Technology

USD

Universal Scene Description (OpenUSD) is Pixar's high-performance 3D framework for non-destructive interchange and collaborative scene construction.

OpenUSD is the industry standard for complex 3D pipelines, originally developed by Pixar to manage massive datasets like those in 'Finding Dory'. It uses a robust layering system (composition arcs) that allows multiple departments to work on the same scene simultaneously without overwriting data. By providing a common language for geometry, shading, and animation, USD bridges the gap between tools like Maya, Houdini, and Omniverse. Its efficiency stems from Hydra: a high-speed imaging framework that enables real-time rendering of millions of polygons across diverse hardware configurations.