{"id":475060,"date":"2026-05-30T17:59:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-30T17:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/475060\/"},"modified":"2026-05-30T17:59:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T17:59:09","slug":"alexey-vanzhula-releases-modeler-26-3-for-houdini","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/475060\/","title":{"rendered":"Alexey Vanzhula releases Modeler 26.3 for Houdini"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/260630_Modeler263_f-610x305.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"610\" height=\"305\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-176258\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>Image created using Modeler for Houdini by <a href=\"https:\/\/philippvonpreuschen.de\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Philipp von Preuschen<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Originally posted on 17 February 2026. Scroll down for the <a href=\"#latestupdate\">Modeler 26.3 update<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Alexey Vanzhula has released <a href=\"https:\/\/alexeyvanzhula.gumroad.com\/l\/btsuc?layout=profile\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Modeler 26<\/a>, the latest version of his 3D modeling toolkit for Houdini, Side FX\u2019s 3D software for VFX, motion graphics and games.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a varied update, adding a lot of new functionality to the PolyPen tool, new Draw Cards and Bezier Deform tools, a new Layers panel, and support for open curves in Boolean operations.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also a slight change in version numbering: under the previous system, it would have been Modeler 2026.<\/p>\n<p>A classic 3D modeling toolkit for Houdini<br \/>First <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cgchannel.com\/2018\/01\/alexey-vanzula-releases-direct-modeling-for-houdini\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">released in 2018<\/a> under the name Direct Modeling HDA, Modeler is a \u2018classic modelling environment\u2019 for Houdini, intended to make workflow more like that in other DCC apps.<\/p>\n<p>It features a range of tools for polygonal and subdivision modelling, and for retopology. <\/p>\n<p>Although the original strength of the toolset was hard surface modeling, subsequent updates have added an increasing number of tools for organic modeling and character work.<\/p>\n<p>Modeler 26: lots of updates to the PolyPen<br \/>The <a href=\"https:\/\/same-trip-4ea.notion.site\/Changelog-2f7227e423838133a9b4c102a89d4236\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">release notes<\/a> for Modeler 26 are currently pretty brief, so the best guide to the new features is the preview video above.<\/p>\n<p>The biggest set of changes are to the <a href=\"https:\/\/same-trip-4ea.notion.site\/PolyPen-2f7227e42383811ca2b7c8cdb8b032e6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">PolyPen<\/a>, Modeler\u2019s general-purpose context-sensitive tool for mesh editing and retopology work, which you can see towards the end of the video.<\/p>\n<p>New functionality includes the option to extrude edges from existing geometry by pulling them out interactively, and to delete geometry corresponding to an entire UV island in one action.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, when cutting new edges into a mesh, it is now possible to work in screen space, rather than being constrained to the local axes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"full-width\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/260217_Modeler26_Houdini_DrawCards_f.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174097\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>Draw Cards lets you draw geometry cards or tubes<br \/>Other new features include Draw Cards, which makes it possible to draw geometry cards or tubes freehand in the viewport, in a way rather reminiscent of ZBrush.<\/p>\n<p>In the video, you can see the system in action to add horns to a creature head.<\/p>\n<p class=\"full-width\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/260217_Modeler26_Houdini_BezierDeform.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174096\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>New Bezier Deform tool, and updates to Mirror Deform<br \/>There is also a new Bezier Deform tool, which makes it possible to deform the surface of a mesh by adjusting a Bezier curve to control its profile, as shown above.<\/p>\n<p>The existing Mirror Deform tool now respects global symmetry settings, and \u2013 according to the release notes: it isn\u2019t shown in the video \u2013 now supports masks.<\/p>\n<p>New Layers panel helps keep scenes organized<br \/>The update also adds a new Layers panel, from which users can arrange geometry into separate layers and toggle their visibility, to help keep complex scenes organized.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, the toolset\u2019s Boolean operations now work with open curves.<\/p>\n<p>Updated 30 May 2026: Alexey Vanzhula has released Modeler 26.3.<\/p>\n<p>Highlights of the update include a new tool search engine, which replaces searches by typing in the context menu, and allows searching for tools in OBJ, SOP and LOP nodes.<\/p>\n<p>The context menu has also been updated, including visual changes to make it easier to use, and proper scaling on macOS.<\/p>\n<p>Both Modeler 26.3 and Modeler 26.1, the previous update \u2013 there wasn\u2019t a 26.2 \u2013 make a number of changes to the PolyPen tool: you can find details in the <a href=\"https:\/\/same-trip-4ea.notion.site\/Changelog-2f7227e423838133a9b4c102a89d4236\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">changelog<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Price and system requirements<br \/>Modeler 26 for Houdini is compatible with Houdini 21.0+. Individual floating licences cost $100; unlimited-seat Studio licences cost $500.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/same-trip-4ea.notion.site\/Changelog-2f7227e423838133a9b4c102a89d4236\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Read a list of new features in Modeler for Houdini in the online changelog<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/alexeyvanzhula.gumroad.com\/l\/btsuc?layout=profile\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Read more about Modeler for Houdini on Alexey Vanzhula\u2019s Gumroad store<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/cgchannel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thecgchannel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Instagram<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/theCGchannel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">X (formerly Twitter)<\/a>. As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we don\u2019t post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Image created using Modeler for Houdini by Philipp von Preuschen. Originally posted on 17 February 2026. Scroll down&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":475061,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[204904,204905,204906,204907,204908,204909,204910,204911,132960,204912,204913,160317,61,60,204914,204915,204916,204917,204918,32527,204919,139384,160320,204920,204921,204922,2494,204923,204924,77844,80,61143,12434,93414],"class_list":["post-475060","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-technology","tag-3d-layer","tag-3d-modeling","tag-alexey-vanzhula","tag-bezier-deform","tag-boolean-modeling","tag-boolean-operation","tag-digital-sculpting","tag-draw-cards","tag-game-development","tag-hard-surface","tag-hard-surface-modeling","tag-houdini","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-layers-panel","tag-mirror-deform","tag-modeler","tag-modeler-2026","tag-modeler-26","tag-modeling","tag-modeling-environment","tag-motion-graphics","tag-new-features","tag-open-curve","tag-polygonal-modeling","tag-polypen","tag-price","tag-retopology","tag-symmetrical-modeling","tag-system-requirements","tag-technology","tag-user-interface","tag-vfx","tag-visual-effects"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475060","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=475060"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475060\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/475061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=475060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=475060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=475060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}