Mac 3D News: Maxon forms partnership with Side Effects – Developing Cinema 4D plugin for Houdini engine

The German developer of award-winning 3D software package, CINEMA 4D, Maxon Computer, has formed a partnership with Side Effects Software, the developer of the award-winning Houdine 3D. Though the two companies compete across some segments, their respective 3D software is more complimentary within larger 3D pipelines, especially in visual effects houses.

Access to Houdini Engine

The new partnership will yield a new plugin for CINEMA 4D users so they can access the famed Houdini engine. The new Houdini Engine was introduced in 2013 in SideFX Labs and is designed to allow Houdini’s procedural technology to work inside other digital content creation (DCC) applications. This bridge between the two applications offers CINEMA 4D artists direct access to Houdini Digital Assets with an integrated procedural workflow that does not require baked-out data.

“Creating a bridge to Houdini Digital Assets for CINEMA 4D artists underscores MAXON’s commitment to provide our customers with an efficient pipeline to other digital content creation tools,” said Harald Egel, co-founder and CEO, MAXON Computer GmbH. “Integrating Houdini’s procedural workflow and VFX tools inside CINEMA 4D will offer our users a streamlined experience to collaborate with Houdini artists and create inspiring content.”

01 – The Houdini Engine public preview initiated with Maya and Unity late in 2013. New CINEMA 4D users will have the same access to this technology.

“We are very excited to partner with MAXON to bring the Houdini Engine to CINEMA 4D artists,” said Kim Davidson, co-founder, President and CEO, Side Effects Software. “These artists can now use Houdini Digital Assets inside CINEMA 4D making it easier to add the flexibility and power of Houdini’s procedural tools to their existing creative process.”

Maxon at FMX

Throughout FMX 2014, the leading European conference on animation, effects, games and transmedia taking place in Stuttgart, April 22 – 25, Oliver Meiseberg, product manager at MAXON Computer, will be available to meet with members of the press to provide additional details on the planned integration between MAXON and Side Effects. To schedule a briefing opportunity, please contact Oliver directly at o_meiseberg@maxon.net.

[Editor’s Note: MAXON team members and CINEMA 4D industry experts will also be participating on FMX panel/sessions aimed to provide show attendees a deeper understanding of the company’s CINEMA 4D software application in production. A program list is available here.

 Availability

The CINEMA 4D plug-in for the Houdini Engine is slated for release before the end of the 2014.