Overview

Learn Houdini from top FX artists

Take your first step towards a career as a film & game FX artist

Ever wondered how those mindblowing effects in your favorite films and games are made? Find out how in this Houdini for beginners course. Guided by a your industry mentor, you'll learn Houdini fundamentals and begin creating your own VFX shots from scratch, even without prior experience.

Why study Houdini FX at CG Spectrum:

  • Learn from FX artists who have worked on big films & games
  • Train on industry software at a Houdini certified school 
  • Create your own FX shots from scratch
  • Choose 1-on-1 or small group classes (max 4 students)

[more]More[/more]

Start your journey into the film and game industry with CG Spectrum online visual effects school! Be personally mentored by FX artists who have worked at some of the best VFX studios, get plenty of hands-on experience, and graduate with original work for your demo reel.

Enjoy a personalized education experience like no other with unrivalled support and feedback from a mentor who is invested in your success. What a great way to start your career as an FX artist!

*This short course is a prerequisite to the advanced Houdini FX Course and will give you the foundational skills you need to continue on your educational pathway.

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Qualification

Certificate

Study duration

12 weeks

Commitment

20 hrs weekly

Skill level

Beginner

Prerequisites

Basic computer skills and min. computer specs

Delivery

Weekly online classes, feedback and support

Software

Houdini, Nuke

Start date

May 6, 2024

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Why study with us

Learn Houdini FX from industry pros who have worked on films and games

Whether straight out of high school, changing careers, or upgrading skills, our expert-led Houdini for beginners course helps you build practical job skills.

Flexible Scheduling

Plan your studies around your work and family commitments

Industry Mentors

Learn from experts who have worked on major films and games

Job-Ready Skills

Build practical and relevant job skills that studios are looking for

Payment Plans

Pursue your passion and start working sooner with flexible payments

Curriculum

Industry-approved curriculum to help launch your career as an FX artist

Term 1: 12 weeks

Foundations 1: Essentials of Effects

Start with the fundamentals of FX and simulations with Houdini software. Learn scripting with VEX and see how scripts can help create more complex VFX shots. Learn all about particles in Houdini and the concepts behind what drives them. Dive into advanced geometry concepts which will help you build assets for your VFX shots and ultimately destroy them! Apply rendering techniques used in VFX production and start building your first fully rendered shots.

*This short course is a prerequisite to the Effects Foundations. It will give you the foundational skills you need to continue on your educational pathway.

  • How to navigate the Houdini user interface
  • Build geometry for your simulations
  • Understand and apply particle concepts
  • Light and render your shots
  1. Introduction to Houdini Networks
  2. Creating Motion in Houdini
  3. Particle FX Project
  4. Transforming Attributes
  5. Intro to RBD FX
  6. RBD FX Project
  7. Intro to Smoke & Pyro
  8. Pyro FX Project
  9. Intro to FLIP
  10. Flip FX project
  11. FX Project Introduction
  12. FX Project Presentation
Course structure

Your pathway to the industry

Dive right into the full study pathway and be industry ready in 1 year.

Pathway illustration for Houdini FX (Full pathway)
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Mentors

Get direct access to Houdini FX artists and learn from the best

All Houdini FX classes are taught by industry mentors with years of experience working on films and video games.

Study Options

Small Class

The most affordable way to learn from top industry mentors in a fun, collaborative environment, while still getting plenty of personalized feedback.

  • Max. 4 students per course
  • Affordable high-quality education
  • Network while you learn
Study Options

1-on-1 Private

Progress faster and enjoy more flexiblity with private mentorship. Ideal for busy schedules, career-changers, or artists upgrading skills or changing specialties.

  • Maximum level of mentor interaction
  • Greater flexibility to schedule classes
  • Customized learning experience

 

Monthly
$1,185 USD

(3 x payments)

Monthly
$1,750 USD

(3 x payments)

Frequently asked questions

Effects Essentials Course FAQs

To be successful in this program you will need basic computer skills and a computer that meets the minimum specifications (see next question).

Some previous knowledge of 3D software would be beneficial.

Software:

A student licence of Houdini from SideFX and a non-commercial licence of Nuke for a free educational version is available.

Hardware:

You will need a dedicated graphics card, and a computer that meets the minimum requirements for Houdini and Nuke. A minimum of 32GB RAM is ideal.

Studying FX can open up a variety of career paths in the entertainment industry. 

This short FX course will get started on your journey, but in a competitive industry, continuing your studies with the more advanced Effects Foundations will better prepare you for a job in the industry and help increase your employment opportunities.

The 9-month course covers more complex techniques and includes an entire term dedicated to career development and portfolio preparation to get you industry-ready. Some of the junior FX jobs you could pursue after completing the full study pathway include:

Discover more VFX jobs, tips, and salary expectations on our careers page:

Student Showcase

High quality student work that speaks for itself

With a focus on portfolio preparation, we help students build their competitive edge with high quality work that gets noticed. See what they are creating.

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Studios that hire our students

With a focus on portfolio preparation, we help students build their competitive edge with high quality work that gets noticed. See what they are creating.