Answers
How do I use AI-generated 3D models and Gaussian splats in Houdini?
Houdini is one of the few tools that handles splats natively. Download a Gaussian splat from OTOY Studio as PLY and load it with a File SOP in Houdini 21 or later. Houdini 22 added more splat tools and Karma XPU rendering. 3D models download as GLB and import with the glTF SOP. FBX is available from Meshy, Rodin and TripoSR remesh. Video and images come in as MP4 and PNG for reference, textures or COPs. Checked against OTOY Studio and SideFX's documentation, October 2026.
Formats, by asset
| From OTOY Studio | Download as | Into Houdini |
|---|---|---|
| Gaussian splat | PLY, including an OctaneGS-optimised PLY | Native since Houdini 21: File SOP, Bake GSplats SOP, Karma XPU rendering in 22. Third-party alternative: GSOPs (free, AGPL-3.0) |
| World Labs Marble world | SPZ splat and collider GLB | Convert the SPZ to PLY in OTOY Studio's splat editor. GSOPs has early SPZ support |
| 3D model | GLB from every model, FBX from Meshy, Rodin and TripoSR remesh | glTF SOP (embedded GLB textures may need relinking), or FBX import |
| Mesh from photos (2D Gaussian Splat) | PLY, GLB or OBJ mesh, plus per-view depth maps | Native import |
| Video and images | MP4, PNG | Reference, textures, COPs |
Steps: a captured location into Houdini
- In OTOY Studio, train a splat from 10 to 500 photos or a video with the Gaussian Splat node. Run 2D Gaussian Splat on the same capture for a clean mesh.
- Download the splat PLY and the mesh.
- In Houdini 21+, load the splat with a File SOP and the mesh alongside it for collisions, shadows or simulation.
What doesn't come across
- No camera data export.
- No USD or Alembic export from the app, except USDZ when Meshy returns it.
Related
Last verified 2026-10-20. Prices and model lists come from OTOY Studio's billing configuration, exported 2026-10-20.