Hot Software Tips How-Tos
How To: Setup basic PBR lighting in Houdini 9
This Houdini n9 software tutorial covers a very simple lighting and rendering scene to show the basic workflow for generating a PBR render. We use a digital asset to quickly establish a group of geometry to light. In the lesson we also add an area map so that we can extract the lighting information from it. There are two .rat files to experiment with, the seashadow.rat file simply provides a pattern. The st.peters_cross.rat is an HDRI image from the Debevec site. Watch and learn how to set up...
How To: UV texture in Houdini 9
This series of videos focuses on a typical UV workflow in Houdini 9. Learn how to create projections, edit UVs with a variety of tools, save out UV maps, and apply textures. Please download the project files below to follow along with these Houdini 9 texturing lessons.
How To: Rig a quadruped with the Auto Rig Tool in Houdini
This five part Houdini 9 video series covers an entire rigging workflow using the H9 Quadruped Auto Rig shelf tool. Take an in-depth look at setting up joint controls, creating proxy geometry, generating animation and deformation rigs, and painting weights. The concepts presented in this tutorial series will apply equally as well to a Biped Auto Rig set up.
How To: Create a surface from a particle stream in Houdini
In the following series of videos we will establish a particle stream that is then used to create a surface that evolves over time in Houdini 9 software.
How To: Animate with the Spring SOP in Houdini 9
These Houdini 9 software lessons illustrate a means of animating a surface without keyframes and/or character tools. Learn how to animate using the Spring SOP in Houdini 9.
How To: Roll a surface with Wireblend in Houdini 9
This Houdini 9 tutorial shows you how to roll and unroll a surface without using expressions. Learn how to roll a surface with the Wireblend tool in Houdini 9. Once you create the rolled surface, you can also animate it.
How To: Animate in CHOPS from a curve in Houdini 9
This Houdini 9 CHOPS lesson shows one aspect of the usefulness of the Channel Operator editor. In this case we extract a curve from a geometry surface and use that curve to animate a ball moving across the surface. To learn more about animating with chops in Houdini 9, check out this tutorial.
How To: Attract particles to a curve in Houdini 9
This Houdini 9 particle effects tutorial establishs a means to attract particles to follow a curve faithfully. POPS is one of the most powerful effects generating parts of Houdini and getting particles to follow or be attracted to a curve will be extremely useful to any Houdini effects artist. So watch and learn how to attract particles to a curve in Houdini 9.
How To: Use tile clones in Inkscape
This open source software tutorial shows you how to use the tile clone tools in Inkscape. The tile clone tool allows you to create the first few tiles and then clone them to create an entire grid or fill a specific area with the tiled pattern. Check out this Inkscape tutorial and start expanding your graphic design abilities.
How To: Put text on a circle in Inkscape
This open source software tutorial shows you how to put text around a circle in Inkscape. This is similar to having text follow a path, but you have the text follow a circle. Improve your graphic design abilities with this Inkscape tutorial.
How To: Funkify text in Inkscape
This software tutorial shows you how to create funky looking text effects in Inkscape. This tutorial of course is just a guide to the ways you can funkify text, so watch and learn how to use Inkscape to make this funky, groovy, 70's text, then start making your own versions.
How To: Create a pinned up polaroid in Inkscape
In this software tutorial you will see how to create a polaroid picture and make it look like it is pinned up on a wall using Inkscape. All you need for this creative pinned-up polaroid is a picture and the open source software Inkscape.
How To: Create a pseudo 3D image from a photo in Inkscape
In this software tutorial you will learn how to turn a regular photo into a 3D looking image or make the photo pop out in a pseudo-3-dimensional way using Inkscape. This is a clever way to use Inkscape to play with photos and could be used for graphic design or scrapebooking type applications.
How To: Create a reminder note with scotch tape in Inkscape
Just what you need for your graphics projects - a graphical reminder note! This Inkscape software tutorial shows you how to create a reminder note complete with the scotch tape to "attach" it to documents. You should be able to easily find some creative uses for your graphical reminder "post it".
How To: Manually kern type in Inkscape
If you do any amount of graphic design or layout design, then you know the importance of using kerning when working with typeface. This Inkscape software tutorial shows you how to manually kern text within Inkscape. This isn't the best graphic design software, but it is open source and if you are using it for layout you may need to use text kerning and will find this video helpful.
How To: Make a paperclip in Inkscape
In this software tutorial you will learn how to make a simple paperclip from scratch using the curve tools in Inkscape. Inkscape is an open source freeware software so it's easy to get ahold of and start using for your graphic design needs.
How To: Create a button highlight effect in Inkscape
In this software tutorial you will learn how to create a highlight effect on an object in Inkscape. This particular Inkscape tutorial shows you how to make a highlight effect on a button giving it a more dimensional look.
How To: Draw a file folder in Inkscape
This software tutorial shows you how to draw a file folder from scratch in Inkscape. Besides learning how to create file folder images or icons, you will learn how to use some of the basic tools in Inkscape like the align tools.
How To: Create a shiny glass globe in Inkscape
This software tutorial shows you how to create a shiny glass globe from scratch in Inkscape. Learn how to use 2D effects to create a 3D looking sphere all within Inkscape.
