Take your first steps towards a career as an FX artist! Guided by your industry mentor, you'll learn how to navigate SideFX Houdini and begin creating your own FX shots from scratch, even without prior experience.
Why study Houdini FX with us:
You'll work with with basic particles to understand element attributes and interactivity, helping you move towards complex animated FX like smoke and fire.
Industry Certificate
3 months
20 hrs weekly
Beginner
December 2nd, 2024
January 6th, 2025
February 3rd, 2025
Weekly live online classes
Video lectures
Mentor feedback
Access to vibrant community
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 equivalent to the first term of the Effects Foundations. If you continue your learning journey, you'll be eligible to join the Foundations course from Term 2 onwards.
This short course is equivalent to term one of the Foundations course. On completion of the Essentials course, if you decide to progress further with your studies, you'll enroll straight into term two of the corresponding Foundations course which means you'll already be one-third of the way through your studies! Continue your learning journey towards an exciting career in the industry by enrolling into the Foundations Career Track.
All Houdini FX classes are taught by industry mentors with years of experience working on films and video games.
Daniel is a senior Houdini FX artist with 15 years of experience working on blockbusters such as Terminator: Dark Fate, John Wick 3, Aquaman, The Wolverine, and Game of Thrones.
Manager of VFX
Known for John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
Ben's worked on high-profile commercials and Unreal Engine VR experiences for projects like Game of Thrones, Interstellar and Ready Player One.
Mentor of Houdini FX
Known for Interstellar VR
Claire has more than 25 years' experience as an FX artist for films and games on projects like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, X-Men First Class, and Clash of the Titans.
Mentor of Houdini FX
Known for Passengers
Age Minimum
The general minimum age to be able to enroll in our industry certificate courses is 16. We require parent or guardian consent during the enrollment process for applicants under 18.
Students under 16 will require a further assessment before they can officially enrol. This may include an interview with a course advisor and the creation of a study plan to ensure they have considered how they will manage a college-level workload.
English Proficiency
We expect our students to have a good understanding of written and spoken English. There’s no specific ’level'; however, you must be able to understand video tutorials in English (no subtitles) and speak with your mentor in English during your live Q&A session.
Computer Literacy
To be successful in this program, you will need basic computer skills and a computer that meets the minimum specifications (see next question).
Software:
You will need to purchase an education license of Houdini from SideFX and download a non-commercial license of Nuke, which is free.
Instructions for how to obtain an educational license for the required software will be provided upon enrollment.
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.
This short course will get you started on your creative journey, but in a competitive industry, we advise continuing your studies with the full career track.
The FX career track includes the FX Foundations and FX Artist Specialization (available early 2025). It is designed to better prepare you for a job in the industry and help increase your employment opportunities.
The career track ensures you build strong foundational skills before moving on to more complex techniques and workflows. You will also dedicate time to career development and preparing a polished portfolio while you gain invaluable industry insights.
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:
The mentors are extremely helpful and knowledgeable.
Prior to enrolling at CG Spectrum's VFX course, I had no experience in creating VFX or using Houdini at all. By the end of the 3rd semester, I was quite comfortable in using Houdini for most simulations, using VEX in place of regular nodes and creating procedural assets.
I went from knowing nothing about FX, to receiving job offers within 6 months of study with CG Spectrum!
I was blown away by the level of personal interaction the 1-on-1 mentorship provides. Having a direct line to an industry veteran as my mentor has been an invaluable resource and has taken my rate of learning to the next level.
I am very excited about how much I have achieved!
Self-teaching is cool if you don't mind getting no interaction or help, and learning older versions of the software. Thankfully, CG Spectrum has given me the total opposite and an opportunity to push myself every step closer to the industry. With great resources at CG Spectrum, I learned not only my craft, but also how to prepare myself to be industry-ready.
Study options for all skill levels, from short introductory courses to specialized industry tracks and accredited degrees and diplomas.