Productivity AutomationVerified
Reviewed and published by trentmaziarz, April 22, 2026. Discovered and drafted by our automated research pipeline.
Houdini 21 offers an ML Volume Upres node that uses a pre-trained machine learning model to upscale low-resolution fire and smoke (pyro) simulations, adding fine detail without changing the overall shape of the simulation. Artists can use SideFX-supplied pre-trained models or train their own.
Details
The ML Volume Upres node takes a VDB or native Houdini volume as input and runs ONNX-format model inference to increase the simulation's detail. SideFX updated the built-in 'Sparse Billowy Smoke' shelf tool to use this node by default. The node processes volumes in tiles to manage GPU memory and supports GPU acceleration via CUDA, DirectML, or CoreML depending on the platform. This capability was shipped as part of the Houdini 21 release in August 2025.
Products affected
Houdini FXHoudini ApprenticeHoudini IndieHoudini Education
Sources & Evidence
Cite this record
Trace Foundation. (2026). SideFX (Houdini): Houdini 21 offers an ML Volume Upres node that uses a pre-trained machine learning model to upscale low-resolution fire and smoke (pyro) simulations, adding fine detail without changing the overall shape of the simulation. Artists can use SideFX-supplied pre-trained models or train their own (data as of 2026-04-22) [Data set record]. AI Trace. https://www.aitrace.org/r/practice/d70a9f88-da97-4213-9dad-c24ae6546c98. Accessed September 11, 2026.
- Stable link
- https://www.aitrace.org/r/practice/d70a9f88-da97-4213-9dad-c24ae6546c98
- Data as of
- April 22, 2026
- Last verified
- April 22, 2026
Other practices by SideFX (Houdini)
ProductivityHoudini 21 offers an ML Train Style Transfer node that trains a machine learning model to apply visual style from one class of images to another, enabling artists to automate the transformation of textures or rendered images to match a target aesthetic.Data AnalysisHoudini offers a platform for creating large volumes of labeled synthetic data — artificially generated images and 3D scenes — that other companies and researchers can use to train machine learning models. SideFX also partnered with Endava in April 2025 to publish a suite of computer vision tools in SideFX Labs that automate the creation of annotated training datasets.ProductivityHoudini offers a built-in machine learning platform that allows artists and technical directors to train, test, and deploy custom AI models entirely within the software's node network, without needing to write separate training scripts or install external machine learning frameworks. This capability has been progressively expanded across Houdini 20, 20.5, and 21.
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