I am trying to create a vector curve in Adobe Illustrator to extrude in Houdini. I read elsewhere that you need to convert to Alembic via Cinema 4D in order to be able to do this. SO I've exported from AI to C4D (Illustrator 8 file), then exported .abc from C4D and imported into Houdini using the Alembic node.

On the Alembic node, I have set ‘Load As’ to be ‘Unpack Alembic Delayed Load Primitives’.

Then I am trying to use the PolyExtrude node, which works fine except for the fact that it doesn't allow me to output the front or back - ticking them does nothing.

Attached are two images, one showing a curve created inside Houdini which has been extruded and has a front and back, and then the curve created in AI which does not have front or back.

What do I need to do to be able to output front and back on an extruded imported curve?

Try dropping down a polyfill at the end..?

1. you should be able to import ai from illustrator directly using File SOP, if ai8 doesn't work try ai3 or eps

2. your spline is probably not closed therefore you can't output front/back

so if you are importing alembic
- unpack it (Unpack SOP)
- append Ends SOP, change Close U to Close Straight
- Polyextrude