Considered how many motion graphics solutions can be achieved with Houdini, I'm kind of surprised to not seeing a solid exporter yet.
I think I've found a python script on odforce once, but it is not working on Houdini 15.

I hope SideFx will come up with a good bridge soon, it seems to me that there are motion graphics designers (many of them coming from C4D) which would definitely take advantage of the connection.

Yeah, it kind of goes both ways too. Why doesn't Adobe have an After Effects FBX exporter for their camera?

You can round trip it through Cinema4D right?

Export FBX from Houdini, import FBX into C4D, export AEC from Cinema.

In fact, After Effects comes with Cinema Lite for free.

Enivob
Yeah, it kind of goes both ways too. Why doesn't Adobe have an After Effects FBX exporter for their camera?

Most likely because people need 3d data to comp renders in AE, but it is hardly the other way around.

You can round trip it through Cinema4D right?

Export FBX from Houdini, import FBX into C4D, export AEC from Cinema.

Yes, I can also export to 3ds Max and then state sets to AE.
I guess my point is, if I would try to push Houdini as a 3d app for a pipeline and then I have to keep C4D or 3ds Max as an “AE plugin exporter” that wouldn't sound like an ideal solution.

sl0throp
In fact, After Effects comes with Cinema Lite for free.

Only last CC does, we are still on CS6 here - and we'll stick to it as long as possible!

can you point to the script you found on od?

arctor
can you point to the script you found on od?

Thanks for jumping in Michael

here's the script:
http://forums.odforce.net/topic/11273-houdini-camera-to-aftereffects/ [forums.odforce.net]

The original is still pointing at the SideFx script:
http://www.sidefx.com/exchange/info.php?fileid=498&versionid=498 [sidefx.com]

then someone posted an update, neither one of them works though.

I also tried the FBX for AE and no luck, my AE crashes.

I'll try to have a look….

in the mean time - I believe AE supports FBX…

Hmmm still works, here fixed version for H15
(it uses new type name for lights…objType == ‘hlight::2.0’)
Extract content of an archive into $HOME folder
“Houdini to AE” script should apear in File menue
Run the script….SELECT objects,cameras,lights then press enter
…..run jsx script in AE

yay!
I don't have to do anything

thanks Andrew…

AndrewVK
Hmmm still works, here fixed version for H15
(it uses new type name for lights…objType == ‘hlight::2.0’)
Extract content of an archive into $HOME folder
“Houdini to AE” script should apear in File menue
Run the script….SELECT objects,cameras,lights then press enter
…..run jsx script in AE

That's great!
Thank you so much Andrew.

Is there a way to tweak the scale? Right now if I add a text or a layer in AE I have to scale it down to 0.1 or something like that.
In some cases this work just fine, other times can be a real issue to deal with.

Thanks again for helping on this.

On a side note, if it wouldn't be too much trouble I think it should be bundled by default with Houdini

When scene is exported in AE…..
Especialy for this there is an special Null object called Scene Scale
Scale it up to 10000-100000 to fit layers into composition.

ps
Unparrent everyhing from it when you pick up the scale,
to prevent future problems (mostly with lights and FX like Optical Flares )

Yes!
I hadn't noticed that before.

It's working like a charm, thanks again Andrew!

AndrewVK
On a side note, if it wouldn't be too much trouble I think it should be bundled by default with Houdini

+1

Hi,

Script doesnt seem to work on Houdini 16?

Opened python shell and ran from there. Asks to select object but then errors out. Any ideas how to fix it?

Kind Regards,

Duncan