Do you build reusable setups for use in generic scenarios?

[magneto]

Hi,

Custom effects will be custom but there are so many types of effects that can't be covered with pre-built setups all the time. But there are still a lot of well defined generic effects that could be done using a well designed setup very quickly and efficiently.

For example things like splatter, large item drip setup (for ships etc), snow, rain, ripples, FLIP ocean with built-in slicing, etc.

I mean a lot of things already exist in Houdini as building blocks but I am talking about very efficient and user friendly setup where you can just plug in a couple of objects and everything is done for you on the farm.

Sometime I wish one could build a library of effects in this manner, constantly updating the techniques when necessary, or even different variations, like SOP Kelvin Wakes vs dynamic Kelvin Wakes, etc.

Do you guys do this?

What do you guys think?

[Yon]

O I most definitely do this, everything worthy I had ever done has been made into a digital asset. I also map important parameters to a null, creating a control panel. Then your library becomes a hobby and you want to keep building and maintaining it. Not to mention your prepared if your given that task..

This is basically one of the biggest perks of using Houdini lol

[vtrvtr]

I think making HDAs is the best part of Houdini

It's just bonkers to see something very (!) complex become a little file that can easily work on a variety of software out of the box. I too like to do it as much as possible.