Karma (Solaris)
- Sammy Lyu
- Aug 5
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 6
This section focuses on KARMA, also known as Solaris or LOPS
As of writing, my Houdini version is 20.5.614
ADDING FOG OR HAZE WITH FOGBOX
Use the KARMA FOG BOX to add a quick haze or fog that interacts with the scene's lighting, the amount of light able to pass through this fog can be customized to simulate thin or thick fog.
Editing and animating the XYZ co-ordinates of cameras within Karma
The CAMERA EDIT node allows you to edit the camera's XYZ location and animation directly within Karma without needing to go up the the /obj level or messing around with a "transform" node.
This also works with any other types of geometry in Karma
Editing and mixing multiple lights sources in Karma simultaneously
The LIGHT LINKER node allows every single light in the scene to be mixed together in a similar fashion to an audio track mixer. Values like the color temperature and intensity can also be modified.
Using GEOMETRY LIGHT to have objects emit light into scene
When working with FX such as Pyro, these sources often emit light in real life situations and so we would need to treat their emission values as light. This can be activated in the RENDER GEOMETRY SETTINGS nodes under the "LIGHT" tab.
Putting Karma lights into a SUBNETWORK
When working with multiple lights, you can put the lights into a subnetwork to keep the network clean and also allow tools like the LIGHT MIXER to adjust all the lights at once.
The same thing can be done using a line of connected lights and merging it into the network as one for easier access to each individual light.
Creating a CAMERA SWITCHER in LOPS
Create the cameras in LOPS
UNLINK them
Use STAGE MANAGER to create the same name for all cameras
Add a SWITCH and switch the cameras accordingly
MERGE the switch node into the network.