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Super3D Import & Export .Hip

by shouwang·VFX

Images © shouwang. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Stands out as a single-format bridge that handles .hip specifically, runs conversion in the cloud, and installs alongside other Super3D format add-ons without conflicts.

What is Super3D Import & Export .Hip?

Super3D Import & Export .Hip connects Blender to SideFX Houdini's native .hip scene format. A .hip file holds node networks such as procedural geometry, simulations, and shading graphs, but because those nodes have no equivalent outside Houdini, conversion delivers baked geometry rather than live procedural setups.

The add-on adds dedicated File menu entries for import and export. On import, you pick a .hip file, the add-on uploads it to the Super3D conversion service, and the result is downloaded and merged into your active scene. On export, the scene is written to OBJ, then converted to .hip and saved to disk. Conversion runs in the cloud, so Blender stays lightweight and no Houdini install is needed.

On import, visible geometry is baked to mesh, with object naming carried from the OBJ context and camera and light transforms handled on a best-effort basis. Procedural node networks are flattened to their cooked result, simulations arrive as a single-frame snapshot, and VEX or Python operators are not converted. Export is a one-way handoff that produces static geometry.

Who is Super3D Import & Export .Hip best for?

Super3D Import & Export .Hip is best for vFX and procedural pipelines: studios receiving Houdini caches, generalists pulling Houdini-built environments or props into a Blender shot, and educators reviewing student-shared .hip files without a Houdini seat.

How much does Super3D Import & Export .Hip cost?

Super3D Import & Export .Hip is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Dedicated Blender File menu entries for importing and exporting the .hip format
  • Cloud conversion through the Super3D service, keeping Blender lightweight
  • Import bakes visible (display flag) geometry to mesh, with object naming from the OBJ context
  • Camera and light transforms carried through on a best-effort basis
  • Export writes the scene to OBJ, then converts it to .hip and saves it to disk
  • Packaged as a focused add-on under GPL licensing, tested on Blender 4.2 to 5.1

Tags

#Houdini#HIP#Blender#VFX#Procedural#Import Export#Cloud Conversion#SideFX

Frequently asked questions

Do I need SideFX Houdini installed to use Super3D Import & Export .Hip?

Super3D Import & Export .Hip does not require SideFX Houdini to be installed. Conversion runs in the cloud through the Super3D service, so you only need Blender and an internet connection. When you import a .hip file, the add-on uploads it to the service, and the converted result is downloaded and merged into your active scene. This lets studios, generalists, and educators inspect or review .hip files without dedicating a Houdini seat to every artist.

Which Blender versions does Super3D Import & Export .Hip support?

Super3D Import & Export .Hip has been tested on Blender 4.2 through 5.1, and its legacy bl_info entry covers Blender 4.0 and later. It ships as a focused add-on under GPL licensing, adding dedicated File → Import and File → Export entries for the .hip format and running its conversion through the Super3D cloud service. For the current supported range, check the developer's page rather than relying on this note.

Can Super3D Import & Export .Hip import a Houdini simulation?

Super3D Import & Export .Hip imports a Houdini simulation only as a single-frame snapshot, not the full cache. Because procedural Houdini logic runs only inside Houdini, conversion produces the cooked geometry as it would appear at the saved frame, so time-varying simulations arrive as one static frame. For a complete cache, the recommended route is to ask the vendor for an Alembic or USD export instead, which preserves the animated data.

Does Super3D Import & Export .Hip work with .hiplc or .hipnc files?

Super3D Import & Export .Hip handles the commercial .hip format. The .hiplc and .hipnc formats, used by Houdini Indie and Apprentice, are sold as separate Super3D add-ons that use the same conversion pipeline. If you need those formats, look for the matching add-on rather than this one. Each Super3D format ships as its own extension, so you can install several of them side by side without conflicts.

Can I install Super3D Import & Export .Hip alongside other Super3D format add-ons?

Super3D Import & Export .Hip can be installed alongside other Super3D format add-ons. Each format ships as a separate extension with its own ID and operator names, so there are no conflicts between them. If you work with several formats, you can add the ones you need individually. For everything in a single package, the Super3D Extra Format Bridge bundle covers every supported format instead.

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