Creating a Dynamic Grappling Hook in Houdini
Throughout these lessons, we'll explore how to use Houdini's wire system along with soft body dynamic constraints to create a grappling hook wire that shoots out and retracts based on these constraints. Software required: Houdini FX 14.0.258.
What you'll learn
Throughout these lessons, we'll explore how to use Houdini's wire system along with soft body dynamic constraints to create a grappling hook wire that shoots out and retracts based on these constraints. The course will begin with a brief example discussing the essentials of wire simulations before we dive into the preparation, simulation, and capturing of the wire. We will also use Houdini's finite element solver to create a solid body simulated character that will be propelled by the wire. By the end of this course, you will have a very good understanding of how to use constraints to control your wire simulations, as well as learn additional methods to combine multiple simulations and elements into one final effect. Software required: Houdini FX 14.0.258.
Table of contents
- Setting up the Wrecking Ball Geo 7m
- Finishing the Setup and Starting the Sim 7m
- Adding Constraints and Editing Properties 5m
- Setting up the Hook Wire 8m
- Creating an Auxillary Simulation 7m
- Setting up the Primary Wire Sim 9m
- Finalizing the Primary Wire Sim 5m
- Creating the Secondary Swing Sim 7m
- Combining the Simulations 10m
- Adding Additional Wire Motion 7m
- Constructing the Rope Geometry 9m
- Finalizing the Wire Capture 8m
- Constructing the Launcher Geo 7m
- Establishing the Follow Simulation 7m
- Attaching the Grappling Hook Blade 7m
- Setting up the Character for Simulation 9m
- Starting the Character Simulation 9m
- Finishing the Character Simulation 11m
- Preparing Obects and Materials for Render 9m
- Finalizing the Render 10m
About the author
Sam Rickles is a Lead FX Technical Director with Sony Pictures Imageworks in Vancouver, British Colombia. A six year veteran in the VFX industry, Sam works primarily with Houdini to achieve his effects, ranging from realistic vehicle destruction and pyro effects, to wacky paint cannons and freeze beams. His work can be seen in seven feature films, including Hotel Transylvania 2, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and Edge of Tomorrow. He is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a B.S. de... more