Apple, Adobe, Pixar, Nvidia, and Autodesk have joined forces to promote open standards for interoperable 3D tools and data. The companies have announced the formation of the Alliance for OpenUSD, which aims to drive the standardization, development, evolution, and growth of Pixar’s Universal Scene Description (USD) technology.
USD is described by Pixar as the “first open-source software that can robustly and scalably interchange 3D scenes” while incorporating various assets, sources, and animations. The animation company considers it a fundamental requirement for people creating metaverse content.
The purpose of USD is to enable various applications used in 3D content creation, such as Maya, Houdini, Autodesk 3ds Max, and Adobe Substance 3D Designer, to support round-trip asset workflows interchangeably. Nvidia explains that OpenUSD supports the requirements of building virtual worlds, including geometry, cameras, lights, and materials. It also includes features necessary for scaling to large, complex datasets and is highly extensible, allowing the technology to be adapted to workflows beyond visual effects.
The timing of this announcement is significant as Apple is preparing to release its Vision Pro mixed reality headset. Apple is a founding member of the Alliance for OpenUSD, and Mike Rockwell, Apple’s vice president of the vision products group, believes that OpenUSD will accelerate the next generation of augmented reality (AR) experiences, from artistic creation to content delivery, and produce a wide range of spatial computing applications. Rockwell emphasizes that Apple has been actively contributing to the development of USD and considers it an essential technology for the groundbreaking visionOS platform and the new Reality Composer Pro developer tool.
The Alliance for OpenUSD aims to address the issue of many applications within the 3D content creation pipeline being tailored for specific applications and therefore not compatible with other software. The alliance seeks to provide a common language for defining, packaging, assembling, and editing 3D data interchangeably at scale.
The project will be housed in Linux’s Joint Development Foundation to facilitate open, efficient, and effective development of OpenUSD specifications. The alliance also aims to gain recognition from the International Organization for Standardization.
Other major players in the augmented and virtual reality industry, including Unity and Epic Games, have commented on the formation of the alliance. Marc Petit, the vice president of Epic Games’ Unreal Engine ecosystem, recognizes the significance of USD in establishing standards for 3D content, virtual worlds, and the open metaverse. Allan Poore, the vice president of Unity Wētā Tools, expresses Unity’s commitment to the continued adoption of the USD standard.
Even Ikea, known for using 3D rendering to create images of its furniture for catalogs, has expressed its support for the alliance. Martin Enthed, the innovation manager at Ikea, explains that the company has been searching for a non-proprietary standard format to author and store 3D content, aiming to connect its value chain more closely and develop home furnishing solutions at a lower price. Enthed sees the Alliance for OpenUSD as a significant step in that direction.
The formation of the Alliance for OpenUSD has garnered attention and support from various industry leaders, highlighting the importance of open standards and interoperability in the 3D content creation and AR/VR sectors.
How does the Alliance for OpenUSD promote collaboration and streamline 3D content creation workflows?
Ontinues to invest in its growth.
By promoting open standards for interoperable 3D tools and data, the Alliance for OpenUSD aims to facilitate collaboration and streamline 3D content creation workflows. With the support of Apple, Adobe, Pixar, Nvidia, and Autodesk, the alliance will drive the standardization, development, evolution, and growth of Pixar’s Universal Scene Description (USD) technology.
USD, according to Pixar, is the first open-source software capable of robustly and scalably interchanging 3D scenes while incorporating various assets, sources, and animations. It is considered a fundamental requirement for those creating metaverse content. The main goal of USD is to enable different applications, such as Maya, Houdini, Autodesk 3ds Max, and Adobe Substance 3D Designer, to support interchangeably round-trip asset workflows. Additionally, OpenUSD, as explained by Nvidia, fulfills the requirements for building virtual worlds by incorporating geometry, cameras, lights, materials, and scalability for large and complex datasets. The technology is highly extensible, allowing it to be adapted to workflows beyond visual effects.
The timing of this announcement is noteworthy due to Apple’s upcoming release of its Vision Pro mixed reality headset. As a founding member of the Alliance for OpenUSD, Apple sees the potential of OpenUSD in accelerating the next generation of augmented reality (AR) experiences, encompassing artistic creation, content delivery, and a wide range of spatial computing applications. Mike Rockwell, Apple’s vice president of the vision products group, highlights that Apple has actively contributed to the development of USD and continues to invest in its growth.
With the collaboration of these leading companies and the promotion of open standards, the Alliance for OpenUSD aims to advance the accessibility and functionality of 3D content creation tools, fostering innovation and expanding possibilities in the field of augmented and virtual reality.
This is a remarkable alliance that brings together the industry’s leading giants to drive interoperability in 3D tools and data. Apple, Adobe, Pixar, Nvidia, and Autodesk joining forces is a game-changer, and we can expect exciting advancements in the field of 3D technology. Collaboration like this paves the way for innovation and enhances the creative possibilities for designers, artists, and developers.
This collaboration among tech giants paves the way for improved 3D tools and data accessibility, benefiting industries reliant on advanced graphics. Exciting times ahead!