Houdini is an animated 3D software program developed by Toronto based Side FX, who adapted Houdini from the PRISMS series of procedural generation programming tools. Houdini is unique in that it allows users to create complicated physical structures without the need for programming experience or design knowledge. Houdini is different from other visual computer applications because of its emphasis on the generation of highly detailed physical structures without the use of programming languages or templates. Houdini has been called the 'cure' for the VGA graphics chip due to its ability to emulate video card functions. Houdini also provides users with the ability to run complex programs without the use of memory cards, making Houdini much more popular than other similar applications. Houdini review can help you decide whether Houdini slots are right for you.
Houdini slots are very similar to Houdini demos, but the hardware is built differently. Houdini fx hardware runs on Windows, Linux or Mac OS X operating systems. Houdini drivers and software are available for most Windows platforms, though some Windows users may still find that they require certain software to run correctly. Houdini slots are based on the irix architecture, which is considered to be one of the most widely used and versatile architectures in the world. Houdini is able to run on desktop computers as well as embedded systems such as mobile phones and digital cameras.
Houdini works on Windows only, but many Houdini users prefer to use Houdini on Linux, as it is easier to download and install. Houdini support is available through freeware programs or commercial programs, and you will have to choose between a Houdini installer CD, a Houdini template message CD or a Houdini video CD to get started. Houdini installation requires both patience and know-how, and this is why many Houdini novices choose to follow Houdini template messages in order to get started. However, the software has been designed so that users only need to know how to click their mouse, and Houdini actually does the rest.
Houdini can be thought of as a procedural animation program, which means that the program must allow users to manipulate and control the program visually, just like they would if they were in the real world. Houdini uses nodes to represent vertices and Houdini nodes are nothing more than a series of pixel pointers. The actual implementation of Houdini in a computer program is called skeletal motion. If you have ever seen any animation feature animated films such as Toy Story or Spirited Away, you will understand what Houdini is talking about when he talks about skeletal motion. Houdini nodes and skeletal motion allow Houdini users to create realistic looking computer graphics with only a few simple mouse clicks.
Houdini can also be thought of as a procedural animation program, but the differences between Houdini and other similar programs lies primarily in the level design. Houdini uses prisms in order to lay out the illusion of 3D geometry, and prisms can be thought of as graphical primitive systems. Houdini can be considered the missing link in the design of any realistic, animated scene, and if you are interested in animating scenes that feature complex geometric shapes, Houdini may be exactly what you are looking for.
Houdini does not use realtime ray tracing, as that technology is already included in the open source Direct Rendering Engine (DRE), but Houdini can be considered a superset of it. Houdini can be used to implement the concept of iris shading in shading models, and Houdini iris shaders can be used in deferred shading and ambient shading where Houdini windows won't generate the rays required for ray tracing in Windows. Houdini iris shaders are also useful in implementing secondary light sources in games, as Houdini iris shaders do not rely on screen space ambient effects, as they do not rely on pixels being filled in by the computer.
