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Experiment: Blending Houdini and Blender

Testing a hybrid pipeline using Houdini for generation and Blender for final artistic touches.

CG
Carlos Garcia on September 28, 2025
Experiment: Blending Houdini and Blender

The Idea

What if we use each tool for what it does best?

Houdini: Procedural generation, simulation, technical heavy lifting
Blender: Artistic refinement, shading, final renders

The Test

Building a procedural city generator:

  • Houdini handles building placement, road networks, utility distribution
  • Export to Blender for material work, lighting, final composition

Initial Results

Pros:

  • Faster iteration in Houdini
  • Better artistic control in Blender
  • Leverages strengths of both tools

Cons:

  • Transfer overhead
  • Need to maintain two files
  • Version sync challenges

Current Status

Still experimenting. The workflow shows promise but needs refinement. Considering building custom exporters to smooth the transition.

Next Steps

  • Test with larger scenes
  • Automate the export/import process
  • Document best practices

This is a work in progress. Updates coming soon.