This list covers Houdini's vast landscape, focusing on graphics and animation, from foundational concepts to advanced techniques.
I. Houdini Foundations (1-10)
- Welcome to Houdini: Your Creative Powerhouse
- Navigating the Houdini Interface
- Understanding Houdini's Node-Based Workflow
- Working with Parameters and Attributes
- Introduction to Geometry and Primitives
- Basic Transformations and Manipulations
- Exploring the Houdini Help System
- Understanding Houdini's Object Context
- Introduction to SHOPs (Shaders)
- Saving and Loading Houdini Files
II. Geometry Manipulation (11-25)
- Point, Primitive, and Vertex Attributes
- Working with Groups and Selections
- Creating and Modifying Geometry with SOPs
- Introduction to VEX (Vector Expression Language)
- Procedural Modeling Techniques
- Generating Geometry with Copy and Stamp
- Working with Polygons, NURBS, and Beziers
- Converting between Geometry Types
- Introduction to Volume Rendering
- Working with Metaballs and VDBs
- Geometry Optimization Techniques
- Introduction to Point Clouds
- Working with Packed Primitives
- Creating and Manipulating UVs
- Introduction to Geometry Instancing
III. Animation Fundamentals (26-40)
- Keyframe Animation in Houdini
- Understanding F-Curves and Timing
- Introduction to Channels and Expressions
- Animating with Drivers and Variables
- Creating Simple Rigs and Deformers
- Introduction to Character Animation (if applicable)
- Working with Constraints and Hierarchy
- Animating Cameras and Lights
- Introduction to Motion Capture Data (if applicable)
- Creating Looping Animations
- Animating with Time-Shifting and Retiming
- Introduction to Rigid Body Dynamics (RBD)
- Simulating Basic Physics with RBD
- Creating Simple Simulations with RBD
- Introduction to Particle Systems
IV. Shading and Rendering (41-55)
- Introduction to Materials and Shaders
- Working with Textures and Images
- Understanding Lighting and Shadows
- Introduction to Render Settings and Options
- Rendering with Mantra
- Introduction to Compositing
- Working with AOV (Arbitrary Output Variables)
- Creating Custom Shaders with VEX
- Introduction to Physically Based Rendering (PBR)
- Working with HDRI (High Dynamic Range Images)
- Optimizing Render Performance
- Introduction to Image-Based Lighting (IBL)
- Working with Displacement Maps
- Introduction to Subsurface Scattering (SSS)
- Creating Stylized Renders
V. Effects and Simulations (56-70)
- Advanced Particle Systems
- Creating Fire and Smoke Simulations
- Introduction to Fluid Dynamics (FLIP)
- Simulating Water and Liquids
- Creating Volumetric Effects
- Introduction to Pyro Simulations
- Simulating Explosions and Fire
- Working with Cloth and Fabrics
- Introduction to Hair and Fur
- Simulating Hair Dynamics
- Introduction to Finite Element Analysis (FEA) (if applicable)
- Creating Destruction Effects
- Introduction to Crowds and Agent-Based Simulations
- Simulating Crowd Behavior
- Optimizing Simulation Performance
VI. Advanced Houdini Techniques (71-85)
- Procedural Content Generation
- Creating Custom Tools and HDA (Houdini Digital Assets)
- Introduction to Python Scripting in Houdini
- Automating Tasks with Python
- Integrating Houdini with Other Software
- Working with Alembic Files
- Introduction to USD (Universal Scene Description)
- Creating and Managing Large Scenes
- Optimizing Houdini Performance
- Advanced VEX Programming
- Creating Custom SOPs and VOPs
- Working with OpenCL (if applicable)
- Introduction to Machine Learning in Houdini (if applicable)
- Creating Interactive Simulations
- Building a Houdini Pipeline
VII. Houdini for Specific Applications (86-100)
- Houdini for Visual Effects
- Houdini for Game Development
- Houdini for Motion Graphics
- Houdini for Architectural Visualization
- Houdini for Product Design
- Houdini for Advertising
- Houdini for Film and Television
- Houdini for VR/AR
- Houdini for Procedural Art
- Houdini for Data Visualization
- Houdini for Simulation Engineering
- Building a Houdini Demo Reel
- Finding Houdini Resources and Communities
- The Future of Houdini and Proceduralism
- Mastering the Art of Houdini