Export multiple shapes (such as those generated by a copy to points) to single shape Alembic

I am trying to export the result of a copy to points which generates about 20000 objects to a single collapsed Alembic.

The problem is the destination DCC which imports the alembic and generates 20000 in the scene which is incredibly slow -but nothing I have tried so far made it possible to collapse the objects into a single shape or export them as a single mesh.

Is there anything I can try?

Thank you!

make sure the pack and instance isn't checked in the copy to point node, and that there isn't any path/name attribute, this is how houdini 'separate' the mesh into multiple object when saving into the various file format.

SciMunk
make sure the pack and instance isn't checked in the copy to point node, and that there isn't any path/name attribute, this is how houdini 'separate' the mesh into multiple object when saving into the various file format.

Thanks. But how would someone go about instancing so many objects efficiently in Houdini? I am using pack and instance on the copy to points node because I don't see how I could work otherwise -to your point though I tried unpacking after the copy to points node, deleting all attributes etc and then trying to export to Alembic and it still didn't work -I will try caching a few frames without the option to pack and instance on the copy to points too, if you think that will work.

can I ask what is the DCC that you are trying to import this to?

Groups can also cause this geo splitting problem.

For more info on how to control the alembic splitting, you can check this page:

https://ddankhazi.com/2019/07/04/houdini-to-maya-export-an-alembic-file/comment-page-1/ [ddankhazi.com]

sepu
can I ask what is the DCC that you are trying to import this to?

Yes, it's 3ds max.

Here is what I am trying to export for reference:

olivierth
Groups can also cause this geo splitting problem.

For more info on how to control the alembic splitting, you can check this page:

https://ddankhazi.com/2019/07/04/houdini-to-maya-export-an-alembic-file/comment-page-1/ [ddankhazi.com]

Thanks, I'll have a look. Maybe it hints at how you can compose meshes.

Try exporting as FBX instead

A better way is to use instancing with alembic, and import alembic as reference.


This is the way to export instancing.

There's a problem that 3ds max may not support alembic reference natively.
Thus you have to use a renderer with alembic support e.g. Vray and Arnold.

Saw this post late but wish it helps.