Mayamaya is the most popular 3D animation software at present. Its company is Autodesk, which integrates many 3D softwares and basically dominates the whole industry. Maya is used in most visual design fields abroad, and even in China, the software is becoming more and more popular. Many companies have begun to use maya as their main creative tool. Maya is widely used, such as Star Wars series, Spider-Man series, Final Fantasy and Madagascar. Maya special effects module has a complete and powerful cloth system, cloud and smoke system, ocean creation system, water and liquid module, perfect dynamic system, powerful particle system and so on. Houdini, let's take a look at Houdini. (Movie Special Effects Magician) is the flagship product of Canadian side effect software and an effective tool to create advanced visual effects. Because of his ability to span the entire product line of the company, Master Houdini has provided unprecedented ability and work efficiency for animators who want to make computer animation more exciting. Houdini is a product based on node pattern design, and its structure and operation mode are very different from other three-dimensional software. Houdini's own renderer is Mantra, which can meet the requirements of film-level rendering. Because there are few people who use Houdini in China and even in the world, the main reason is that he is too close to programming node module, so it is difficult for non-computer experts to get started. Ok, let's see how some users feel about this. KJPPj: Every software has its advantages and disadvantages, and it can't be said that it is necessarily better than that. Generally speaking, Maya's role binding and animation are better than Houdini's, and Houdini's dynamics and special effects are more flexible than Maya's. Houdini is a very rigorous node-based tool, which is the most difficult to learn among many large 3D softwares, because its concept and process involve a lot of programming. Side effects In recent years, it has been emphasized that the new version of Houdini is very easy to learn with their efforts, but it is still difficult compared with other 3D software, and the user base is very small. Houdini basically revolves around one word: procedure. Houdini's program function is stronger than other 3D tools such as Maya. Program ability not only refers to programming (such as Maya's mel, python, pymel C++, expressions, etc. ), but also the simplicity and flexibility of creating and using programs. In Houdini, you can not only write programs like Maya, but also have a complete program node system. If you have used XSI ice (soft map), you will know. The program nodes in Houdini contain a large number of instructions. By connecting these nodes and setting their parameters instead of a lot of programming, it is more convenient and easier to learn than writing code directly in many cases. On the other hand, Maya's program function is still relatively lacking. At the beginning of this year, a Maya special effects master named Peter Shipkov wrote a set of special effects tools named Soup for Maya, which was provided free of charge. Some special effects that need to be programmed before are completed with program nodes, which simplifies the process. But Houdini's powerful program function is not only reflected in special effects, but also quite powerful in other aspects, especially modeling. Although Houdini's modeling tool is not as neat and perfect as 3ds max, its procedual modeling is the best. Program modeling does not depend on moving and modifying points, lines and surfaces to create models, but is automatically built by programs. If you have used Maya's creative stone plug-in rockGen and creative building plug-in kludge city, you will have an experience. Houdini is also stronger in this respect. A set of Houdini from zhu feng community is still a good introductory course. But Maya is better in other ways, at least not so difficult to learn. Babykailuzhe, do you know why so many people are comparing all kinds of software with MAYA? Maya and Hou, one is like an artist and the other is like a scientist. Why do you say that? Imagine, if you are a great painter, when you want to draw a beautiful woman, the first thing that comes to mind is the beauty's shape, expression and movement. Or do you think of a lot of computer languages and branch nodes that make up her first? The answer is self-evident. Houdini claims that he can do what Maya can do, or even better, but I feel that most people follow other people's advice. Anyway, people say Houdini is good, I say I am good, and I study, but it may be because of lack of money. Anyway, after reading so many works made by two softwares, I really don't see what Houdini can do that Maya can't. As far as dynamics is concerned, Houdini is the strongest, but as far as animation and modeling are concerned, although Houdini can do it well in theory, when you really use him for animation, you will find that theory is theory. Creating objects and animations is a job with strong artistic sense. What he needs is inspiration and beauty rather than logic. Houdini's programmed node operation is not only inhuman but also inefficient. At the same time, it doesn't respect the thinking and inspiration of a creator. As I said just now, a painter wants to create the image in his mind intuitively and at will, rather than adjusting the program nodes. Even if he finally created it, he was reluctant and could not achieve the expected effect. Speaking of which, many Hou parties are going to scold me. I praised Maya so much. It seems useless, but it is definitely not. As I said at the beginning, Hou is actually more like a scientist. The so-called special effects, I personally think, are actually using computers to simulate various phenomena in nature, so it involves a lot of natural science fields such as mathematics and physics. MAYA is weak in this respect (unless you can