Houdini 20.5 Nodes Geometry nodes

Labs ZibraVDB Decompress (Alpha) 0.2 geometry node

Decompresses a single ZibraVDB file to an OpenVDB sequence.

On this page
Since 20.5

This node decompresses a single .zibravdb file from disk to an OpenVDB sequence.

About ZibraVDB

ZibraVDB is a VDB compression and real-time playback technology developed by Zibra AI. It can achieve approximately 30~100 times cache size reduction with minimal quality loss, with even higher compression rates planned for future updates. The proprietary output file format, .zibravdb, captures an entire VDB sequence in a single file, which can be loaded back into an application (such as Houdini or Unreal Engine), decompressed on the GPU in real time, and played back in the viewport at speeds multiple times faster than native solutions.

What ZibraVDB brings is a memory-efficient, high-performance volumetric data pipeline that seamlessly integrates into artists' existing, familiar workflows. It significantly reduces storage costs, improves volumetric data I/O speed, and ultimately makes it easier and more feasible to share working projects and distribute final products with high-quality volumetric effects.

ZibraVDB for Houdini is an open-source plugin contributed by Zibra AI to SideFX Labs. This plugin allows ZibraVDB’s compression, decompression, and fast playback capabilities to integrate smoothly into Houdini’s native volumetric workflows.

The compressed output can also be used directly with ZibraVDB for UE, enabling artists to create beautiful, high-fidelity volumetric effects in Houdini, and render them efficiently as 3D ray-marched volumes in real-time environments for virtual productions or video games.

Getting Ready

Activating License

To start using ZibraVDB for Houdini you need to get license key and activate it.

  1. You can get license key using ZibraVDB for Houdini Alpha form.

  2. Open houdini.env file in Houdini’s Documents folder C:\Users\<Username>\Documents\houdiniXX.X\houdini.env.

  3. Create zibravdb_license_key.txt file and paste your license key in it. The file can be located anywhere.

  4. Add string ZIBRAVDB_LICENSE_KEY = "path\to\zibravdb_license_key.txt" to the end of the file. Now the plugin should be activated.

Downloading ZibraVDB Core Library

When first using any ZibraVDB node you need to download core library. This needs to be done only once.

  1. Press Download Library button on this or any other ZibraVDB node.

  2. Accept Terms of Service.

  3. A pop-up window will appear confirming successful download.

Parameters

Input File

Path to the .zibravdb file that will be decompresed.

Sequence frame

Compresses VDB sequence to .zibravdb file and saves it to disk in background.

Reload Cache

Force a reload of the .zibravdb file from disk and decompress needed frame again.

Download Library

Downloads the core library for ZibraVDB. You need to press this button when using ZibraVDB for the first time.

Geometry nodes