Report Day 2 : 9th July 2013

I went to start the lesson 3 of first steps which is learning about digital assest, but before that, I learn more new things from this lesson.

Geometry Viewer

Previously during IAP, me and my course mates will always have to create a file node and import the rop file that we have already rendered and see our rendered geo. But now, I have found out that I can use the geometry viewer and view my rop files. I think this way is more efficient to not waste time and  I can straight away get to view certain frames without scrubbing through the frame slider.

I learn a new expression. To round off a decimal to an integer, I can use an expression called round or ceil.

Padzero expression calls in how many zeros your naming convention has.

Eg) rock_$F3 = rock_001 = `padzero(3,...)

The lesson explains the difference about copy and instance node.
COPY NODE - duplicates geo
INSTANCE NODE = takes effect only when rendering (lesser memory usage)

Digital Assets

I learn how to create a basic coil digital asset which I can implement on and create other digital assests like stairs etc.

The lesson is really helpful as now I can create my very own digital asset and use it in the future.
During houdini boot camp, Mr Ron told us to create or own simple stair digital asset.

Keyframe and AnimationFor lesson 4, I learn alot about the animation side of houdini especially the shortcuts i need to navigate easily on the animation parameters. After keyframing animation, I can easily change my animation by using the graph editor. I can edit the curve and make it slower or faster. For the frame slider, I can move my key frame animation by press shift and drag on frame slider and it will give me a frame (yellow) box. The key framed that is inside will the yellow will get effect if i move my keyframes.

ctrl + shift to delete the keyframe animation

ctrl + left click to delete a certain keyframe animation

I learn that after I keyframe, I can still can have the freedom to add an expression to the keyframe.

The more efficient way of animation is creating seperate null node for transform, rotation and scale animation so as its easier to toggle and edit the animation (creating a hierarchy of animation)

Under my mantra node, I use the $RFSTART and $RFEND.

It takes the frame range 20 to 40.

However if I use $FSTART and $FEND, it will render frame range which is at the global animation settings.

Intern in SideFx Asia Pacific

Side Effects Asia Pacific (FYPJ)

Report Day 1 : 8th July 2013

Today is my first day of my internship / fypj and I am glad to have colleagues who are willing to help us when we are in need of help though I did not ask much questions today.

What I did?
The first lesson of next steps was pretty basic but the most interesting part of the first lesson was creating a procedural forest and using the pop network and attractor.

I went through the first step tutorials in sidefx website. I learn things all the small things I do not learn in class, for example the shortcut keys in houdini and it actually helps me a lot. It allows me to navigate the interface a lot faster by knowing some short cut keys. For lesson 2, l learn some modelling techniques. I followed the tutorial and model a pather sofa and qooqoo lamp.
I also learn new ways of modelling like for example I was asking Mr Ron my lecturer if I on end cap is a geo I can edit and he told that it was a proxy and that I have to add a polycap to further model and edit. In this lesson, I know by putting fuse node below the tube node after I on the end cap, it fuse the geometry into 1 solid.

What were the problem faced?

I did not face much problems following these first tutorials. I face one problem, having shadow below the sofa. But I ask my supervisor Ken and he helped me through solving the problem.