THUG - Toronto Houdini User Group

THUG meeting Tonight!

2010-06-16T08:23:00.000-07:00

Our next THUG meeting will be TONIGHT Wednesday, June 16th (just before the G20 madness...). Since the weather forecast tells us it might rain, we will be meeting at C'est What - 67 Front St (at Church St), from 6.00pm on. We will be in the Pub Bar area....It is to the right, after you enter the pub (not our usual left...)
If in doubt, you can ask the hostess at the door, she will know about THUG(s)
See you there!

Cheers,

THUG Meeting Wednesday, February 17, 2010

2010-02-16T10:29:00.000-08:00

Dear Houdini User Group members,

We will hold a THUG meeting this coming (tomorrow) Wednesday, February 17th.

Please come join us at C'est What? pub on Front Street at the South East corner of Front and Church downstairs.

Link below is to the pub, in case you need more info:
http://www.cestwhat.com/contact.asp

We are not able to hold reservations, so please come in and look around for us.

See you soon,
FD

Meeting this Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

2010-01-18T05:41:00.000-08:00

Dear Toronto Houdini Users,

We holding a Toronto Houdini User Group gathering this Wednesday, January 20th, 2010.

Please come join us at C'est What -anytime after 6pm?.

The following link will take you to the address, direction and general info about the pub.

http://www.cestwhat.com/map.asp

The pub is at the south east corner of Front and Church, downstairs

67 Front Street East
Toronto ON Canada
M5E 1B5

***We do not have reservations, so you should start by checking the left side of the pub first.

We hope to see you there!

THUG MEETING -Nov 18, 2009

2009-11-16T06:23:00.000-08:00

Dear Toronto Houdini User Group members,

We have an up-coming gathering booked for this Wednesday, November 18, 2009 starting at 6pm.

Please come join us at C'est What?. The following link will take you to the address, direction and general info about the place.

http://www.cestwhat.com/map.asp

We hope to see you there.

http://www.sidefx.com/

THUG Meeting October 21, 2009

2009-10-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Toronto Houdini User Group members,

We have an up-coming gathering booked for Wednesday, October 21, 2009 starting at 6pm.

Since the warm weather has left us too soon, we are now meeting up where the beer, food and good company will keep us warm!

Please come join us this Wednesday at C'est What?. The following link will take you to the address, direction and general info about the place.

Please note that they DO NOT take reservations -so please take a good look around to find us.

http://www.cestwhat.com/map.asp

See you soon.

FD

--
http://toronto-houdini.blogspot.com/
http://www.sidefx.com/

This months' meeting

2009-07-20T08:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Toronto Houdini User Group members,

This weeks' meeting will take place at the Flatiron & Firkin again: 49 Wellington Street (Wellington & Church)

Unfortunately, we cannot make reservations for the patio but we shall attempt to meet on the patio. Worst case, we sit inside if the patio is full at the time of our first arrival or if it ends up raining.

Come join us this Wednesday, July 22 between 6pm - 11pm.

Below is a link to the Flatiron & Firkin if you'd like more info on the place such as the menu, address, etc...
http://streets.to/assets/recent/flatironfirkin.php

Thanks,
FD

THUG gathering TONIGHT!

2009-05-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Toronto Houdini User Group members,

We have a THUG meeting TONIGHT; Wednesday, May 20th, starting 6pm at The Overdraught on Front Street.

As mentioned in my previous email, I will be seeking a new venue with a patio (for the June meeting) that will hopefully be ideal for the rest of the summer months! I'll keep you posted.

See you soon,

FD

2009-04-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

April 15th's THUG meeting had a great turn out. Faces we haven't seen in a long while -it was an excellent gathering! I hope to book the next meet at an outdoor patio....stay tuned.

Below are some pics of the night that Rachael was kind enough to share with us.

2009-04-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

Hello members of the Toronto Houdini User Group,

Today is our monthly meeting.

We will be gathering at the Overdraught on Front St. at 6pm.

We hope to see you all there!

FD

December 17, 2008 THUG gathering

2008-12-18T07:42:00.000-08:00

Last night was an excellent turnout -we're very happy to have seen so many of the Side Effects peeps there! I've posted some images of the eve -see below. I'd like wish everyone a HAPPY HOLIDAY and a fantastic NEW YEAR! Thanks, FD

2008-12-01T09:25:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

As the holidays are approaching this month and the next THUG meeting would technically end up on the 24th of December, I've decided to move the meeting a week earlier. Which means you can mark Wednesday, December 17th @ 5:30pm in your calendar for the next THUG meeting -it will be held at The Overdraught on Front Street.

Being that the reservation is so close to the holidays, I will need to re-confirm with the Overdraught a more accurate number of people for the reservation by the end of the following week (Friday, December 12th). Be sure to let us know by the 12th of December if you are a yes -you will attend, or even a maybe will do.

Please expect another 4 email reminders between now and the 17th of December.

Come and join us for a fun and relaxing night of pre-festive drinks.

