https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/ Freshly baked Houdini FX recipes en-us Wed, 11 Feb 2026 07:58:43 +0000 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 07:58:43 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=b3c71ff59e27 A CHOP-based setup for smoothing geometry motion. It can be used to reduce flickering on geometry surfaces and to smooth particle motion. The setup is intentionally simple, so adjust the parameters as needed for your specific use case. Fri, 06 Feb 2026 02:30:26 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=c2dded98b04d Setup to smooth the motion of any arbitrary rigid body geometry, no rig required. Our use case was to quickly smooth motion data coming from a tracking software. Sun, 11 Jan 2026 10:35:00 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=4f095229a6be Simple cartoon rig if you ever need a cute worm sliding across the screen. Fri, 02 Jan 2026 22:58:07 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=0a0cca0b8bd0 Simple scatter setup with showing how to use Attribute from Pieces for random object picking. It also show how to set random rotation around Y, random tilt and random pscale. Fri, 12 Dec 2025 21:09:12 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=662fde196e9a Procedural animated stitch setup. Stitches follow an initial base curve, and are projected onto a surface. The surface is deformed as the stitches progress, to mimic a swelling of the skin or fabric. Mon, 08 Dec 2025 09:27:31 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=5f186c082388 Circular spaceship window that was build for our [Onsen project](https://codercat.xyz/onsen/) Sat, 29 Nov 2025 13:37:29 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=98e9bb149cb1 Setup for a vellum simulation that follows a guiding geometry. This is useful when you want to blend a geometry into its final form, while taking into account self or external collisions. Tue, 25 Nov 2025 12:52:02 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=182ecd7b4d8e This setup is a quick start to a crowd simulation. It supports custom characters as agents, layers for clothing, and motion path avoidance, and terrain adaptation. This snippet was stripped down from our crowd simulation work for the [Cant Wait music video](https://codercat.xyz/cant-wait). Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:44:53 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=2ec200a8715a n Solaris, you can randomize textures and material parameters per instance using Attribute Randomize. Assign string attributes for texture paths and float attributes for values, then duplicate the node with the same seed so strings align with floats, enabling sub‑materials in one master Thu, 20 Nov 2025 12:30:24 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=e402bc2eb794 Simple cyc wall built from a grid and bend deformers. Includes controller null. Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:27:35 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=53f42a51b249 A few nodes to create a basic petal shape, with common masks, deformation, and UVs. This should provide a good base layer of detail to feed into a vellum simulation. Sun, 16 Nov 2025 17:58:36 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=b6fb88dc748b Duplicate curve with random offset noise and scale. Useful for quick simple cable generations. Sun, 16 Nov 2025 17:58:36 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=4a834f94a22d Takes the boundary edge of a surface geometry and insets copies of it towards the center with equal spacing between iterations. Works best on Convex shapes. This was created because the built-in copy and transform with scale of 0.9 creates uneven spacing as the iteration progresses. Sun, 16 Nov 2025 17:58:35 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=f2b3232062b0 Compute a line flow given a goal, starting points, and obstacles defined on a surface. Sun, 16 Nov 2025 17:58:35 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=cfd4003c00f9 The gyroid is a geometry with a detail and a continuous surface. It is found in nature, contributing to the structural coloration of butterfly wings and efficiency of honeycombs. This example is done on basic XYZ cartesian coordinates, but it gets interesting when you start to warp the space that feeds the Gyroid. Sun, 16 Nov 2025 17:58:35 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=09751abf704f Art direct the crack and peel of a surface geometry, using voronoi fracturing and a vellum cloth simulation. Sun, 09 Nov 2025 14:53:58 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=145e29d9aa28 Common vex snippet used for assigning point groups to the first and last points on a curve. Useful when needing a group to pin on a vellum hair sim. Sun, 09 Nov 2025 08:06:59 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=a76bbed88d2f Vellum wire setup that supports animated soft pinning on the tip and tail of the wire. Useful setup for art directing a wire simulation. Sun, 09 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=bc5d21d2d429 Twist on the basic gyroid, using the formula on spherical coordinates instead of cartesian. This should conform nicer to spherical shapes. This is also an example on how to warp the gyroid shape and get more custom formations. Sun, 09 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=51fac45832cd Quick setup for a pyro smoke simulation ready for VDB export. Includes nodes to control initial shape, density, velocity, wind force, colliders, openCL compute and VDB output settings. Sun, 09 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=86421946397f Building up from the unfurling stem example, this snippet assembles the stems into a flower pod. The animation includes a rig attribute wrangle as the main control, and a kinefx secondary motion for extra livity. Sat, 08 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=bd99c173668b Simple and fast water material for Karma. This material use metalness and doesn't use transmission to optimize for faster render. Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:49:30 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=73d4066e95ef LOPs lighting setup for early morning. This recipe just uses standard USD lights. Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=6b6543c32821 Create a plant like unfurling animation by converting a line to a KineFX rig and applying a compounding rotation. Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=32492600217c This example shows how to time offset animated point instances in LOPs using point attribute. Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:13:18 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=d5887070ae72 Extract names and transforms from USD objects and apply it to point attributes in SOPs. This allows for rebuilding the same layout in SOPs. This could be useful for converting manual layout to point instances or efficiently importing layout from external application trough USD format. Tue, 04 Nov 2025 14:06:54 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=902ecaba7687 Create curves within guiding geometry volume. Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=c964744d93e0 Various particle shapes scattered in volume. Useful for adding details in macro scenes bio scenes. This recipe also show an example on how to randomly copy different geometry to points base on name attribute. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=2d560a14c73c Dynamic camera focus point that can be animated or attached to an object so that it stays in focus when camera of object is moving. [Based on Houdini Solaris | Focus Camera Recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcqZbOi7lz0) tutorial. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=a20cbfa603b7 Smoothly morph one SDF volume into another. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=3f76980bfb4f Distributes objects along a curve using phyllotactic spacing principles. Creates organic, natural-looking distributions for scattering elements like leaves, flowers, or other organic features along paths. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=283afaf94b84 Bake point attributes to textures in COPs. Doing vex calculations inside of COPs allows for smooth textures that can scale to any texture resolution. Geometry obviously will need UVs Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=5db25efcdf30 Assign materials to geometry with the same name. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=72b9890d7a26 Creates a spider web from guiding surface geometry. Recommend to do a few frames of vellum simulation, and then tweak the web to your taste with the vellum brush. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=3345b8518e29 Creates a flat phyllotactic spiral pattern using the golden angle. Points are distributed in a natural spiral formation commonly found in plant structures like sunflower seed heads and pinecone scales. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=5fe2d31017f3 Adds a raised edge to an embedded object, mimicking swelling of the skin. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=5fd362fd5138 Animate and update the rest length parameter during a vellum simulation. Uses vellum constraint properties inside the vellum solver. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=2ec2e16b03f5 Simple geometry backdrop for product rendering. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=84d4cc849031 Manually art direct the position of multiple points, while still having them snap to a surface. Each point can be manually rotated, scaled, and positioned using Rig Pose. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=a4499751dbb1 Simple base setup for a shatter effect. Uses Voronoi fracturing and rigid body simulation. Can be applied to any starting geometry. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=757c301eb0a9 An array of abstract feather like shapes reassembling Seraph's wing. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=2d0c45b624ef Art direct seams in a base geometry, and use them as tearing points in a vellum simulation when under stress. Can be used for skin tears as well, ex. thorns growing out of skin. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=5d871463a0fb Split and offset mesh polys with random value making them to catch plesant highlight. Userful for mimiking solar or other panels. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=09b58f750c5f Separate polygons on sweeped line which angle change rapidly. Practically allow for profile cliff detection which is userful for creating cool looking shapes like outer ring of space station. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=f62528936cd4 Embellishes the simple sweeped curve with ridges inspired by the underbelly of some reptiles or worms. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=95e299a58b44 Converts a surface geometry into a moving, breathing, chainmail fabric. Apply this modifier to any clothing element that needs extra BLING. This pattern was inspired by 3D printable fabric prototypes. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=c41da7940162 Guide a vellum simulation by softly pinning part of the geometry to an animation. Control the softness of the pin over time with an attribute. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:06:40 +0400 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=6b6de4f86958 Implementation of Differential Growth algorithm using Vellum and SOP Solver. Based on Junichiro Horikawa tutorial [Differential Growth with Vellum Part 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcckNTS9-Os) Mon, 03 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=708662443d59 Compute flow direction vector and propogate it along mesh. This is done without simulation by using ForEach. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://codercat.xyz/cookbook/?recipe=5ddde0ce9bde Parent one object motion to another in SOPs. Useful for attaching things to animated geometry that comes from Alembic cache. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000