Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Learn how to create complex material simulations using a tried-and-tested production workflow in this step-by-step character FX workshop by Salah Hussein:
PROFESSIONAL HOUDINI WORKFLOW
Learn how to create complex material simulations using a tried-and-tested production workflow. This step-by-step character FX workshop is taught by Salah Hussein, a senior FX and CFX artist with over 8 years of production experience. Salah’s 4-hour workshop guides artists through his professional workflow using the Houdini Vellum Solver to simulate 3D materials.
Using Salah’s unique and innovative techniques, he breaks down the entire process to show how to take character assets and animations – including multiple layers of cloth and different types of objects – and convert them into proxy geometry that works efficiently for a simulation. He also details how to build a constraints network to help artists fine-tune and debug simulations quickly while also advising how to address fixes with professional tips and tricks. To conclude the workflow, Salah demonstrates how to keep all the essential point deforms and the original geometry with a clean export without changing or damaging any attributes or topology.
By completing this workshop, artists will be confident in creating clothing assets for characters and understand how to make them dynamic using realistic cloth simulation in Houdini. Salah’s helpful Alembic and Houdini (Indie) files are provided as a downloadable resource for subscribers.
CHAPTERS:
— Import & Prepare the Geometry
— Remeshing the Cloth Proxies
— Prepare the Collision Geometry
— Set up the Constraints for Simulation
— Set up Vellum Solver & Cloth Simulation First Steps
— Tweaking the Simulation
— Adding a Sword to the Simulation
— Post Simulation Fixes
— Final Thoughts & Breakdown of What We've Learned
For more workshops by industry professionals that will help you take your creative skills to the next level using industry-trusted software, check out our complete video tutorial library at thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials.
Learn how to create complex material simulations using a tried-and-tested production workflow in this step-by-step character FX workshop by Salah Hussein:
PROFESSIONAL HOUDINI WORKFLOW
Learn how to create complex material simulations using a tried-and-tested production workflow. This step-by-step character FX workshop is taught by Salah Hussein, a senior FX and CFX artist with over 8 years of production experience. Salah’s 4-hour workshop guides artists through his professional workflow using the Houdini Vellum Solver to simulate 3D materials.
Using Salah’s unique and innovative techniques, he breaks down the entire process to show how to take character assets and animations – including multiple layers of cloth and different types of objects – and convert them into proxy geometry that works efficiently for a simulation. He also details how to build a constraints network to help artists fine-tune and debug simulations quickly while also advising how to address fixes with professional tips and tricks. To conclude the workflow, Salah demonstrates how to keep all the essential point deforms and the original geometry with a clean export without changing or damaging any attributes or topology.
By completing this workshop, artists will be confident in creating clothing assets for characters and understand how to make them dynamic using realistic cloth simulation in Houdini. Salah’s helpful Alembic and Houdini (Indie) files are provided as a downloadable resource for subscribers.
CHAPTERS:
— Import & Prepare the Geometry
— Remeshing the Cloth Proxies
— Prepare the Collision Geometry
— Set up the Constraints for Simulation
— Set up Vellum Solver & Cloth Simulation First Steps
— Tweaking the Simulation
— Adding a Sword to the Simulation
— Post Simulation Fixes
— Final Thoughts & Breakdown of What We've Learned
For more workshops by industry professionals that will help you take your creative skills to the next level using industry-trusted software, check out our complete video tutorial library at thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials.
