Why you should DUMP Cinema 4D for HOUDINI (in 2024)

Well, it's like the title says. I'm going to give you 10 compelling reasons why you, as a 3D Artist, should dump Cinema 4D, and start using Houdini instead, this year. But first a quick overview of the two companies.

Houdini is developed by Toronto-based SideFX, who adapted it from the PRISMS suite of procedural generation software tools.

Houdini is most commonly used for the creation of visual effects in film and television. It is used by major VFX companies such as Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, DreamWorks Animation, Double Negative and ILM, to name a few.

Cinema 4D is a 3D software suite developed by the German company Maxon. It has gained a strong foothold in the marketing and advertising industries, chiefly for it's 3d motion graphics capabilities and its simple user interface that allows for a super fast turn around on projects.

So with that quick introduction out of the way, let's discuss 10 reasons why Houdini is superior to Cinema 4D.

Number 1. The node based workflow.
Houdini's node-based workflow offers a level of flexibility and control that is unparalleled when compared to Cinema 4D's layer-based, destructive workflow. In Houdini, each node represents a specific operation, and the connections between them create a procedural network, enabling artists to experiment and iterate with ease. This non-destructive approach allows for easy modification and fine-tuning of effects, without disrupting the entire project. On the other hand, Cinema 4D's layer-based workflow relies on stacking operations in a linear manner, which can hinder the creative process and make revisiting previous stages challenging. Which in turn, can make your demanding clients even more challenging.

Number 2. Automatic History Control.
The node based workflow gives you an automatic, limitless history, allowing you to undo or tweak anything you did, since starting the project. In comparison packages like Cinema 4D and others, tend to have a fixed undo limit, beyond which, well, you're screwed.

Number 3. It doesn't require plugins.
Cinema 4D may be one of the leading 3d packages, but what if you one day, had the requirement to create a waterfall? Or a car explosion? Well, you would have to purchase 3rd party plugins like RealFlow and FumeFX to achieve this. Houdini has clouds, fluids, explosions and dozens of other simulation systems, all built in, natively. This allows for more control over your project, as these systems can communicate with your other geometry nodes seamlessly. Not to mention, save you money, and time.

Number 4. Better mograph.
Cinema 4D is known as the king of mograph, but what if I told you that Cinema 4D actually had superior 'moGraph', inverted commas. A common counter-argument is that too many nodes are required to achieve the same effect, as Cinema 4D. Well, here is a mograph effect created in Houdini, using only 3 nodes, which might be even fewer steps, than creating the same in Cinema 4D. Not to mention Houdini allows the integration of fluids and explosions into your moGraph type effects, allowing for crazier looking animations.

[Quick_VFX]

So what do you reckon? Time to switch over to Houdini?

[RaDa]

I used C4d for almost 8 years! Honestly, the best decision I made was to switch to Houdini. If you want to focus on simulation / cloth / particles, switch to Houdini. If you're more into traditional character / modelling / motion graphics, then stick with C4d.

Don't get disappointed at first if you don't get to do great things, just keep learning and take your time to learn.

[danDD]

You don't need to choose; instead, consider using both! This approach is actually adopted by professionals and I know many who do so.

[leonidrybakovski]

As a user of both packages, I can assure you that most of the features mentioned completely useless for an average user. You should ask yourself if you really need all of this control and proceduralism. If you really need to revisit tour projects so many steps back, you doing something really wrong.

And learning curve is pretty steep. By the time you learn how to make something in Houdini you might already finish your project in Cinema 4D.
So, make absolutely sure you really need this package.

[khalilboss]

Dumping c4d for houdini is like dumping windows for linux lol

[shahabvejdanian]

I'm a junior Houdini artist and I'm telling you, its not easy to learn at all. totally worth it though

[hanifbahari]

Cinema 4D is the king of user friendly UI among 3D softwares, and that is IMPORTANT.

[Create-The-Imaginable]

I use Cinema 4D, Houdini Indie, and also Blender. I am actually a big fan of Houdini Indie but nothing compares to the ease of use and creative flow of Cinema 4D! Houdini Indie is superior in a lot of ways but its complexity gets in it own way. Like for example Houdini has like 10 separate Group Nodes when it really should only have 1 simple Group Node. Houdini needs to work on their User Experience (UX) and also reduce their node complexity especially if you are a Creator or Animator and not a Technical Artist!

[Gaalets]

The Houdini interface and the node dump will make any new user suffer greatly and for a long time

[glmstudiogh]

I would disagree with dumbing C4D and using Houdini, first of all, these two are completely two different programs in workflows and almost everything. you guys should stop all these" stop using this and use this app, Artists should use whichever app they're comfortable with.

[vladartiomav]

You forgot to mention MOPS, a game changing nodes extension to make motion graphics (and much more) in Houdini.
Although, Houdini is definitely not as user friendly as C4D, but when you make your own HDAs and your shelf tools and presets, you can work really fast with it! Even faster than in C4D or Blender.

[vytasrauckis]

You obviously have never watched Chris Schmidt of Rocketlasso. Every week he creates incredible animations in C4D that are TOTALLY non-destructive. To say that C4D is destructive means that you have not updated C4d since R12.

[Fayez]

The only thing that makes me not want to learn Houdini is programming language.
One of the things that interests me in these programs is modeling and motion graphics. Do I need programming skills to do this??

[saturateddepictions]

I find using Houdini to be easier to use than C4D and Blender when it comes to iterating your ideas. The node system makes so easy to swap out and adjust things on the fly. It may be harder to pickup if you're not used to that workflow but I love it and I wish more creative software implemented node trees.

[Gromick]

It actually looks like even the simplest tasks take 3 times as long in Houdini

[eslammahmoud]

only reason i would consider houdini in my workflow is their simulation systems. cinema 4d is nowhere near it when it comes to simulations with the exception of x-particles which is actually good but other than this I don't think there's any reason for me as someone who's making product visuals to shift and spend that long time to learn this new tool.

[Nasr_]

The pros said, it's the artist not the software. I try to switch to Houdini but each time I return to c4d, the time I will learn Houdini if invested in c4d I will be more advance

[NaderTaghinia]

I agree with almost all your points except number 10! I have worked with both software extensively and I can say for sure that learning Cinema 4D is definitely easier and more intuitive than Houdini. I know a lot of people who have worked with both software have the same opinion.

[TangleWireTube]

1, 2, 5, & 6 all boil down to the same point of additional control in a non-destructive workflow. Nearly half of your list is based on the same talking point. So if your end uses required control as a paramount feature you’re all set. I used to think that procedure was superior. In some instances, it can be. In other areas, committing is just better (it’s not that scary). Building a system to make something can be way too time-consuming compared to just making the thing. If the project calls for many variants of the same thing, then make a system. C4D has so much capability to be non-destructive as well. Generally, I think C4D has a better balance and is more streamlined to an end goal.

[petrholusa]

Ok, I am convinced. One thing is flustating me, I have spent a of money for c4d courses, materials, plugins and finally have some decent workflow. But houdini could be nice for particle simulations. Making trees or growing grass on large scale is a nightmare in c4d.