Large-Scale Water FX in Houdini by Miguel Perez Senent

Welcome to the workshop on executing an epic water simulation shot featuring a sea creature breaching out of the ocean and diving back in! Led by CG Supervisor Miguel Perez Senent, this comprehensive workshop will take you through the complete process of creating this stunning visual effect using Houdini.

The workshop begins by setting up a large ocean surface and leveraging Houdini’s latest water toolset to simulate the interaction with the creature. Using the powerful FLIP Solver, you will create the base fluid simulation and explore techniques to enhance its realism and efficiency. You’ll learn valuable tips and tricks along the way to achieve stunning water simulations.

Next, you’ll delve into generating and blending the fluid mesh with the rest of the ocean, employing clever techniques to seamlessly integrate the elements. You’ll discover how to define a custom whitewater emission source based on the mesh surface properties and physical characteristics, adding another layer of realism to the simulation.

Simulating realistic whitewater is a complex task, especially at large scales. In this workshop, you’ll explore a range of techniques to achieve convincing motion, simulating airfields, and modifying particle dynamics based on real-life observations. These methods will allow you to mimic the behavior of water at different densities, adding detail and complexity to your water simulation.

Once the simulation is complete, you’ll move on to look-dev and rendering using Karma within the Solaris USD context. By tightly integrating each component of the water simulation, you’ll ensure a seamless and visually stunning result. You’ll also learn how to split the necessary passes to facilitate final compositing in Nuke.

Throughout the workshop, you’ll focus on keeping your scene efficient to enable the creation of the shot using a single computer. With the power of TOPs, you’ll discover how to wedge and parallelize simulations and renders, optimizing your workflow for efficiency and productivity.

While this workshop covers advanced topics and techniques, it is designed to be accessible even for those without prior experience. You’ll receive all the necessary materials, including the animated creature with textures, light, and camera, to fully recreate the FX shot.

Get ready to dive into the world of water simulations and bring your visual effects to life with this comprehensive workshop. Enroll now and unlock the secrets to creating breathtaking water simulations with Houdini!