Alexey Vanzhula releases Flux HDA for Houdini

Originally posted on 10 April 2017. Scroll down for details of the release.

Ukraine-based tools developer Alexey Vanzhula has released several demo videos of Fusion, an interesting new interactive Boolean modelling toolset for Houdini.

Updated 2 May 2017: The toolset has now been renamed Flux HDA.

The software is designed to enable users to create complex Boolean assemblies non-destructively, seeing the results of any changes made to the model hierarchy updated in real time.

Like Modo’s MeshFusion in Houdini
Vanzhula describes the toolset as being “like MeshFusion in Modo”, in reference to Modo’s own popular real-time Boolean modelling plugin, since incorporated into the core software.

As far as we can see, there isn’t any written documentation for Fusion online yet, but the video above shows it in use to create a complete – and quite complex – hard-surface model of a tractor.

A separate timelapse video shows the creation of a gamepad, from start to finish.

Vanzhula plans to release the toolset as a Houdini Digital Asset (HDA), which should make it possible to use it in DCC applications compatible with Houdini Engine, as shown in this Maya demo.

Updated 26 April: Fusion is now available. As well as the features discussed above, the software’s retopology widget enables any Houdini modelling tool to be used with the software’s TopoBuild SOP.

There are also ‘simple tools’ for remeshing volumes in VDB format and baking geometry. According to Vanzhula, the HDA works in Maya and Cinema 4D with the same performance as in Houdini itself.

The software costs $100 for individuals or $500 for studios, and Vanzhula is asking anyone interested in buying the software to contact him via Facebook or email.

Updated 2 May: Vanzhula has now made the software available via Gumroad, and renamed it Flux HDA.

See more demo videos of Fusion/Flux HDA on Alexey Vanzhula’s Vimeo channel