Such a cool tutorial; so many things are covered! I'd share a few notes about the modeler's Merge tool. It's part of the Modeler Selection shelf tab and there are more tools to reduce hassle in the network view. While modeling, the node tree tends to become quite long, so select nodes and merge them in Houdini's way or alternatively set the render flag to the last node in the tree and template flag to the other, and call for the Modeler's Merge tool (ALT+M, I prefer Right ALT + M they are quite close) to bring all nodes together. The shortcut works both in the viewport and in the network view. It works very well with Modeler's Split tool (available in the Modeler Mesh shelf tab or tab menu), which creates a Split node with two nulls assigned: one with a render flag and the second with a template flag. Press ALT+M and the modeler will automatically create a merge for a node with the render flag, and all nodes with the template flag will be connected to it. Object Merge is also a very useful node, as the tutorial shows, and there is a multifunctional plugin called OD Tools, which has a nifty feature: grab any node and drag it to the status bar, and an Object merge referencing the node will be automatically created. The plugin also has other, more advanced ways to speed up the making of object merge and null pairs.
Fantastic info! I've gotta give the merge tools a once over. I have OD Tools and never knew about the object merge trick! Thanks so much for sharing! NICE! :)
@Haha, when I’m dragging nodes to the status bar, and nothing is happening, it is literally the first reminder to install OD Tools when every Houdini’s major release is out 😅
This tutorial is amazing and exactly what is needed, more hands-on walkthroughs of the modeling process with Modeler 2025. Kudos!
Thanks for that, truly! The tool is just too good, we need folks to understand what it can do. :)
Such a cool tutorial; so many things are covered! I'd share a few notes about the modeler's Merge tool. It's part of the Modeler Selection shelf tab and there are more tools to reduce hassle in the network view. While modeling, the node tree tends to become quite long, so select nodes and merge them in Houdini's way or alternatively set the render flag to the last node in the tree and template flag to the other, and call for the Modeler's Merge tool (ALT+M, I prefer Right ALT + M they are quite close) to bring all nodes together. The shortcut works both in the viewport and in the network view. It works very well with Modeler's Split tool (available in the Modeler Mesh shelf tab or tab menu), which creates a Split node with two nulls assigned: one with a render flag and the second with a template flag. Press ALT+M and the modeler will automatically create a merge for a node with the render flag, and all nodes with the template flag will be connected to it. Object Merge is also a very useful node, as the tutorial shows, and there is a multifunctional plugin called OD Tools, which has a nifty feature: grab any node and drag it to the status bar, and an Object merge referencing the node will be automatically created. The plugin also has other, more advanced ways to speed up the making of object merge and null pairs.
Fantastic info! I've gotta give the merge tools a once over. I have OD Tools and never knew about the object merge trick! Thanks so much for sharing! NICE! :)
OMG, that OD Tools object merge trick is GOLD! Thanks again for the tip!
@Haha, when I’m dragging nodes to the status bar, and nothing is happening, it is literally the first reminder to install OD Tools when every Houdini’s major release is out 😅
Literally can't stop using it now. HAH!
yayyy :)) very excited to watch this through
Awesome. Let me know if you have any feedback. Looking to do more like this…
YESS!!! Thank you so much for this in depth tutorial. Super helpful!
Glad it was helpful!