Houdini To AE exporter (Houdini2AE)

This tool allows you to export cameras, locators and lights from Houdini to After Effects.

This scripts is based on a tool by Mohammed Mansour. However I have completely redesigned this script to make it production ready. Now it:

• Can export cameras, nodes and lights (the previous version could export only cameras and locators).
• Fully implemented on HDA: you have a usual node with all the parameters. The original version can't keep the preferences and therefore is not good for big projects where you always have to export constantly updating cameras. In my version of the script you can copy and adjust the node and its parameters for as many cameras as you need.
• Python 3.9 compatible
• Tested in Houdini 19.0 and 19.5 (should work in 20.0 as well).

Usage:

Install the tool in the scene (Assets -> Install Asset Library). In the OBJ context press TAB and type "Houdini2ae". Use the fields provided to select camera, locators (optionally) and lights (optionally). Choose if you want to export keyframes, select a frame range, choose the path to the export .JSX file and press "Export". If succesfull, it will print "Export succesfull" in the Houdini console. If there are some errors it will let you know where exactly the error is.

After you have the .JSX file exported, open it in your AE composition: File->Scripts->Run script file. Be sure that you have the "Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Network" checkbox on in the AE preferences. Enjoy!

TIPS:

• all the obj nodes will be exported as Nulls in AE (with an optional additional 2D layer created and linked to 3D);
• you can export only one camera from one node and as many objs and lights as you wish;
• all types of lights are supported, but they will be point lights in AE. Color and intensity are supported.

You are welcome to write me if you have questions.