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, CAD, and rendering.^[2][3]

USD

Filename extension	.usd, .usda, .usdc, .usdz
Developed by	Alliance for OpenUSD (AOUSD)
Type of format	3D computer graphics
Website	aousd.org

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:^[6][7]

• .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.^[8][9][10]
• 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 .usdz^[17] files for 3D model interchange.^[18][19]
• 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 release^[20]
• Adobe Substance 3D^[21]
• 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)