Creating a Dynamic Wet Map Shader in Houdini

This tutorial introduces a new method for simulating wet objects, a shader-based method that first generates a 3D cloud of animated wet points, then by creating a shader that will use this data to shade the wet, previously-wet, or drying parts of the character that were previously in contact with a fluid. Software required: Houdini 14.

To realistically simulate fluids (water, blood, paint, oil, etc.), often a wet map is required to change the shading of an object where the fluid comes into contact with an object. These need to animate, not only while the fluid is active, but also afterwards to simulate drying. The usual solution, generating a wet map, or fixed set of images for a texture map, has several drawbacks: fixed resolution, color depths, and difficulties applying across objects or to subsequent shots in the film. This tutorial introduces a new method for simulating wet objects, a shader-based method that first generates a 3D cloud of animated wet points, then by creating a shader that will use this data to shade the wet, previously-wet, or drying parts of the character that were previously in contact with a fluid. This will be accomplished without any need to create or rerun the original fluid simulation. Software required: Houdini 14.

• Introduction and Project Overview 1min
• Creating a Dynamic Wet Map Shader in Houdini 136mins