VFX LIBARY

Overview

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This project explores creating a small, flexible VFX library in Houdini. My goal was to develop simple, customizable effects—like explosions, fire, and smoke—that look good and are optimized for performance.

As someone with limited Houdini experience, this became a great opportunity to dive deeper into the software, learning everything from simulation basics to workflow optimization.

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Purpose

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- Learn Houdini through hands-on creation of visual effects

- Design customizable effects with tweakable parameters

- Optimize workflow to reduce render times and system load

 

Process

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I began by studying real-world references and learning how Houdini handles simulations using voxels and attributes like density, fuel, and velocity.

Early on, I discovered the Axiom Solver, a GPU-based alternative that made my simulations much faster and more manageable on limited hardware.

Eventually, I wrapped all the effects into a Houdini Digital Asset (HDA) with a dropdown menu to switch between effects and adjust parameters easily.

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Challenges

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- Limited hardware made high-resolution simulations difficult

- Houdini’s complexity required a lot of self-study and trial-and-error

- Time-consuming simulations meant lots of waiting and tweaking

 

Result

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The project resulted in a functional VFX library with three effects, each customizable through a clean HDA interface. Despite the technical challenges, I gained a much stronger understanding of Houdini, VFX workflows, and optimization techniques.

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Future Plans

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- Add more effects (like particles or water)

- Improve visual realism

- Expand customization options

- Further optimize for better performance