Getting Data In and Out of Houdini

Table Of Contents

There are many different types of data which can be imported and exported from Houdini.

• Geometry Data
• Image Data
• 3D Texture Images
• Channel Data
• Lookup Tables

See also:

• SOHO: Scripted Output of Houdini Objects
• SOHO: Simple Examples

Geometry Data

• The .geo and .bgeo format are documented at length in $HH/public/GPD/gpd.txt which ships with Houdini.
• Binding Command Line Geometry Converters
  Using the GEOio table to import/export geometry by invoking an external command line program.
• Writing GEO_IOTranslators
  By registering your own GEO_IOTranslator class you can write a converter that plugs directly into Houdini, avoiding any intermediate copies.
• https://sourceforge.net/projects/houdinigpdlibra/files/
  An open source library to read/write Houdini geometry (both ASCII and binary).
• Complete scenes can be imported and exported through the FBX file format: Importing and Exporting Data using FBX
• Geometry export can be performed using the SOHO interface: Scripted Output of Houdini Objects
• Geometry export can also be performed using HOM

Image Data

Houdini's image library

• Loading and Saving Raster Images
  The HDK provides facilities for reading and writing a large number of image formats.
• Adding a New Image Format Using FBio
  Using the FBio table to add a custom image format by translating through a well known format.
• Adding a New Image Format Using the HDK
  Houdini may be also be extended to support new raster formats using the HDK. A simple example of an image file extension can be found in IMG/IMG_Raw.C and IMG/IMG_Raw.h
• Deep Shadow/Camera Images
  The HDK provides an interface for reading and writing deep shadow and deep camera maps. A sample program (standalone/i3ddsmgenC) shows how to read a deep shadow map and generate an 3D texture (3D Texture Images)

3D Texture Images

Using IMG3D_Manager is is possible to read and write Houdini's 3D texture files.

• 3D Texture Images
  
  • Introduction To 3D Texture Maps
  • Reading a 3D Texture
  • Writing a 3D Texture

Channel Data

• CHOPio Using the CHOPio table, it's possible to create a program which translates data into the Houdini clip format.

  See also:

  Adding a New Image Format Using FBio
  Binding Command Line Geometry Converters
  CL_Clip::save()
  CL_Clip::load()

Lookup Tables

• Lookup Tables (LUTs)
  Using the LUTio table and an external script/program to convert a foreign 3D LUT format into a Houdini LUT, so the foreign LUT is recognized in Houdini.