Houdini 是一个特效方面非常强大的软件。许多电影特效都是由它完成:指环王中“甘道夫”放的那些“魔法礼花”还有“水马”冲垮“戒灵”的场面......后天中的龙卷风......等等，a52的汽车广告.反正只要是涉及DD公司制作的好莱坞一线大片，几乎都会有Houdini参与和应用.
Side Effects已发布Houdini 8.1，Houdini 8为用户提供了更多的自由，它具有创新的实用性，
如：新的动态建筑体系（dynamics architecture）、light linking、IPR（Interactive Photorealistic Rendering）和对角色动画功能的增强等。
Side Effects Software宣布发布Houdini 8.1。Houdini 8.1做出了很多重要改进以使它能被在更广泛的CG艺术领域中使用，特别重要的改进在动力学、照明和角色动画方面。全球的CG艺术家都可以下载到Houdini 8.1公测版来学习它的所有最新特性。
Side Effects Software Announces
Houdini 8.1
Side Effects Software is pleased to announce the release of Houdini 8.1. This new version features an animator-friendly Auto Rig, Muscle System, Character Picker and Pose Library. Enhancements to the Rigid Body and Wire dynamic solvers and support for the importing of Collada files are also included in this latest release.
Animator-friendly rigging tools
The highlights of Houdini 8.1 include character tools like the Auto Rig and Muscle System. With the Auto Rig, animators can quickly create production-quality biped rigs with high-level, easy-to-use controls, such as FK/IK switching. Set up as Houdini Digital Assets, these rigs provide a robust referencing scheme that makes it easy to propagate changes throughout a production. Proxy geometry can be easily added to the animation rig and put into production right away while the riggers work on a separate capture rig to define surface deformations.
Compositing Tools Now in Houdini Escape
With Houdini 8.1, Side Effects Software has also announced that all of Houdini’s compositing features are now included in Houdini Escape. This is to support the lighting workflow, especially the management and post-processing of render passes. Houdini Master has always included these compositing features, which are also used in the creation of visual effects sequences.
Enhanced Interoperability with Collada
For artists who want to bring their work from other 3D animation packages into Houdini, Houdini 8.1 includes support for the import of Collada files. Collada is an open digital asset exchange schema for interactive 3D applications and is quickly being adopted throughout the industry. Houdini 8.1 supports the import of geometry, lights, cameras, transformations and keyframe animation through Collada. Animated character rigs can also be imported as a hierarchy of keyframed null objects that can be used with Houdini 8.1’s new muscle tools.
Wire and RBD Dynamics
Houdini 8.1 also features advancements in Dynamics tools, with a significantly faster Wire solver and a new Rigid Body auto-freeze feature. Houdini’s Dynamics environment lets users integrate Rigid Body, Cloth and Wire solvers into a single unified simulation, and includes unique capabilities such as RBD glue. Houdini's advanced physical simulation technology is consistently used by leading visual effects houses in the creation of blockbusters like Superman Returns, X-Men: The Last Stand, Poseidon and many more.
http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com...d=506&Itemid=66
Gnomon Houdini 101: Interface and Workflow (Houdini完全教程):
http://www.9iv.com/down/soft/1647.htm