Thank you,
France

--
http://toronto-houdini.blogspot.com/
http://www.sidefx.com/

THUG's November Gathering

2008-11-17T08:14:00.000-08:00

Dear THUG members,

This is a reminder that this Wednesday, November 19th is our monthly Toronto Houdini User Group gathering.

Come join us for a drink (or two) and great conversations at The OverDraught --156 Front Street West [below Joe Badali's] P: 416.408.3925

We hope to see you there -anytime after 6:30pm!

Best,
FD
--
http://toronto-houdini.blogspot.com/
http://www.sidefx.com/

Re-Scheduled THUG meeting to Monday, October 27, 2008

2008-10-21T12:18:00.000-07:00

Hello THUG members,

We've had to re-schedule this weeks THUG meeting to next Monday.

The reservation has been made at our old stomping grounds on Front
Street -THE OVERDRAUGHT for 7pm on Monday, October 27, 2008

The OverDraught Irish Pug
156 Front Street West (below Joe Badali's)
416-408-3925

I believe this might work in favor of some people who have not been
able to make it out on the Wednesday meetings. For that we look
forward to seeing more faces on Monday, October 27!

Also, I'd like to pick peoples brains (casually during a cold beer)
about preparing houdini presentations for our coming THUG meetings
during the winter months.

Thanks for your time and see you soon!

France
--
http://toronto-houdini.blogspot.com/
http://www.sidefx.com/

2008-10-06T14:12:00.000-07:00

Dear THUG members;

Have you been waiting for a cool T.H.U.G. t-shirt? Wait no more --I've uploaded sample images (below) of the possible new T.H.U.G. t-shirts to take a poll on the preference of colour and the amount of t's to print. Also the image on the T's is blown up (below) so you can take a closer look.

Please email with any interest, comments, and/or colour preference. Thanks!

2008-09-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

Dear THUG members,

Just a reminder that our monthly Houdini Group meeting is tomorrow
(Wednesday, Sept 17).

The reservation has been made for 6:30 - 7pm at The Duke of
Westminster (same location as last months meeting).

Location details are below and can also be found at this website link:
http://www.dukewest.ca/about/about.html

The Duke of Westminster...
77 Adelaide St. W. (First Canadian Place / 1rst floor concourse level)
Toronto, ON M5X 1A6
Phone: (416) 368-2761

**We will be down the stairs to the right but not into the white room**

Hope to see you all there,
FD

--
http://www.sidefx.com/

THUG Meeting Reminder

2008-08-19T10:57:00.000-07:00

Dear THUG members,

This week's meeting will be held at yet a new location. The
reservation has been made for Wednesday August 20, 2008 (tomorrow)
from 6:30pm at The Duke of Westminster. Location details are below
and can also be found at this website link:
http://www.dukewest.ca/about/about.html

The Duke of Westminster...
77 Adelaide St. W. (First Canadian Place / 1rst floor concourse level)
Toronto, ON M5X 1A6
Phone: (416) 368-2761

We also have the option of a patio there -but unfortunately during the
summer no place will actually book reservations for patios. If you
cannot find us on the patio please come look inside -we'll be there.

See you soon,
FD

2008-07-31T06:36:00.000-07:00

Hello THUG Members and on lookers!

Our last meeting at the new location (Duke of Devon -TD tower) drew more than a dozen THUG members -Fantastic! In light of this we will have our next meeting at the same new location with the patio for the August 20th gathering.

I would still like to arrange a little challenge with the other Houdini User Groups -so please before our next meeting in August share with me any thoughts or ideas so I can try to arrange prior to the meeting.

Don't forget that if you want to bring anything to the meetings to show and tell or to discuss with your fellow members -let me know and we will arrange for a computer to be there for you.

Once the cold weather starts again (sorry I hate to mention it but it is inevitable) we can find a place (which I already have) that has a big room and a projection screen that we'll be able to screen on.

That's it for now.
Thanks,
FD

New Location for this week's THUG meeting.

2008-07-21T13:46:00.000-07:00

Dear THUG members,

Good news! We have found a NEW LOCATION with a PATIO for this Wednesday July 23rd's Toronto Houdini User Group meeting. The reservation has been made under the name "THUG" at the DUKE OF DEVON for 6:45pm.
The Duke Of Devon is located at: Toronto Dominion Centre, TD Tower, 66 Wellington Street West.
website for further info is: www.jollygoodfun.ca
We look forward to seeing you there!
PS: The patio is at first come first serve so if we are not sitting outside in the patio area when you arrive please don't forget to check inside for your fellow THUG members.
Cheers!
FD

2008-06-16T16:38:00.001-07:00

Dear THUG Members,

This is a reminder that our Toronto Houdini User Group meeting is this
coming Wednesday June 18th beginning at 6:30pm. We have not found
another location (with a patio) for this summers' meetings yet, but
hopefully before our next months meeting (July 23) we should be
successful!

The location for this Wednesday remains at The Overdraught Irish Pub
at 156 Front Street West.

I look forward to seeing you there!

My apologize for the late reminder.

FD

LAST NIGHT'S GATHERING

2008-05-22T12:08:00.000-07:00

For those of you who were not able to make it to the meeting last night –here is a brief:

There were 10 of us who showed up and all and all the evening went well.

