Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 Posted by Jim Thacker

Master FLIP fluid simulation in Houdini


The Gnomon Workshop has released Introduction to FLIP Fluids in Houdini, a guide to Houdini’s powerful liquid and particle simulation tools, recorded by FX TD Danny Barnhart.

The beginner- and intermediate-level workshop, which comprises over three hours of video training, walks the viewer through the process of simulating champagne pouring into a glass.

Get started with Houdini’s FLIP fluids and particle simulation toolsets
Starting out with Houdini’s Shelf tools, Barnhart reveals how to set up geometry emitting fluid into a glass object before diving into the simulation work.

He then explores how to use custom attributes to replicate the interaction between foams and liquids, and to differentiate the motion of liquid and foam particles.

Once the main simulation is cached, Barnhart reveals how to set up the foam particles for meshing and rendering, and how to use extra particle simulations to add bubbles to the champagne.

When all of the simulation elements cached out, Barnhart sets up basic lighting and shaders to render out a final simulation in Mantra, one of Houdini’s native render engines.

About the artist
Danny Barnhart is an effects artist who has worked in feature animation, episodic TV and commercials. His credits include Spies in Disguise at Blue Sky Studios, and TV shows Dispatches from Elsewhere and Evil.

He currently works as a freelance artist and as a story consultant, and loves contributing his skills and voice to projects that highlight the experiences of marginalised groups.

Pricing and availability
Introduction to FLIP Fluids in Houdini is available via an online subscription to The Gnomon Workshop, providing access to over 300 tutorials. Subscriptions cost $49/month or $490/year. Free trials are available.

Read more about Introduction to FLIP Fluids in Houdini on The Gnomon Workshop’s website


Full disclosure: CG Channel is owned by Gnomon.