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Universal Scene Description
3D computer graphics standard created by Pixar

Universal Scene Description (USD) is a framework for interchange of 3D computer graphics data. The framework focuses on collaboration, non-destructive editing, and enabling multiple views and opinions about graphics data. USD is used in many industries including visual effects, architecture, design, robotics, CAD, and rendering.

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History

It is developed by Pixar and was first published as open source software in 2016, under a modified Apache license.4 Pixar, Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, and NVIDIA, together with the Joint Development Foundation (JDF) of the Linux Foundation, announced the Alliance for OpenUSD (AOUSD) on August 1, 2023 to "promote the standardization, development, evolution, and growth of Pixar's Universal Scene Description technology."5

File formats

File formats used by the specification include:67

  • .usd, which can be either ASCII or binary-encoded
  • .usda, ASCII encoded
  • .usdc, binary encoded
  • .usdz, a package file which is a zero-compression, unencrypted zip archive, which may contain usd, usda, usdc, png, jpeg, m4a, mp3, and wav files.

Support

  • 3ds Max version 2022, with latest update as Public Beta, plus version 2023. Includes Import from USD and Export to USD.
  • Autodesk Fusion 360 supports USD export since April 2022.
  • Blender includes support for USD import and export as of Version 4.0.8910
  • Cinema 4D includes support for USD for import and export.11
  • Houdini includes an implementation of USD, for purposes of format interchange and scene editing.12
  • Autodesk Inventor – supports USD as of version 2023.
  • Maya – supports USD as of version 2022.
  • mesh2mesh (macOS) converts USD to and from other formats.13
  • Nvidia has announced support for USD in Omniverse, a graphics collaboration platform.14
  • Davinci Resolve includes support for importing USD.15
  • Fusion includes support for importing USD.16
  • Apple’s SceneKit supports .usdz17 files for 3D model interchange.1819
  • Apple’s Reality Composer Pro supports .usdz files for its Reality Kit and visionOS ecosystem.
  • Vectorworks 2023 Service Pack 3 onwards includes USD export and import
  • Rhinoceros 3D though support is currently limited to v8 WIP (work in progress) and is not yet supported on the current stable release20
  • Adobe Substance 3D21
  • Unreal Engine supports (.usd, .usda, .usdc, .usdz) though the importer is in beta right now.22
  • KeyShot – supports USD (.usd, .usda, .usdc, .usdz)
  • Autodesk VRED Professional 2025 (.usd, .usda, .usdc, .udsz)

See also

  • Alembic (interchangeable computer graphics file format)
  • glTF (Graphics Language Transmission Format)

References

  1. "Introduction to USD". graphics.pixar.com. Retrieved 2020-01-19. https://graphics.pixar.com/usd/docs/index.html ↩

  2. "Pixar Universal Scene Description (USD)". NVIDIA Developer. 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2022-06-26. https://developer.nvidia.com/usd ↩

  3. "Introduction to USD — Universal Scene Description 24.08 documentation". https://openusd.org/release/intro.html#what-can-usd-do ↩

  4. "Pixar open-sources its Universal Scene Description | CG Channel". Retrieved 2022-06-26. http://www.cgchannel.com/2016/07/pixar-to-open-source-its-universal-scene-description/ ↩

  5. "Pixar, Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, and NVIDIA Form Alliance for OpenUSD to Drive Open Standards for 3D Content". Retrieved 2023-08-03. https://www.linuxfoundation.org/press/announcing-alliance-for-open-usd-aousd ↩

  6. Sanders, James (2018-06-05). "Apple's USDZ AR file format: What you need to know". TechRepublic. Retrieved 2019-08-08. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/apples-usdz-ar-file-format-what-you-need-to-know/ ↩

  7. "USD Documentation : Usdz File Format Specification". Pixar Graphics Technologies. 2018. Retrieved 2020-06-02. https://graphics.pixar.com/usd/docs/Usdz-File-Format-Specification.html ↩

  8. "Universal Scene Description". Retrieved 2020-02-15. https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/usd.html ↩

  9. Blender 3.0: Pipeline, Assets & IO - USD Importer https://wiki.blender.org/wiki/Reference/Release_Notes/3.0/Pipeline_Assets_IO ↩

  10. USD Import and Export in Blender https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spBpNlvbCgw ↩

  11. "Supported File Formats". maxon.net (in German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese). Retrieved 2023-04-08. https://www.maxon.net/en/cinema-4d/features/supported-file-formats ↩

  12. "Solaris | SideFX". www.sidefx.com. Retrieved 2020-01-19. https://www.sidefx.com/products/houdini/solaris/ ↩

  13. "mesh2mesh Support - Supported Formats". Retrieved 2023-04-16. https://mesh2mesh.fluthaus.com/support.html#supported-formats ↩

  14. "NVIDIA Omniverse™". NVIDIA Developer. 2019-03-11. Retrieved 2020-01-19. https://developer.nvidia.com/nvidia-omniverse ↩

  15. "What's new in Davinci Resolve 18.5 beta". Retrieved 2023-04-17. https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=179277&sid=a8b695228f2da22eaae596bf979c1f69 ↩

  16. "Release of Fusion Studio 18.5". Retrieved 2023-10-01. https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=185030 ↩

  17. Paul, Katie (2022-06-21). "Meta and other tech giants form metaverse standards body, without Apple". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-06-22 – via www.reuters.com. https://www.reuters.com/technology/meta-other-tech-giants-form-metaverse-standards-body-without-apple-2022-06-21/ ↩

  18. Casserly, Martyn. "Everything you need to know about Apple's new USDZ augmented-reality file format". Macworld UK. Retrieved 2019-08-08. https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/iosapps/usdz-3678479/ ↩

  19. Horaczek, Stan (2018-06-15). "Apple and Pixar created a new file format for augmented reality on your phone". Popular Science. Retrieved 2019-08-08. https://www.popsci.com/usdz-augmented-reality-apple-ios12/ ↩

  20. "Rhino 8 Feature: USD (Universal Scene Description) Export". McNeel Forum. 2023-07-06. Retrieved 2023-08-03. https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/rhino-8-feature-usd-universal-scene-description-export/162467 ↩

  21. "Products Using USD — Universal Scene Description 24.08 documentation". https://openusd.org/release/usd_products.html ↩

  22. https://dev.epicgames.com/community/learning/talks-and-demos/pvRl/state-of-the-universal-scene-description-usd-format-in-unreal-engine https://dev.epicgames.com/community/learning/talks-and-demos/pvRl/state-of-the-universal-scene-description-usd-format-in-unreal-engine ↩