Industry News
Howler 2023 Is Now Free — And It Might Be a Hidden Gem for ArchViz Artists
Dan Ritchie, the long-time developer behind the experimental digital painting and animation tool Howler, has just made the 2023 version of the software available for free. While not traditionally associated with architectural visualization, Howler’s unusual feature set could surprise a few in the archviz crowd — especially those who enjoy a more stylized or painterly aesthetic, or who work with post-production-heavy workflows.
What Is Howler?
Originally launched as Project Dogwaffle over two decades ago, Howler has grown into an idiosyncratic but powerful application for natural media painting, animation, and even 3D terrain generation. The software includes tools for:
- Frame-by-frame animation and onion skinning
- Real-time video filters and frame repair
- Particle brushes and procedural textures
- Heightmap-based landscape creation
Its interface might feel dated, but its toolset is oddly deep — particularly if you're the type of artist who likes to build mood and storytelling into your post-work.
What Can ArchViz Artists Do With It?
While not a rendering engine, Howler can serve as a creative addition to an archviz pipeline in several ways:
- Post-production: Use Howler’s frame-by-frame animation and filters to add stylized motion graphics or painterly overlays to architectural animations.
- Stylized Still Renders: Create unique marketing images that break away from photorealism, using Howler’s brushes and filters to simulate watercolor, ink, or oil paint effects.
- Concept Art: Quickly rough out mood boards or conceptual visualizations thanks to its natural media tools and terrain generator.
- Landscape Backgrounds: Use its 3D heightmap tools to generate atmospheric, stylized terrains or background mountains for matte paintings.
Think of it less as a direct production tool and more like a creative lab for pre- or post-viz exploration.
Supporting Its Future
Although the 2023 version is now completely free to download, Ritchie is crowdfunding to cover web hosting and other costs, aiming to eventually release the latest version of Howler as freeware as well. Supporters can help via Patreon or by purchasing the current version for $12.99.
Where to Get It
You can grab the free version of Howler 2023 directly from the developer’s website:
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Howler probably won’t replace Photoshop or After Effects in a standard archviz workflow — but for artists looking to add an artistic touch, create stylized visuals, or experiment with animated concepts, it could be a surprisingly valuable tool in the toolbox. And with the 2023 version now free, there’s no reason not to take it for a spin.
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Dan Ritchie, the long-time developer behind the experimental digital painting and animation tool Howler, has just made the 2023 version of the software available for free.
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