Installation

Before you start

This is the fastest way to install Natsura. The bundled setup script finds your Houdini installation, creates a launch script, and (optionally) configures Houdini to load Natsura automatically.

You should be able to say "yes" to all of these:

• You're on Windows 10/11, Linux, or macOS
• You have Houdini 20.5 or 21.0 – Python 3.11 (production build) installed
• Houdini starts without license errors

For full version support, see Requirements.

Step 1 – Download and unzip Natsura

1. Go to https://natsura.com and log in.
2. Download the latest Natsura build for your platform.
3. Unzip it to a stable location you can keep, for example:

C:/Users/yourname/Documents/natsura/

The unzipped folder contains the setup script and everything Natsura needs:

natsura/
├── houdini20.5/
├── houdini20.5_UI/
├── setup.bat        # Windows
├── setup.sh         # Linux / macOS
└── README.txt

Step 2 – Run setup

Run the setup script from inside the unzipped folder.

• Windows: double-click setup.bat.
• Linux / macOS: from a terminal in the folder, run ./setup.sh.

Setup will:

1. Find your Houdini installation. If you have more than one, it lists them and asks you to pick. If none is found, you can paste the full path to the Houdini executable.
2. Create a launch script (launch.bat on Windows, launch.sh on Linux/macOS) that starts Houdini with Natsura loaded.
3. On Windows, create a Natsura <version> desktop shortcut with the Natsura icon, pointing at the launch script.

Step 3 – Answer the two prompts

Custom splash screen: if a Natsura splash is bundled, setup asks whether to use it. Press Enter to accept.

Install Houdini package?: choose how Natsura loads:

• No (default): Natsura loads only when you start Houdini via the launch script or shortcut. Your normal Houdini stays untouched.
• Yes: setup writes Natsura.json into your Houdini packages folder, so Natsura loads every time you start that Houdini version normally.

# Where the package file is written if you say yes:
Windows:  %USERPROFILE%\Documents\houdini20.5\packages\Natsura.json
Linux:    ~/houdini20.5/packages/Natsura.json
macOS:    ~/Library/Preferences/houdini/20.5/packages/Natsura.json

Step 4 – Launch Houdini with Natsura

Windows: double-click the Natsura <version> shortcut, or run launch.bat. To open a file directly:

launch.bat myproject.hip

Linux / macOS: run the launch script. To open a file directly:

./launch.sh myproject.hip

If you chose Yes to the package prompt in Step 3, you can also just start Houdini normally; Natsura loads automatically.

You're running if:

• The title bar shows Houdini 20.5.x / 21.0.x – Py3.11.
• A Natsura shelf / menu is present.
• The Simulate node cooks without Python or Qt errors.

Step 5 – Enter your license key

The first time Natsura runs it asks for your license key:

1. Go to https://natsura.com and open your dashboard.
2. Copy your license key.
3. Paste it into the prompt in Houdini.

Reconfiguring

To point Natsura at a different Houdini, change the splash, or add the package later, just run setup again (setup.bat / ./setup.sh). It overwrites the launch script with your new choices.

Troubleshooting