I imported a tiff file with an alpha channel (just an image with my name) into a geometry node, and extruded it, so its 3D. But only the extruded section creates a polygon mesh that I can apply particles to. How do I convert my image with the alpha (my name) into a polygon mesh?

a better question would be, whats a good way to create 3d text in Houdini?

http://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini11.0/io/ai [sidefx.com]

This is what i usually and do and then PolyExtrude it.

EDIT: Opensource software InkScape can export EPS if you don't have illustrator or is running linux.

This isn't working for me…
In Illustrator, I'm Creating Outline from the text and saving as an .ai file, uncompressed.
And then when I import into Houdini, nothing displays in the viewer…

scscop
This isn't working for me…
In Illustrator, I'm Creating Outline from the text and saving as an .ai file, uncompressed.
And then when I import into Houdini, nothing displays in the viewer…

Are you sure you converted it to paths?

be sure to save it as old .ai format like ai v3
you can also use Trace SOP if you have bitmap with alpha or grayscale image you want to turn into curves (trace)

just tried saving as an older format and still nothing.
And the Trace is what I'm trying to get around. Im filling this text with particles to explode outwards but when I use a tiff with an alpha, trace, and extrude for 3D text, the particles are only being placed on the extruded sides only and not on the traced front and back

It was coming in all along… JUST HAD TO ZOOM OUT A LOT!
Is there anyway to tell Houdini to import my image at the axis or something?
Thanks for the help

you can try append divide sop after your extrude , then measure (area) then in Source POP set Emission Type to Surfaces Attribute

then if you still have problem with particles not generating from front/back faces, post sample file (don't forget to lock input geometry/curves) and we will look at it

On another note, would the Text SOP also work in this situation? I generally use the AI files if I am doing something pretty graphical (like a logo with text)