Houdini To AE exporter (Houdini2AE)

Export cameras, locators and lights from Houdini to After Effects. Works in Houdini 20.5 and earlier.

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

• Exports cameras, nodes and lights (the previous version could export only cameras and locators).
• Fully implemented on HDA: you have a usual node with parameters. The original version was not able to keep preferences as you close it.

Usage:

Install the tool in a 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 for each type, select a frame range, choose a scale (I recommend 100), choose a path to an export .JSX file and press "Export". If succesfull, it will print "Export succesfull" in a 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 need to have a "Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Network" checkbox on in 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 need; Just lock the parameter window and drag-and-drop all you need to the proper field;
• all types of lights in Houdini are supported, but in AE they will be point lights. Colors and intensities are maintained.

You are welcome to write me if you have questions.