New Network Editor for Houdini

Since Houdini is based on nodes, the network editor, where you set up, view, and edit the various networks of nodes, is probably the most used and most critical part of Houdini’s user interface.

When we redesigned the network editor a few years ago, I started with a from-scratch rethink of what nodes could look like (along with their parts such as connectors and option “flags”), how to communicate various states and information (for example, when a node has an error), how the user can interact with nodes, and so on.

These images are a record of some of the mockups I produced back in those days (some days dozens at a time). I wish I had a more coherent record of the design process, but I still find these snapshots interesting.

The new network editor was a huge hit with users, and the new, unique look made Houdini instantly recognizable among digital content creation software.