What you'll learn

In this Houdini tutorial, we will learn how to use procedural volume copying to create a rocket swarm that is both efficient and flexible. It will allow us to make modifications to timing, positioning, and scale without having to recreate or resim the effect from scratch. To achieve this effect, we will setup several basic pyro simulations. We will then create a particle simulation with custom attributes to use as our copy points. Then, we'll use the Copy SOP and copy stamping to position our pyro simulations correctly. We will use VBD cloud modeling tools in conjunction with our particle simulation to make rocket trails. Finally, we will bring all these elements together, shade them, and render in Mantra. Software required: Houdini 13.0.447.