The Myths about Houdini that HOLD You Back

Not making progress learning Houdini? We are busting a few myths about learning Houdini that might be tripping you up! Get the FREE Effects Demo Reel Guide here: www.nelsonlim.com/fxreelguide/
You may have bought into some myths about Houdini that is keeping you from even starting?
Research shows that having the right mindset plays a huge part in the success of learning. But getting results also forms a positively reinforcing loop.
So today we are busting a few myths about learning Houdini that might be tripping you up this week and at the same time covering some tips that will help you focus on getting results to get a positive reinforcing loop going.
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#VFX #Houdini #Learning #Student #FX #Animation #Procedural

[@NelsonLim]

If I can wave a magic wand and remove an obstacle in your path to learning Houdini, what would that be? Let me know in the comments below.

[@MarquisDeSang]

Houdini is like the shader node, but everywhere.

[@NelsonLim]

True. Except Houdini is the OG before node-based shading. 😉

[@MarquisDeSang]

@@NelsonLim But while Houdini is strugling implementing essential basic functionality like fullscreen and sculpting, Blender has working AI nodes that create gemotry and texture based on text input. Houdini cannot compete with Blender anymore. Blender is moving too fast.

[@NelsonLim]

@@MarquisDeSang I agree that blender is moving fast and is very innovative. I don't think that Houdini is necessarily trying to compete with any DCC out there, as much as it is trying to bring the benefits of proceduralism into areas that haven't quite benefited from it. Every tool is great for what it is intended for and there is room for multiple tools to exist in a professional artist's toolbox. I would actually prefer to have options and I know many professional digital artists would too.

[@fastlearner292]

@@MarquisDeSang God you are wrong on so many levels that I don't even know where to start. But in any case, why bring blender into this discussion? What is with you fanboys? I know blender is great and definitely has come far but why do you feel the need to shove this inside everyone's throat?

[@MarquisDeSang]

@@fastlearner292 I just want Houdini to stop sitting on their 2 hands and fallow where the industry is going. Houdini still has no AI nodes, it is lacking basic sculpting tools and it has no video editor. It is missing critical parts. Houdini will finish as a Blender plugin if they don’t change quickly.

[@AlexSvanArt]

One month into learning Houdini full time, I would describe my path so far like this: 1. What is going on? It is so so so different from anything I've used before! (first days) 2. Aha, that's why.... 3. OMG it's basically visual programming, I love it! (second week) 4. I can understand tutorials and do my own stuff, tons of objects, huge landscapes filed with random parametric objects, let's break things, set it all on fire, clouds, water, more water! (3rd and 4th weeks) 5. Ok, chill now, it's been a month, you broke through first gates, you understand what's going on and you love it, the long and entertaining journey starts now, get ready. (I'm here now)

[@NelsonLim]

Yes, it is pretty addictive! Many people I speak with agree that once they get it, it's hard to look back.

[@HoudiniGameArtist]

I had to unlearn 3d modeling. 10+ years of modeling in Maya helped. But it also gave me misconceptions or hid certain areas of CG from me for the sake of user experience. Knowing other tools taught me what a good model is. And that's about it. So learning Houdini, I knew where my finish line was. Other than that, the skills didn't really transfer. I'd recommend Houdini to all new users. Houdini is like a blank canvas and a brush. Other programs are like a coloring book. While you may think you are making progress with the other tools, you really aren't learning the true craft. But you can stay in the other platforms and be very successful. So it isn't necessary if you don't want to really push your skillet in that way.

[@NelsonLim]

Agreed.

[@MotionPunk]

The biggest problem about Houdini imo is lack of proper and easy to ways of education about its core concepts. When 99.9% of free or paid courses include VEX in every little step, it immediately puts people off. The majority of 3D artists is not technical directors or programmers. Sidefx seems to understand that really well on latest releases thankfully. Again, the lack of proper beginner material is what makes people leave it on the side unless they are dedicated fx artists. I run a patreon where I try to explain it in the simplest way possible and in comparison to c4d and I dont think I managed to convert 1/700 people to fully make the leap :) Its tough, ui needs love, nodes need love and overall it needs to be less open for those that do not wanna know the theories but wanna jump in and do stuff.

[@NelsonLim]

Hi MotionPunk, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Proceduralism is definitely a different beast from most other DCC apps, although we see almost every major DCC app now have it in some way shape or form (i.e. bifrost, geometry nodes, shader nodes, blue-prints, etc...). Most of my students really enjoy proceduralism and Houdini and they get pretty excited about it compared to what they were used to. I think it comes down to how it is taught and introduced. There's a lot of good beginner material out there, but there's also a lot that isn't aimed at the beginner and then there is a whole other aspect of learning to piece together all the beginner material in a cohesive manner. I most certainly recommend a good solid course from a good teacher to jump start the process because the skill is so valuable it pays for itself in no time.

[@user-sl309jd90]

To me as a beginner it was opposite. Seeing all the VOPs node lines were confusing as hell for a simple process. Only to realize it was just simple functions and multiplication in VEX with wrangles. Rather the problem of Houdini being difficult is seriously because it is difficult! While other software throw presets and sliders to adjust and see results right there, Houdini will let users to build their own setup from scratch and make tools out of it.

[@changleon7441]

IMO houdini is very difficult and demanding, and it’s very hard to find help on forums. However, IT IS VERY MUCH POSSIBLE! I’m still a newbie but I believe if I put in the time and effort then I can get good, just like how i got good in other programs. It might take a bit longer to fully grasp the concepts, but SHELF TOOLS EXIST! Start creating and then gradually figure out what’s going on

[@NelsonLim]

Indeed, taking action to create is the best way to learn.

