[vimeo url=”http://vimeo.com/92449724″ fs=”0″ portrait=”0″] MAXON, leading developer of professional 3D software solutions for modeling, painting, animation and rendering, today announced its intention to partner with Side Effects Software, a leader in 3D animation and visual effects software, to develop a plug-in which gives CINEMA 4D users access to the Houdini Engine. The Houdini Engine was introduced in 2013 on SideFX Labs and is designed to allow Houdini’s procedural technology to work inside other digital content creation applications. This bridge between the two applications offers CINEMA 4D artists direct access to Houdini Digital Assets with an integrated procedural workflow that does not require baked-out data.
“Creating a bridge to Houdini Digital Assets for CINEMA 4D artists underscores MAXON’s commitment to provide our customers with an efficient pipeline to other digital content creation tools,” said Harald Egel, co-founder and CEO, MAXON Computer GmbH. “Integrating Houdini’s procedural workflow and VFX tools inside CINEMA 4D will offer our users a streamlined experience to collaborate with Houdini artists and create inspiring content.”
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“We are very excited to partner with MAXON to bring the Houdini Engine to CINEMA 4D artists,” said Kim Davidson, co-founder, President and CEO, Side Effects Software. “These artists can now use Houdini Digital Assets inside CINEMA 4D making it easier to add the flexibility and power of Houdini’s procedural tools to their existing creative process.”

Availability

The CINEMA 4D plug-in for the Houdini Engine is slated for release before the end of the 2014.

Licensing and Pricing of the Houdini Engine

Artists with Houdini or Houdini FX licenses will be able to run the Houdini Engine using their existing keys. For artists who only need to work in a host application, a new Houdini Engine license has been created. Houdini Engine workstation licenses will be available for $495 annually while floating licenses for use in a single facility will start at $795 annually. Volume pricing will be available for floating licenses.

The new Houdini Engine license is being merged with the Houdini Batch license so that it can also run batch processes on the farm. Now studios can use one license for both purposes and distribute them as needed. The Houdini Batch license-type will be retired and customers can contact Side Effects about converting them into more versatile Houdini Engine licenses.

As an added bonus, artists will be able to run the Houdini Engine in multiple host applications, such as both Cinema 4D and Maya, making it easier to manage floating licenses. In addition, Houdini Engine licenses will only be acquired when a Houdini Digital Asset is opened in a host to make sure that licenses are not being consumed when the Engine is not in use.

For more information on Maxon and Cinema 4D: www.maxon.net

For more information on the Houdini Engine: www.sidefx.com