The Hipflask Learning Path
Real skills and understanding for real-world production
Houdini is no longer just for VFX work – or some secret tool of the specialist elite. With its super powerful and rapidly expanding toolset, it’s fast becoming the ideal all-round content creation software for all 3D professionals – the one you model, animate, shade, light and render in. There’s a lot to learn, but we’re here to get you there.
Deep knowledge, clear explanations, structured learning.
It’s the Hipflask way.
Houdini Made Easy
The Learning Path For Beginners
Whether you’re just starting out or transitioning from other software, this series of courses is focused on getting you confident and capable using Houdini for all stages of the CG process.
The Houdini Made Easy learning path takes you step-by-step through the fundamental concepts that are crucial to really understanding Houdini – so you learn everything you need, in an order that makes sense.
We’re continually building new courses to continue the learning path, so Houdini Made Easy is a series that grows as you do.
Step 01
Your Houdini learning path starts here. For free!
The Core Essentials Collection
What every artist needs to know – the fundamental tools and concepts to work quickly and efficiently in Houdini at a higher level. Houdini isn’t just another 3D application, it’s more of a 3D operating system – don’t worry, we’ll show you. So let’s get familiar with the interface and see just how artist-friendly it can be once you know where all the knobs and dials are, as well as all the crucial keyboard shortcuts.
The Core Essentials Collection
Essential Tools & Concepts
Our entire first collection, packaged into a single course. 54 lessons, 5 hours of essential learning, fully searchable for quick and easy reference.
01. User Interface, Navigation, Selecting & Transforming
02. Working in the Viewport
03. Understanding Networks & Contexts
04. Working in the Network Editor
Step 02
Build strong foundations
The Geometry Essentials Collection
VFX, direct modelling, procedural modelling, UVs, scene layout – it all starts with understanding Houdini’s unique approach to geometry. The Houdini way is a little different to what you might be used to, so understanding how and why it works as early as possible will make the next stages of creating and editing geometry infinitely easier and more intuitive.
Houdini Geometry Essentials 01
Components & Primitive Types
Let’s examine Houdini’s geometry components – points, vertices, primitives, edges and breakpoints. Constructing geometry is all about connecting points, but it’s grasping vertices that will give you true power in controlling that connectivity. We also tackle the concepts, theories and practical uses of the different primitive types – polygons, nurbs, beziers, meshes, polysoups, and more.
$79.99
Houdini Geometry Essentials 02
Attributes: Principles, Normals & Vectors
Attributes are the blood that flows through Houdini’s veins, carrying data through a geometry network and passing it from one piece of geometry to another. They’re incredibly powerful – they drive particle simulations, carry material information, and allow for all kinds of custom functionality. Learn how to use attributes to see, read and manipulate the raw data that defines your models and effects.
$59.99
Houdini Geometry Essentials 03
Attributes, Variables &
Parameters
This course drops a whole lotta knowledge bombs, but that’s not all. We’re building a full procedural system together, complete with project files to help you along. The difference between attributes and variables, local vs global variables, and working with the bounding box and parameter expressions, plus practical exercises to teach you how to make all the theory work for you in real life, on real projects.
$89.99
Bundle and save
Each of our courses builds on the last, so supercharge your learning by buying a bundle and save a pretty penny while you’re at it. There’s a bundle to suit every learner.
The Geometry Essentials
01+02+03+04+05+06 Bundle
The biggest bundle with the biggest savings!
Buy all six crucial courses together and save yourself a massive 30%.
The Geometry Essentials
01+02+03 Bundle
Buy our first three courses together and save 20%
The Geometry Essentials
04+05+06 Bundle
Buy our latest three courses together and save 20%
What's coming next...
Houdini Geometry Essentials 07
Groups and Selections
Forget the endless clicking you’re forced to do in other apps – in Houdini you can let the data do the hard work for you. We’ll show you how to save hours of work by using that data in artist-friendly, interactive ways. Groups play a starring role in procedural geometry workflows, so let’s get down to business with all the essential group nodes.
Coming Next
Step 03 & Beyond
Start making. Keep developing deep knowledge and understanding.
New courses are on the way! Direct modelling, procedural modelling and more.
Stay up to date with all things Hipflask – new courses, exclusive discounts and Houdini tips:
High quality training based on years of industry experience
Fraser Shiers is an award-winning creative director, 3D artist and university lecturer. He’s produced work for some of the world’s best known brands and advertising agencies, and has taught hundreds of students how to get up and running with Houdini.
