Creating a Sci-Fi Sequence using Houdini Solaris by Andreas Kjaer-Jensen

Ready to build awesome sci-fi worlds? This workshop dives deep into Houdini Solaris and USD, showing you exactly how to create a full-blown VFX sequence. It’s perfect if you’re a lighter or generalist looking to get a solid grip on industry-standard tools. You’ll go from basic concepts to a polished, production-ready result, all with project files included to follow along.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Understand the core structure and application of USD in VFX pipelines.
• Master Solaris for lighting, look development, and scene assembly.
• Create production-quality shaders and materials within Houdini.
• Design and execute cinematic lighting for action-packed sequences.
• Implement efficient pipeline workflows using USD and Solaris.
• Composite rendered elements using Nuke.

✅ Requirements

• Skills: Basic understanding of 3D concepts, familiarity with VFX pipelines.
• Tools: Houdini, Nuke.
• Hardware: A capable computer for 3D rendering and compositing.

📝 Description

This workshop is your deep dive into creating a production-quality sci-fi sequence using Houdini Solaris and USD. Andreas Kjær-Jensen, a Lead Lighting Artist, walks you through the entire process, from understanding the foundational principles of USD to assembling, lighting, and rendering a complex scene. You’ll learn how Solaris acts as a powerful, artist-friendly interface for USD, making it the go-to tool for modern lighting and look development in VFX. The course emphasizes practical, real-world workflows, showing you how to build efficient asset pipelines, create detailed environments procedurally, and light massive scenes using Karma. You’ll also get hands-on experience with compositing your renders in Nuke, learning techniques for handling noisy renders and achieving professional results.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Lighting artists and generalists new to Houdini Solaris and USD.
• VFX professionals aiming to master industry-standard lighting workflows.
• Technical Directors and pipeline developers interested in USD applications.
• Experienced Houdini users looking to expand their knowledge of Solaris.

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Andreas Kjær-Jensen is a seasoned Lead Lighting Artist at Ghost VFX, bringing nine years of experience in high-end film and television visual effects. He’s a versatile artist skilled in both lighting and 3D generalism, known for delivering polished, cinematic results. Andreas has contributed to major projects like Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. He’s recently focused on Houdini, particularly Solaris and USD workflows, which he uses daily to lead lighting teams. Andreas is passionate about sharing his expertise and helping other artists improve their craft through effective Houdini workflows.

🏁 Final Result

• A completed, portfolio-ready sci-fi sequence showcasing your skills in Houdini Solaris, USD, and Nuke compositing.
• A deep understanding of industry-standard USD and Solaris workflows applicable to real-world VFX productions.
• Confidence in building and lighting complex scenes, from asset setup to final render and compositing.