bearstudios101]

Thank you 🙂

[@Fullmetalseagul]

Love the tutorial, everything went fine until I got to the maps baker node. Everything is plugged into the proper inputs and I hit bake yet nothing happens. I even updated SideFX labs to the latest version. There's no "asset name and path" on my node though.

[@Moctop]

Do you have Indie? Apprentice has a limit on render resolution.

[@Fullmetalseagul]

@@Moctop I am using apprentice but nothing happens regardless of the set resolution. I used command echo in the textport and it outputs the following when I hit bake "compfree -c render -I /obj/tube1/maps_baker1/cops_baking/rop_Nt glcache -c;" Not sure if that helps at all

[@simonhoudini5074]

Using the apprentice version has render limitations and water mark. I think max resolution you can do is 512. You could export the models by right click on node and save geo.

[@RanjitKumar-vx6gg]

@@simonhoudini5074 exactly thank you for your help :)

[@PersiaAhmad]

Nice tutorial. But I wanted to point out, you forgot the hole near the tip of the knife as well as the rectangular mark along the blade. Also it needs a lot more work and more fine-tuning, if it is going to look anything like the reference.

[@eamonnpersaud942]

what kind of texturing methods did you use?

[@simonhoudini5074]

The model was textured in Substance painter.

[@eamonnpersaud942]

@@simonhoudini5074hi Simon I know I might be asking a bit much but it is possible you could send the knife model to me, so that I could get mess around with it, to add different colors and try different lighting style effect as well as trying to rendering it , so that I can get a better idea of Houdini.

[@simonhoudini5074]

@@eamonnpersaud942 you will learn more building the knife from scratch. Further I used Houdini for only modelling, texture and render are from substance.

[@eamonnpersaud942]

ok thank you the advice

[@OccultDemonCassette]

Wait.. this looks easier than most other modeling programs. Why do I always hear that modeling in Houdini is harder?

[@eamonnpersaud942]

i am new to houdini

[@dmytriy8008]

Я половины не понимаю что ты говоришь. Но я Люблю houdini.

[@asasadad6316]

but the knife in the picture is not the one made in the video

[@spawn1411]

I don't know why so few people study Houdini in Russia, but it's very difficult to find friends with whom to share the experience. If you, like me, have just begun to study Houdini, then I will be very happy to join forces and together reach the top of the knowledge of this 3D software.

[@_dimitri_1242]

5:04 how can you select like that?

[@zdspider6778]

Press "S" to enter selection mode. Press "4" to enter primitive (face) selection. Click on a face, then hold "A" while you click on another face. Note: If the angle between them is too steep, Houdini won't immediately recognize it as a continuous path, so you might have to make several clicks (shorter paths) while holding down "A".

[@MxBn3uron]

man, what about the topology?

[@graemevaughey7432]

No kidding. I was wincing all the way through.

[@izvarzone]

you do the retopo

[@zdspider6778]

I used a "PolyReduce" node set to 90-95% for each piece. If you keep the number of "columns" down and bevels wide enough, you don't need to retopologize it.

[@hanno5724]

You are a good teacher but can u please do something to get better sound? every time u said something with an a in it my eares were bleeding :-(

[@_dimitri_1242]

I made a lightsaber using this videos' tips and tricks

[@trustairdrop24]

Houdini very hard... I like 3d modeling in maya

[@samduss4193]

damn i am beginner i really search for a road to learn houdini i did not really start and already about to just give up lol

[@stefancargoski5871]

Houdini always intimidated me from learning 3D, lucky there was Blender 1000 times easier.

[@AowchMyFoot]

Just a suggestion for your audio. Please use a "de esser". the sibilance on your "s's" really hurts the ears. I couldn't get past the first few minutes.

[@dan_karro8904]

Better use Blender. It’s a program for modelling.

[@magic8bit509]

houdini is great for modeling too, especially if you use Alexey Vanzhula modeler addon. Procedural modeling is great to make quickly a lot of variant of an asset.

[@Mbg-tech]

Who the hell was houdini made for ??? For rocket scientists ?? Gaaadaam this software makes no sense