The modeling tools in this build feel snappier.
In 20.5.278, Karma XPU (the GPU/CPU hybrid renderer) sees significant stability improvements. SideFX Houdini 20.5.278
The Vellum solver receives a minor but impactful tweak in 20.5.278. The substep handling for "wet" cloth (simulating absorption and mass change) is now deterministic. Previously, the same seed value could yield slightly different results on different hardware threads. This build introduces a thread-local storage fix, ensuring simulation reproducibility across render farms. The modeling tools in this build feel snappier
For studios relying on USD (Universal Scene Description) pipelines, this build finally makes Karma GPU a viable option for look-development dailies, reducing render farm strain. The substep handling for "wet" cloth (simulating absorption
No build is perfect. SideFX documentation for 20.5.278 lists three notable bugs:
Houdini 20.5.278 ships with USD 24.08, which fixes many Hydra delegate crashes.
While Houdini is not primarily an animation package, the KineFX toolkit continues to disrupt character proceduralism. Build 20.5.278 introduces a Retargeting Workflow LOP, allowing motion capture data to be directly retargeted onto USD skeletons without leaving Solaris. This is paired with a new "Inverse Kinematics with Sliding Joints" solver in the Rig Pose SOP, ideal for tentacles, tails, or robotic arms.