We are very sad to see Andras (Kodiak) leave Toronto so soon, but are very happy for him with his new adventure in Sydney AU. We wish our new friend all the best!

I announced some plans on moving the THUG meetings to another locations with a patio --so we can enjoy the nice weather while we can this summer.

Great suggestions have been made to increase our presence and make the THUG gatherings more interesting:

1) We should do a “show and tell” –any of you who would like to bring in some file(s) to show, tell, and discuss with the members, please email me and I will arrange for the file(s) to be brought in on a laptop at the next meeting.

2) I will need your help to think of some challenges to present to our other international Houdini User Groups –I will then coordinate to ensure that we WIN…..I mean uh, that the other Houdini User Groups participate….THIS COULD BE BOTH CHALLENGING AND FUN TO DO AS A GROUP!

If you are not on my mailing list for updates via email regarding the THUG meetings, times, location, and reminders and would like to be, please feel free to email me directly at fdaigle5@gmail.com.

Hopefully you can put down your video game for 1 night and make it to the next meeting (Jim)! :)

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks a bunch,

2008-05-15T14:00:00.000-07:00

THUG meeting Wednesday MAY 21, 2008

Dear THUG members,

Come on by to see your friends and/or meet some new ones at the Toronto Houdini User Group meeting this coming Wednesday May 21, 2008.

It will be held at The OverDraught Irish Pub (www.theoverdraught.ca) at 156 Front St West. We have a reservation starting at 6:30pm in the front area of the pub.

Hope to see you there!

Raspberry Solution

2007-05-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

Below is an image for my raspberry solution. It is not quite a raspberry, but the solution is there. Not perfect, but somewhat does what I was looking for.

Here’s a little walk though of what the VOP does:

fires a ray in the direction of the normal up to the distance specified by the user.
when a hit found in the range, get half of the distance to the hit point and insert value into Cd.
outside of VOP, smooth Cd values.
move points based on distance stored in Cd.

The idea behind this is to measure the distance to the closet object and move the points half way, assuming that the other object will move the other half, so they meet in the middle. Points that are closer to other objects, will move less then points that have bigger room to move. This of course, is not entirely accurate as I'm also smoothing the values and you can see some interpenetrations.

Amir

I couldn't resist a few minutes in Photoshop. Would almost be believable if we added a little SSS and hairs etc. Hope you don't mind Amir :)

Keith

The Raspberry Challenge

2007-03-16T08:32:00.000-07:00

Dear THUG members,

Our next meeting is approaching and will be held at the same place (OverDraught Irish Pub) on Wednesday, March 21st, starting 7:00pm.

As mentioned before, it would be good to have an interesting technical Houdini challenge to chat about and give people enough time to experiment on their own, if they wish.

I'd like to setup the first one and people are more than welcome to think about other challenging ideas for the meetings to follow.

I'm sure there are multiple ways of (procedurally) achieving this, therefore this is a great way to challenge people to think and share their ideas.

If you have ever seen a raspberry:
(http://www.flameia.com/dtop/photos/raspberry-1600.jpg)

their individual parts (or whatever you call those things), are squashed against each other, forming the general shape.

If you were to populate a piece of geometry with another (it could be a bunch of spheres on a larger sphere or anything else), how would these squash and scale as if they're pressing on one another (as opposed to inter-penetrating)?

I've already come up with a prototype for one concept. I'd like to hear more ideas as mine is probably not the most efficient one.

Give it some thought and let's bring up ideas next week.

See you then,

Amir

THUG meeting this Wednesday February 21st

2007-02-19T10:51:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

This is to remind you all that this Wednesday, (February 21st), is the second Toronto Houdini User Group (THUG) meeting.

6:00pm at The OverDraught Irish Pub (www.theoverdraught.ca), 156 Front St West. Across the street from the SESI office. I've reserved us an area near the front door of the pub, (same as last time).

All the best, Jenny.

Hello THUG members!

2007-01-31T12:09:00.000-08:00

Our Wednesday meeting was a great success. Here is a recap of our accomplishments:

Drank beer.
Talked.
Drank more beer.
Voted Jim Price President, (while he was out at the toilet).
Voted Amir Shachar Vice President, (but he complained that he really wanted to be the President).
Jim returned from the toilet, and mumbled that he didn't really want to be President, so we made Amir President. Jim took on the role of Secretary.
Drank a few more beers.
Voted Mario Marengo and Jim Price as the Agenda Committee.
Jeff Higgins and Justin Ottley volunteered to present something at a SESI Technical Evenings, (and perhaps the next THUG meeting).
Keith Acheson volunteered to create a blog/web site for our THUG discussions.
Drank just a little bit more.
We agreed to schedule our meeting once a month, on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
Jenny Blacklock agreed to book the Pub, and send out a reminder notice of the meetings.
Went home.

Our next meeting will be February 21st. Our agenda committee will let us know what agenda to prepare for, (drinking?). I hope that our next meeting will draw in even more members, (to whom we can assign various jobs).

All the best,
Jenny