Learn Houdini step by step by creating a stunning disintegration effect, from character setup to particles and flipbook
What you’ll learn
- Create a simple disintegration effect where a 3D character turns into dust particles.
- Import animated characters from Mixamo into Houdini for VFX work.
- Prepare particle sources using Boolean operations for controlled effects.
- Generate quick flipbook previews in Houdini to review particle simulations.
- Note: This course does not cover final rendering or lighting. We will only use Houdini’s flipbook tool for quick previews of the effect..
Course Content
- Introduction –> 1 lecture • 1min.
- Disintegration FX in Houdini Character to Dust –> 4 lectures • 1hr 2min.
Requirements
This course is designed for beginners who want to quickly create one of the most impressive effects in the world of visual effects: character disintegration into dust particles. Even if you have never used Houdini before, you will be guided step by step to achieve a professional-looking result in a short amount of time.
We will start by importing a character animation from Mixamo, making it easy for you to have a ready-to-use walking character. Then, we’ll prepare the geometry and isolate specific parts of the character using Boolean operations to set up the disintegration source. After that, we will replace the hidden parts of the character with particles, creating the illusion of the body turning into dust.
You will also learn how to control emission, adjust particle behavior, and fine-tune the timing of the effect. Finally, instead of rendering with complex setups, we will use the Flipbook tool in Houdini to quickly preview the final effect in high quality without wasting time.
By the end of this course, you will have the knowledge and confidence to create your own disintegration FX, and more importantly, the ability to approach other particle-based effects in Houdini with ease. This makes the course perfect for beginners who want fast, powerful results and a solid starting point in the world of Houdini.