Universal Scene Description

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.[1] USD is used in many industries including visual effects, architecture, design, robotics and CAD.[2] It is developed by Pixar and was first published as open source software in 2016, under a modified Apache license.[3]

File formats

File formats used by the specification include:[4][5]

  • .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 Inventor – supports USD as of version 2023.
  • Maya – supports USD as of version 2022.
  • Autodesk Fusion 360 supports USD export since April 2022.
  • Apple’s SceneKit supports .usdz[6] files for 3D model interchange.[7][8]
  • Nvidia has announced support for USD in Omniverse, a graphics collaboration platform.[9]
  • Houdini includes an implementation of USD, for purposes of format interchange and scene editing.[10]
  • Blender includes support for USD export.[11] Import support from version 3.0.[12][13]
  • Cinema 4D from Maxon includes support for USD for import and export.[14]
  • mesh2mesh (macOS) converts USD to and from other formats.[15]
  • Davinci Resolve includes support for importing USD.[16]
  • Vectorworks 2023 Service Pack 3 onwards includes USD export and import

See also

References
  1. "Introduction to USD". graphics.pixar.com. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  2. "Pixar Universal Scene Description (USD)". NVIDIA Developer. 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  3. "Pixar open-sources its Universal Scene Description | CG Channel". Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  4. Sanders, James (2018-06-05). "Apple's USDZ AR file format: What you need to know". TechRepublic. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
  5. "USD Documentation : Usdz File Format Specification". Pixar Graphics Technologies. 2018. Retrieved 2020-06-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. 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.
  7. Casserly, Martyn. "Everything you need to know about Apple's new USDZ augmented-reality file format". Macworld UK. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
  8. 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.
  9. "NVIDIA Omniverse™". NVIDIA Developer. 2019-03-11. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  10. "Solaris | SideFX". www.sidefx.com. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  11. "Universal Scene Description". Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  12. Blender 3.0: Pipeline, Assets & IO - USD Importer
  13. USD Import and Export in Blender
  14. "Supported File Formats". maxon.net (in German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese). Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  15. "mesh2mesh Support - Supported Formats". Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  16. "What's new in Davinci Resolve 18.5 beta". Retrieved 2023-04-17.


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