Sergi Carrion
HDA Creation Framework documentation and tools interface

HDA Creation Framework for Genesis Pipeline

01

Problem

Artists and Technical Artists creating Houdini Digital Assets (HDAs) for the Genesis pipeline faced numerous challenges:

  • No Standardization: Each artist had their own approach to building HDAs, resulting in wildly different structures
  • Compatibility Issues: Frequent parameter type mismatches between Houdini and Unreal Engine 5
  • Maintenance Nightmare: Inconsistent network organization made debugging and updating HDAs extremely time-consuming
  • Knowledge Silos: Critical information about HDA creation was scattered across team members with no central documentation
  • Onboarding Difficulties: New team members took weeks to understand the pipeline requirements
  • Manual Repetitive Tasks: Artists wasted time on boilerplate setup for every new HDA

The lack of a unified approach meant that what should have been reusable, modular assets became technical debt.

02

Solution

Created a comprehensive HDA Creation Framework that standardized the entire process from conception to deployment:

Framework Components:

  • Automated Project Setup: Python tool that creates the base HDA structure with proper naming, parameters, and folder organization
  • Parameter Standards: Strict naming conventions and type mappings ensuring 100% compatibility with UE5
  • Network Templates: Pre-built node networks for common operations (scatter, deformation, UV manipulation)
  • Validation System: Automated checks for parameter types, naming, performance, and UE5 compatibility

Documentation System:

  • Step-by-Step Guide: Comprehensive PDF documentation covering every aspect of HDA creation
  • Visual Examples: Screenshots and flowcharts for complex concepts
  • Troubleshooting Section: Common issues and their solutions
  • Best Practices: Performance optimization tips and artistic guidelines

Automation Tools:

  • Shelf Tools: One-click solutions for common tasks like parameter promotion and type conversion
  • Python Scripts: Batch processing tools for updating multiple HDAs simultaneously
  • Version Control Integration: Automated backup and versioning for HDA files
  • Deployment Pipeline: Streamlined process for pushing HDAs to the game engine
03

Outcome

The HDA Creation Framework transformed the pipeline:

  • 50% faster HDA creation (from 2-3 days to 1 day for complex assets)
  • Zero compatibility issues after implementing the validation system
  • Standardized structure across 200+ HDAs in production
  • Onboarding time reduced by 75% (new artists productive within days instead of weeks)
  • Documentation adopted company-wide as the official standard

The framework became so successful that it was expanded to other projects within the studio.

Key Features

Smart Parameter System:

# Automatic parameter type conversion
def convert_hou_to_ue5_param(param_type):
    mapping = {
        "float": "Float",
        "vector": "Vector3",
        "color": "LinearColor"
    }
    return mapping.get(param_type, "String")

Validation Checklist:

  • ✓ Parameter naming follows convention
  • ✓ All promoted parameters have proper types
  • ✓ Network is optimized for performance
  • ✓ Documentation strings are complete
  • ✓ Preview geometry is lightweight
  • ✓ Error handling for edge cases

Integration Benefits:

  • Seamless Houdini to UE5 workflow
  • Live parameter updates in engine
  • Automatic LOD generation support
  • Material assignment preservation
  • Collision geometry handling

This framework exemplifies how proper documentation and tooling can transform a chaotic process into a streamlined, efficient pipeline that empowers artists while maintaining technical excellence.

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