Side Effects Software releases Houdini 12, a major new update to its industry-standard 3D animation and VFX software. Check out the new features and watch the overview video…

Side Effects Software recently released Houdini 12, the latest version of its 3D software. This major release should make a host of 3D solutions with Houdini more effective and faster.

With a rewritten geometry engine, Bullet solver integration, improvements in simulation and rendering speed, Pyro FX 2, faster FLIP fluids, an Alembic exporter and a reworked OpenGL 3.2 viewport, Houdini 12 is looking very sleek indeed.

Along with the new additions, the release also includes improvements to Houdini’s Mantra renderer. Mantra now enables physically-based rendering for volumes such as smoke and fire.

During beta testing, the significantly faster simulation times were particularly popular, especially when using the GPU to run fire and smoke simulations using OpenCL

Press release excerpts

Built on a powerful new geometry engine, Houdini 12 includes targeted optimizations to dynamics and rendering and a reworked OpenGL 3 viewport. Houdini 12 also includes Bullet solver integration, Pyro FX 2, faster, more accurate FLIP fluids, production-ready cloth, an Alembic exporter and much more.

Houdini’s Mantra renderer, recently recognized with a Scientific and Technical Achievement award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, now brings physically-based rendering to volumes such as smoke and fire. Mantra also includes a 300 times speed improvement when instancing to points.

The performance enhancements in Houdini 12 are already having an impact on how Houdini artists work. During beta testing, many studios opted to put the new version into production. The significantly faster simulation times were particularly popular, especially when using the GPU to run fire and smoke simulations using OpenCL.

What’s new in Houdini 12?

Watch the overview video embedded below:

Houdini 12 can be downloaded now. Houdini Escape is available for $1,995 and Houdini Master is available for $6,695. The free Apprentice Edition can also be downloaded today and Houdini Apprentice HD is available for an annual fee of $99.

For more information on Houdini 12 visit www.sidefx.com