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.