Side Effects Software has announced the release of Houdini 9.5. Introducing the 3D animation solution to the Mac community, the latest version is designed to significantly improve workflow and interoperability with new shelf tools and a variety of import/export formats. It also includes the ability to export to the Torque Game Engine by Garage Games, allowing independent game developers to use Houdini Apprentice HD to create game art for Torque.
Houdini 9.5 offers greater interoperability with FBX export, FBX NURBS import, Quicktime output from MPlay to Mac/Linux/Win, Adobe Illustrator import and
.MDD output. Other new features include tools for environmental effects such as waves, rivers, fire and smoke; new render drivers (FBX export,
Torque export, MDD file writer, wedge); and new surface nodes including Assemble, Bake Volume, Break Extrude Volume, Finalize Waves, Match Axis
MDD, Name, Point Map, Points From Volume, Script Shatter, Volume Ramp, Volume VOP, Wave Velocity and Waveform.
Documentation in Houdini 9.5 sports an improved look and provides a valuable resource for learning Houdini. Artists will find an improved search function with boolean search, phrase searching, and spelling suggestions. A preview of the search results appears as users type, providing feedback on the search and allowing artists to select from the highest rated results more quickly.
The table of contents has also been reorganized to clearly categorize documentation into levels such as “Getting Started,” “Next sSeps,” and “Guru Level.” A new “how to” section has been added which should grow to include useful tips and recipes for achieving various effects in Houdini. Many of the tools are accompanied by example files that can be quickly launched from the docs providing networks of nodes that can be explored and even re-purposed.
Houdini 9.5 is available immediately for purchase through the Houdini Store at www.sidefx.com. Those interested in using Houdini on personal projects can also get Houdini Apprentice 9.5 for free at www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_download&task=apprentice&Itemid=89&Itemid=277, or purchase the watermark-free Houdini Apprentice HD at ww.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_purchase&Itemid=234&mode=apprenticehd. Upgrades from Houdini Apprentice HD 9.1 are also available.
