Introduction to Mantra in Houdini
Learn a time-saving workflow to Houdini's production-class renderer. Software required: Houdini 9.5 and up.
What you'll learn
Learn a time-saving workflow to Houdini's production-class renderer. Gain a firm understanding of the powerful rendering tools available in Mantra and learn fundamental techniques for micropolygon, raytracing, and physically-based rendering. Contains over 3.5 hours of project-driven training for artists new to Mantra. Popular highlights include: Mantra Overview; Working with Shaders; Rendering Methods; Environment Lights; Rendering in Passes; Rendering Multiple Channels; Deep Raster Output; Rendering to Different Files; Micropolygon Rendering; Raytracing; Physically Based Rendering; Global Illumination Techniques; Path-tracing; Final Gather; Ambient Occlusion; Image-based Lighting; Caustics; Shadows; Geometry Shaders; Outline Rendering with Wren; Volumetric Rendering; Mantra Archive; Depth of Field; 3D Motion Blur; Transform Motion Blurs; Deformation Motion Blurs; Velocity Motion Blurs; Compositing Techniques. Software required: Houdini 9.5 and up.
Table of contents
- Working with Project Files 4m
- Rendering Basics 8m
- Rendering Image Sequences 12m
- Using MPlay 7m
- Using MCP 5m
- Rendering Extra Channels 9m
- Rendering Planes to Separate Files 4m
- Compositing Deep/Shallow Outputs 7m
- Rendering in Passes 10m
- Compositing and Matte Shading 6m
- Rendering with Takes 5m
- Adding Shadows and Creating a Shadow Pass 6m
- Completing and Rendering a Shadow Pass 10m
- Depth of Field Effects 7m
- Motion Blur: Transformation 1m
- Motion Blur: Deformation 6m
- Motion Blur: Velocity 5m
- Velocity Blur Tricks 7m
- Micropolygon Rendering Engine 9m
- Raytrace Engine 6m
- Physically Based Rendering Engines 9m
- Converting to RAT Files 5m
- Ambient Occlusion 9m
- Image-based Lighting 5m
- GI Path-tracing 5m
- GI Cache and Final Gather 6m
- Adding Caustic Effects to the Render 7m
- Editing Shaders and Lighting for a Better Caustic Pass 8m
- Outline Rendering 5m
- Building and Rendering Clouds Using Volumetric System 6m
- Converting the Geometry into a Volume Using Metaballs 8m
- Mantra Archiving 3m
About the author
Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Sunder has made great headway in both the interactive game design and 3D animation worlds. Throughout his career, Sunder has earned degrees in computer information science, multimedia & game design, as well as 3D character animation. He's fully devoted to providing breathtaking and out-of-the-norm experiences to as many people as possible. With a powerful skillset in Houdini and years of educational clout, Sunder aims to give understandable solutions to complex to... more