EbSynth vs Houdini

EbSynth is VFX software for retouching, rotoscoping, and stylizing video. You provide a guiding video and keyframes, then it carries visual changes through the sequence with a texture-synthesis algorithm. Listed uses include painting over footage, retouching or colorizing video, and adding painterly texture to animation. The optional Generate Image feature creates keyframes with SDXL 1.0. The Free plan costs nothing and includes core functions, 720p export, and MP4 output. Pro costs $20 a month and adds 1080p and 4K exports, PNG with alpha, and priority processing. Studio costs $200 a month per seat, with local processing, command-line access, a Windows desktop app, and footage kept on your machines. Web rendering temporarily uploads videos and keyframes, then deletes them after returning results.

Houdini is SideFX’s procedural 3D creation system for film, television, games, motion graphics, virtual reality and synthetic-data work. Its workflow stores actions in nodes connected as networks, and supports sharing workflows and custom digital assets with colleagues. Tools cover modeling, sculpting, animation, parametric modeling, character rigging, rendering and 3D-print export. Houdini FX adds simulation tools for fluids, destruction, pyro effects, grains and cloth. KineFX supports character rigging and animation, alongside tools for hair, fur, feathers, muscles and cloth. Karma renders images in the Solaris look-development workflow, while PDG distributes tasks, handles dependencies and creates datasets for machine-learning and AI applications. Houdini runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. The free Apprentice version is for non-commercial learning and personal projects; its renders are capped at 1920x1080 and carry a watermark. SideFX lists perpetual licenses, annual upgrades, rentals, subscriptions and education licenses. Listed paid pricing starts at $299/yr, though individual options have different terms and prices.