For my graduate-level graphics course CIS 5620:  Computer Animation, I worked with the Houdini FX software in order to create a node-based, procedural firework simulation from scratch.  This project served as my first time working with Houdini and VEX code. I thoroughly enjoyed experimenting with different physics, color, and particle settings in order to create the final animated product.  

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These were 2 main components of the dynamic simulation: 

• Nodes

  • Split nodes

  • Group nodes

  • Collect nodes

• Networks 

  • Used Geometry network

  • Particle operator network

  • Shader operator network

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These components were used to build a Firework Particle System which can be broken down as follows: ​​

• Created a particle emitter and system for the firework projectiles 

  • Shell particles created using location node to represent pre-explosion fireworks 

  • Particle groups used to collect the "dead" shell particles post-explosion and convert them into spark particles using POP Group and POP Replicate nodes 

• Applied physics to boost particle realism ​

  • Added air drag force to particles

  • Adjusted inherited impact velocity to spark particles mimic additive explosive force from shell particles velocities​

  • Added variance to spark particles to reflect scale of explosion via the randomness and magnitude  

• Added trail of smoke to shell particles  ​​

• Added POP Color node to apply color to particles 

• Rendered final simulation video using Mantra renderer ​