How can I acess the source code of Blender so that I can edit it? I want to write my own physics engines. Also, recently I've been having doubts about Blender. Is it really the best software? It's great that it's free, but I think the main problem with that is that they can't hire anyone who is very specialized in making physics engines (or any advanced tool like that) because they don't have enough money. Will (or can) Blender ever have texturing tools as good as Substance's, or physics tools as good as Houdini's?
Have you even seen some of the stunning, high-resolution content on their websites?
I'm far from being an expert in this domain but start here and get the repository you want to work on:
https://developer.blender.org
I would recommend solid knowledge in C++ to develop a physics engine on your own, as well in the physics field you want to develop your engine. That being said, may I ask what you are after ?
If you are willing to help the blender institute in going further in the physics simulation development, I'm sure they would be happy :) I think your statement
they can't hire anyone who is very specialized in making physics engines (or any advanced tool like that)
is rather incorrect. The people who develop Blender are super skilled. The focus is not specifically on the physics simulations. Unity has a very good physics engine that can be used. For fluids simulations you can purchase the latest FLIP fluids, or also mantaflow, they work very well with blender.
On your questions about Blender/Substance/Houdini...: I believe there's no such thing as an ultimate CG software that delivers crisps renders and incredible high-res content. Each of the software you mention are very good, if not excellent, at what they do. As far as I understood, Blender is good in most of the stages of the cg pipeline, and this sandbox property (that is, the fact that it can be a node in the complete workflow) makes it very convenient.
At the end of the day, I think it's not the software that grants the quality of the results, but the capacity of the user to make most of it. Latest sport shoes won't make you run faster :)
tbrbn I know that, I just want to know if Houdini is worth the money. (How much does it cost, anyway, $6000?) Even so, I probably won't be able to afford it for a very long time. I just want to know if Blender can make physics effects as good as Houdini's. Which version of Houdini is the full version, anyway? I visited their website but couldn't figure that out.
I'm downloading the free version now just so that I can find out for myself.
Hi there William.
I hope I can Clear some things up for you.
So I do follow tbrbn in saying that these are just tools at the end of the say. its you the Artist that makes great work.
Now in saying that, I to started with blender and have now moved onto Maya, Substancem Marvoules Designer, Houdini etc.
I have done this not because blender cannot do what I want it to but Rather its not industry standard.
Also i do feel like blender is a general app where as something like Zbrush is a dedicated sculpting app so the tools there are more advanced, same goes with substance painter.
Now to answer some questions with houdini.
I my self am starting to learn Houdini.
Its am amazing app for FX but its actually a Procedural app. Their node based approach to everything is very intuitive and easy to learn.
I would highly advice learning Python, VEX and some Math and Physics (Just the basiscs for Physics). You will be able to make anazing FX without coding but when you start getting into things like Altering the Velocity fields, generating them based on incoming Data and so on makes your FX so much more than as is.
As for price, it costs around +- $260 a year.
Hope I helped some what.
All the best,
Jody.
jodyls27 I love mathematics, and I some experience with Python coding, so that shouldn't be a problem. Can you import Blender models into the apprentice version of Houdini? Can you export physics simulations from Houdini Apprentice into Blender? I know they both support obj and alembic files, but I just want to make sure.
williamatics That's good to know. Me on the other hand in school we had a chose between Pure Maths (The normal Maths) and Maths Lit.
I chose Maths Lit and Looking back in hine sight, I should have dont pure Maths.
So I am learning some Maths now and Physics.
I do have a 3 year Degree in Software Development though I didn't learn Python so just brushing up on some Syntax now.
So with the Apprentice version of Houdini, you can import, OBJ, FBX, Alimbic and so on, but you can only Export out an OBJ.
As for exporting Sims i am not sure just yet.
I think you can Export the Points or the VBDs from houdini but i am not sure how to use that Data in another app for things like Smoke sims or Fluids.
Rigid sims is simple though you cannot export FBX or Alembic so its a quite a limitation.
On the other hand Mantra is quite a good Render engine.
Also have a look into Nuke Non Commercial, its an awesome Compositor.