[@XanderWhat]

Well, if I could wave a magic wand, the one thing I'd change is to make myself smarter 😅 But for houdini, the one thing I've run up against that I haven't had with any other software I've learned, is how much Houdini changes. I could take a 10 year old Maya lesson and it would probably still be relevant, but I've watched 3 year old Houdini tutorials where there is a step that's outdated, or sometimes doesn't even exist in Houdini anymore.

[@NelsonLim]

That's so true. It may seem hard to keep up and that there is always something new to learn. I noticed over the years, I have kept to a few foundational nodes, focused on the principles/concepts more and I am more and more curating a set of HDAs/setups that I know won't just change with every new release. So whenever I find something new, I get to choose whether I want to add it to my workflow or not. This might be worth a video, because I can emphatize how much stress it can cause to have to "keep up" with the changes.

[@kikofx]

I really love the last tip! I am still developing my aesthetics eyes, and I can say that having creative aesthetic eyes is what makes the difference between artists.

[@NelsonLim]

So true. But thankfully that can be developed.

[@agnieszkamiler3314]

I love your way of explaining things!

[@NelsonLim]

Glad you like them!

[@emimeemio]

Thanks for the encouragement. I immediately subscribed to your channel.

[@NelsonLim]

Thanks for subbing!

[@pipeliner8969]

glad you're back!

[@NelsonLim]

Thanks Pipeliner. Back on youtube!

[@pipeliner8969]

@@NelsonLim you should also upload your videos on odysee

[@NelsonLim]

Looks like an interesting platform. Thanks for the heads up!

[@dancingbetweenus]

Really appreciate this Nelson. I resonated with what you said about following tutorials but don't know where to begin when working on your own, and finding ways to understand why behind doing certain things is important. I'm wondering if you have any recommendations on where to learn Houdini, would appreciate any guidnace. Much love

[@zssidefilm]

Super helpful!

[@NelsonLim]

Glad you think so!

[@shahriartanvir977]

Thanks Man! It gives me hope. I'm trying to learn Houdini. But, really struggling to get anywhere.

[@NelsonLim]

You can do it!

[@bazund]

Great video !

[@NelsonLim]

Thanks!

[@birdeternal]

Thank you 🖤

[@abhijiths.m4389]

Thank you for your kind Information ❤. It makes me to motivate to learn Houdini. I subbed you my brother ..Than kyouuuuu

[@NelsonLim]

Thanks Abhijith!

[@PhoenixDigitalStudio]

Good tut bro keep it up:)

[@NelsonLim]

Thanks, will do!

[@adproproductions2038]

This was a great video! You nailed it. I've been learning with a course that teaches the why certain things work. It's helped a lot to be able to make things on my own. But you're right, there is no 1 master of Houdini. It is impossible. But that makes it fun too. Thank you!

[@NelsonLim]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and you're welcome! All the best to your Houdini learning journey!

[@cdonline00]

Please could you tell me which course you're following? thanks

[@neldreamCom]

Thanks 👍

[@NelsonLim]

Welcome 👍

[@Gyanevlogs]

Thanks

[@NelsonLim]

Welcome

[@felipemassa4580]

Hello brother! Great video. I am already good at C4D. I am thinking about learning Houdini only for the particles and simulation instead of modeling and other stuff that I can do with C4D. Is it possible to do that?

[@NelsonLim]

Yes, definitely!

[@MarquisDeSang]

Houdini is way cheaper than C4D

[@user-gc6jt4kz7m]

Sir I want to be an fx artist, so I need only to learn the fx part or I need other departments also like modelling, animation etc in Houdini?

[@NelsonLim]

No. You don’t need to know all the CG disciplines to be an FX artist. The most immediately useful is some compositing, lighting and rendering. The rest is helpful but not necessary.

[@ImmersiveEDGE]

could you please tell me what are the best courses to learn houdini

[@NelsonLim]

Hi Dineth, if you are getting started. Try out the sidefx learning paths. www.sidefx.com/learn/getting_started/ I'll also be posting more videos on Houdini in the weeks to come. I also have a paid beginner Houdini FX Course called FX Accelerator, where I teach my students step-by-step how to understand and harness the power for Houdini to create their own FX from scratch. But enrollment is only open a few times during the year. You can sign up for the waitlist below if you are interested. www.nelsonlim.com/fxawaitlist

[@ImmersiveEDGE]

@@NelsonLim thanks😊

[@punu3675]

So if learning by tutorials is bad. should i just learn by hands on and looking up what i dont know?

[@NelsonLim]

Hi Punu, learning by tutorials isn’t bad. But it’s more important to understand the principles and concepts that is shown. Some tutorials are better at explaining concepts. Often times, that also means reading the docs and making sure you understand what the parameter does.

[@ivanraimi5524]

The true is, Houdini is not for everyone, so it might be better for you to learn Cinema4d or Blender

[@NelsonLim]

Yes, Houdini isn't the only tool around. Better to know what you want to create or jobs you want to apply for and learn the right tool(s) for it.

[@paulChannel196]

It does not do much more than blender in terms of modeling, blender has much much more to offer here.

[@kubolor1234]

Last tip is key. Go outside and get some air, learn how to talk to humans.

[@NelsonLim]

Agreed.

[@Andrew-qc8jh]

I'm doing this today...I forgot how weird the other humans are.