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MillimeterSide Effects Software Launches Houdini Apprentice Program
Jul 9, 2002 12:00 PM
Free Non-Commercial Version of Award-Winning Houdini 3D Software Available at SIGGRAPH 2002
Santa Monica, CA - Side Effects Software, developer of the award-winning Houdini family of 3D software, announced the launch of the Houdini Apprentice Program. This program includes the Houdini Apprentice Edition, a non-commercial version of the latest (5.5) Houdini family of products. Apprentice users can run the complete family of products, which includes Houdini Master, a full-featured animation and effects package, Houdini Select, an entry-level 3D module, and Houdini Halo, a stand-alone compositor. Houdini Apprentice Edition is a 2-CD set.
The first "Install" CD contains the software and the second "Learn" CD is loaded with valuable self-study training resources to help artists get up to speed with Houdini. The Houdini Apprentice Edition will be available for the first time to all attendees of the Houdini Annual Meeting during SIGGRAPH in San Antonio, TX. The meeting will take place on July 21, 2002 at 4:00PM. Event details and required registration are available on-line at http://www.sidefx.com/events/sig02/sig02.html.
Unlike other software trial versions, Houdini Apprentice Edition offers access to the complete, full-featured versions of the Houdini family of 3D software. Work created in the application can be saved to a special Houdini Apprentice format so that artists can develop real projects with this free trial version of the software.
For customers choosing to purchase any commercial version of Houdini after building projects in Apprentice, Side Effects Software will conduct a one-time conversion of Houdini Apprentice files into the standard Houdini production format at no additional cost. This conversion offer will be available to licensed users until December 15th, 2002.
Side Effects Software is known for investing significant energy into building and educating the Houdini community. The "Learn" CD in Houdini Apprentice Edition contains 24 self-running video training tutorials hosted by Side Effects Software production specialists covering the Houdini interface, modeling, animation, texturing, shading, effects creation, rendering, and much more, all designed for the first-time Houdini user.
The CD also includes print tutorials that walk the user through a series of self-study lessons based on Side Effects Software's popular training programs held on-site at their Santa Monica and Toronto offices. Numerous sample files are included on the disc, including a variety of effects and procedural techniques, from swarming simulations using particle systems, to rolling ocean waves and explosions, to character animation projects, and much more.
The sample files are designed for the user to modify, and to encourage experimentation within the Houdini workflow. Several scripts written to automate Houdini processes in a pipeline environment, along with extensive product information also appear on the "Learn" CD.
To coincide with the release of Houdini Apprentice Edition, Side Effects Software will be launching a new Houdini community section on-line to facilitate the sharing of ideas and projects among Apprentice users at http://www.sidefx.com/community.
"We have a long legacy of encouraging a sense of community among our existing user base. With the launch of Houdini Apprentice, we are excited to nurture a new group of 3D artists, whether they are training for a new job opportunity, designing 3D for contest entries or simply designing 3D renderings for personal use," commented Paul Salvini, CTO, Side Effects Software.
"We developed the Houdini Apprentice Edition to allow people to get their hands on the software, take it home, play with it and experience what Hollywood uses for professional 3D and effects."
For more information about Side Effects Software and its products, please visit http://www.sidefx.com.
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