control the API platform). Regardless of logic, rigor or flexibility, Hou's program node operation is almost omnipotent in simulating nature. Is it comparable to other software? It is also the place I admire most. It is almost impossible to make the Lord of the Rings and level special effects without using Hou. Don't worship a software. People who really want to make a good movie should not cling to a software, but learn a kind of thinking. Existence is truth. MAYA and hou are both the most powerful 3D softwares in the world, and their programming methods make them form their own styles. No one can replace anyone, and no one can live without anyone. Unless one day the new company integrates the advantages of the two softwares with brand-new code and then eliminates them (which will be impossible for at least 10 years), I just don't like so many people to follow suit and belittle maya, so I will write such a big film. I dare say that few of these extremist parties in Hou can do what Maya can't do to Hou. You are just following the trend. In fact, the two softwares in my computer are under serious study. Lz7 18 Some people say that Maya's fluid system is clumsy and inefficient. Maya's particles, however, have no sense of composition at all, and they are sticky. Maya is still suitable for animation. In fact, because many people don't spend too much time studying, maya fluid system is a bit old, but it can really produce good results. In terms of details, Houdini and max's fumeFX can't compare. And fumeFX is not necessarily faster than maya fluid. In fact, fumeFX has a similar effect. Of course, to be a special effects artist, whether it is maya fluid or fumefx, there must be research. As for maya's particles, it really needs a lot of expressions and mel, but this is also the essence of maya, that is, it can achieve fine control. Good results are not just a few clicks on the UI. As for the particle rendering you mentioned, max only relies on kk, and now kk is gradually transplanted to maya. There is nothing to say. Actually, I think many people in China are better than Maya Max Houdini. In fact, these three are just a platform. Speaking of special effects, cgword has to say that software such as fumefx and realflow is simple and violent, and the effect is great. With max maya, many artists can often produce amazing effects. However, if the lens that needs to be made has high requirements on the effect itself, it often needs to be realized by other methods or scripts. Suggest studying. If you feel that the mutual guidance of various softwares is problematic or incompatible, it is recommended to contact Houdini. Houdini's control over various effects can go far beyond the mark. Is it too conservative to describe Houdini particles only by "comparing with other software"? . . Of course, Houdini is not limited to special effects, dynamic modeling is second to none, and its synthesis ability is no less than nuke. Renderers mantra and renderman can also be regarded as family. . . However, it is not recommended to learn from Houdini, the king of special effects production in Zhang Junu's movies. You can see that every American blockbuster has special effects produced by Houdini, such as : < Iron Man > < The Avengers. As long as it is a Hollywood blockbuster, Houdini participates in the production of special effects. Is the strongest film special effects software, but also the most difficult to learn. Maya and 3dmax are both hehe, weak. Shakk, after learning maya special effects, you can play in a few days. Only a few functions can jump around, and you can get the effect by simply dragging. This kind of thing is fixed, and its variability and creativity are basically not strong, so you will feel a lot of special effects with 30 cents. Houdini, if you want to learn, you can't say that you have studied for half a year, so it takes one or several designers a month or two to shoot a shot in Hollywood. That's really realistic. The production process is so painful, you know. So, it depends on how you ask and how much money you have. Want to really intense effect, without some real technology and a lot of time is impossible. Maya and Houdini are jugglers, and the other is engaged in scientific research, both of which are engaged in special effects. China is your choice. Special effects are computer simulations of real processes. While we are excited about the big scenes and big explosions abroad, we should also think more about how they were made. When we get to know each other better, you will find that all roads lead to the same goal. No good special effects shot is made in a few hours. Not a lot of work, day and night struggle, a lot of simulation experiments. Don't try to create real effects. The more we reach a higher level, the more rigorous and scientific we need. Houdini is an expert in this field. He is a special effects scientist. Special effects are a process in which artistic imagination simulates reality. We have some work at hand, and the boss asked us to hand it in tomorrow, so we have to finish a special effect in three hours. Maya, 3dmax, fumefx and realflow become necessary tools in a few times, provided that it takes time rather than quality. Of course, we tried our best, and the head of the delegation understood. Special effects are a road of no return, just as no matter how powerful a three-dimensional character can imitate a real person, no matter how powerful a special effect can achieve everything. You must also strive to achieve them, achieve them, and achieve perfection in your heart. Looking back after many years, you may find that the previous effect is rubbish. But there's always something left. As for the software as a tool, if you want to do it well, you must sharpen your knife first. We suggest doing it at once, just like razors and hand razors, which is not a disadvantage. Different ages will have different pursuits and find one they really like.