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Overview ¶
The Copernicus network supports the use of OpenFX plug-ins (shared libraries). With these plug-ins, OpenFX brings third party nodes into your network. Use OpenFX nodes when you want more functions than COP nodes provide. OpenFX also lets you use plug-ins that you already have in other applications in Houdini. Image generators are an example node type that OpenFX lets you access.
Warning
Houdini uses a version of OpenColorIO (OCIO) that’s more recent than the version in Boris FX’s latest Sapphire plug-ins. This incompatibility produces a warning message from Sapphire. To avoid this warning, you can point your OCIO environment variable to an OCIO color file that’s compatible with Sapphire.
OpenFX nodes are in texture space.
Tip
If you don’t want to load your system’s OpenFX plug-ins, set the HOUDINI_DISABLE_OPENFX_DEFAULT_PATH environment variable to 1. You also have to remove the OFX_PLUGIN_PATH environment variable if it’s set.
Setting up the OpenFX environment variable ¶
You must set up the OpenFX environment variable in your operating system if you want to use their plug-ins in your Copernicus network.
Windows
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Choose Start ▸ Edit environment variables for your account.
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Click New.
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Set Variable name to
OFX_PLUGIN_PATH. -
Set Variable value to
C:\Program Files\Common Files\OFX\Plugins. -
Click OK.
-
Log out and then log back into Houdini to use the OpenFX plug-ins.
Mac
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Open your Terminal application.
-
Go to your
.zprofile. -
Enter the following command:
export OFX_PLUGIN_PATH=/usr/OFX/Plugins. This adds the environment variable. -
Save your changes.
-
Log out and then log back into Houdini to use the OpenFX plug-ins.
Linux
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Open your Linux Terminal.
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Go to your
.profile. -
Enter the following command:
export OFX_PLUGIN_PATH=/usr/OFX/Plugins. This adds the environment variable. -
Save your changes.
-
Log out and then log back into Houdini to use the OpenFX plug-ins.
Using OpenFX in your scene ¶
After you set up a Copernicus network, press ⇥ Tab and enter OFX. The list of available OpenFX nodes appears.
Limitations ¶
The following are Copernicus' limitations for OpenFX support:
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Neat Video plug-ins
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Nodes that require access to time (for example, retimers, trackers, and deflickers)
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Handles provided by OpenFX (for example, in a roto tool)