How To: Use boolean operations in Inkscape
In this software tutorial you will learn how to use boolean operations in Inkscape to combine or remove two shapes. Boolean operations are an important part of modeling in 2D or 3D and give you a way to make fast and accurate shapes. So watch and learn how to work with booleans in Inkscape.
How To: Create a web 2.0 style button in Inkscape
In this Inkscape software tutorial you will see how to create a shiny web 2.0 style button or icon. There is no sound but the picture and mouse movements are clear enough to follow along visually. So watch and learn how to create a crisp reflective web 2.0 style button in Inkscape.
How To: Transfer attributes in Houdini 9
This Houdini 9 software video series focuses on examples of when and how to use Attribute Transfer. Part 1 covers Attribute Transfer One Point:
How To: Copy stamp in Houdini 9
In this video tutorial you will learn about a very powerful feature in Houdini called Copy Stamping.
How To: Setup dynamics and particles in Houdini 9
In this Houdini 9 video series, you will take a look at the new dynamics shelf tools and see how easy it is to create fairly complex simulations very quickly.
How To: Transfer particle color to boxes in Houdini 9
In this Houdini 9 video series, you will take a look at the new dynamics shelf tools in Houdini 9 and see how easy it is to create fairly complex simulations very quickly.
How To: Use takes in Houdini 9
In this software video series, you will learn how to use Takes in Houdini 9. Part one: Intro to Takes
How To: Navigate the Houdini 9 interface
In this video series, you will take a look a the new Houdini 9 interface and learn how it will make your work faster and easier.
How To: Build muscles with the muscle tool in Houdini 9
In the following lessons you will learn some essential tools and techniques for working with muscles in Houdini. In the first lesson, you will learn how to rig up a simple muscle arm using Houdini's Muscle tool. The Muscle tool uses meta-balls to capture your character's skin with realistic muscle/skin interaction.
How To: Mask in CompositeLab and VisionLab Studio
This tutorial examines the different mask shapes available in VisionLab Studio, CompositeLab and EngineLab and how to use them for compositing. Most of the information also applies to garbage mattes. Learn how to use masks and mask shapes in VisionLab studio. Mask in CompositeLab and VisionLab Studio.
How To: Design scroll saw patterns with Corel Draw
This scroll saw pattern tutorial shows you how to work with Corel Draw vector graphics drawing software to create your woodworking patterns. If you love cutting, but haven't tried designing, this video will give you some ideas on how to get started creating your own scroll saw patterns using Corel Draw.
How To: Use rectangle, ellipse and polygon tools in Corel Draw
If you are new to Corel Draw, you need to learn how to use some of the very basic tools provided. In this beginners tutorial you will learn how to work with the rectangle tool, ellipse tool and polygon tool in Corel Draw vector graphics drawing software. See how you can apply these tools to your scroll saw patterns as well.
How To: Create portrait scroll saw patterns in Corel Draw
In this Corel Draw software tutorial you will learn how to draw portrait patterns to be used in your scroll saw woodworking. In this tutorial you will not have to draw portraits from scratch but convert photos into patterns within Corel Draw.
How To: Use the Corel Draw bezier tool for scroll saw patterns
The bezier tool in Corel Draw allows you to create a certain type of curve. In this tutorial you will learn how to work with and control the bezier tool in Corel Draw as you create scroll saw patterns.
How To: Create word art in Corel Draw for scroll saw patterns
In this scroll saw woodworking pattern tutorial you will learn how to create word art in Corel Draw vector graphics drawing software and use that word art as part of your scroll saw pattern designs.
How To: Use Corel Draw envelope tool in scroll saw patterns
In this scroll saw pattern creation tutorial you will learn how to work with another tool in Corel Draw. Watch and learn how to use the envelope tool in Corel Draw to aid in your scroll saw pattern design.
How To: Draw artsy text in Corel Draw for scroll saw patterns
This software tutorial shows you how to draw artistic text and artsy shapes in Corel Draw X3 that can be used for scroll saw patterns. If you do scroll saw woodworking and like to create your own patterns, learn how to get started by creating artistic text in Corel Draw X3.
How To: Draw a heart box scroll saw pattern in Corel Draw X3
This scroll saw woodworking pattern tutorial shows you how to create a heart jewelery box pattern in Corel Draw X3. Corel Draw allows you to draw vector based patterns that you can print and use for your scroll saw creations. This particular pattern will be used to make a heart box.
How To: Use the interactive contour tool in Corel Draw X3
This Corel Draw X3 vector graphics drawing software tutorial shows you how to use the interactive contour tool. Learn how to use the interactive contour tool in Corel Draw X3 to create scroll saw patterns for your scroll saw woodworking projects.
How To: Scan clip art into Corel Draw for scroll saw patterns
In this scroll saw woodworking pattern making tutorial you will learn how to get the clip art you find off the computer, into the computer and into Corel Draw X3 so you can use it for your scroll saw patterns. Watch and see how easy it is to scan clip art into Corel Draw X3 and start making new scroll art patterns.
How To: Put text on a curve in Corel Draw X3
This Corel Draw vector graphics drawing software tutorial shows you how to type text along a curve. Specifically you will learn how to draw a curve, and get text to follow the curve as part of making scroll saw patterns. If you are a pattern maker or not, you can learn how easy it is to put text on a curve in Corel Draw X3 in this video.