Course Overview

Class Description:

This intermediate course demonstrates the creation of art-directable fluid/gel simulations using Houdini's MPM solver. Topics include: initial shape setup, brush collider configuration, viscous fluid simulation techniques, post-simulation UV workflows, and implementation of a stable, dynamically resizing bubble system that prevents intersections. The provided student HIP file will include a complete Karma XPU render setup.

Learning Outcomes:

This course delivers a high-quality, production-ready setup applicable to various scenarios, particularly in cosmetics and food visualization. Students will gain practical knowledge on maintaining client-focused art direction, establishing MPM simulations for viscous fluids, and creating render setups that produce visually striking results suitable for professional portfolios.

Course Materials

    1. Course Outline

    2. Discord

    3. Files

    1. 1. Curve Setup

    2. 2. Drive pscale by curveu Attribute

    1. 1. Shape Setup

    2. 2. Copying Shape to Points

    3. 3. Converting Shape to VDB

    4. 4. Combining VDBs

    1. 1. Geometry Setup

    2. 2. Converting Edges to Curves

    3. 3. Mask Attrib with VEX

    4. 4. Using the Mountain Node

    5. 5. Extruding the Outline

    6. 6. Completing the Shape

    1. 1. Collider Path Setup

    2. 2. Keyframing and Art Directing Path

    1. 1. Simulation Overview

    2. 2. MPM Fun

    3. 3. Caching

    4. 4. Q&A

MPM Gel Smear FX

  • $45.00
  • 32 lessons
  • 2 hours of video content
Session 1

Smearing gel with MPM in Houdini

This session will cover the full workflow of viscous fluid smearing simulation using Houdini's MPM solver. Students will learn to create art-directable gel shapes, configure brush colliders, and implement stable bubble systems while avoiding intersections. The course includes UV workflow techniques and a production-ready Karma XPU render setup optimized for cosmetics and food visualization.

  • Introduction
  • Introduction to the MPM Solver
  • Building the Fluid Shape with Copying & Instancing and VDB Tools
  • Procedural Modeling the Collider (brush)
  • MPM Simulation
  • Fluid Meshing
  • Dynamic Bubble System

Instructor

Philipp Welsing

Houdini Artist

Philipp Welsing is a Houdini Artist living and working in Hamburg, Germany. Welsing has used Houdini extensively over the last few years in both private explorations and commercial work. For the last two years, Welsing has been working exclusively in Houdini for modeling, animation, simulation, shading, lighting, and rendering. Viscous fluids have been a constant source of inspiration for Welsing, and he has spent a significant amount of time understanding, art directing, and perfecting them.

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See you in Class!