USDZ - Format Overview
Table of Contents
General Information
This guide is part of the RapidPipeline 3D Formats Knowledge Database.
| Format Name | USDZ |
|---|---|
| Long Name | Universal Scene Description (Zipped, as typically used with ARKit) |
| Extensions | .usdz |
| Internet Media Type (previously MIME) | unspecified |
| Common Use Cases | mobile3DAR |
What is the USDZ format, and what is it used for?
USDZ is the zipped variant of the Universal Scene Description (USD) format. Since USDZ is zipped without additional compression, it should not seen as a compressed format. Instead, the purpose of a USDZ file is to bundle up various assets that make up a 3D model in USD format (for example, scene data and texture images) into a single file. USDZ got especially popular as primary supported format on all Apple devices, such as iPhones, using the ARKit technology. However, the subset of USD features that is supported by Apple's ARKit (and therefore the most common use of this format) is rather limited to essential functions for a delivery format, in contrast to the feature set of the actual USD format (which is a more powerful runtime- and exchange format). Therefore, commonly when talking about USDZ, usually the limited variant available with Apple's ARKit is meant (even though technically USDZ is just a zipped encoding of a USD scene with all its resources). It is a file format mostly used for interactive 3D, on the Web and elsewhere (e.g., in XR).
Features supported by the USDZ format
| Feature | Supported? |
|---|---|
| Morph Targets | Yes |
| Rigid Animations | Yes |
| Skinned Animations | Yes |
| Animations | Yes |
| Free-Form Surfaces | Yes |
| Geometry Compression | No |
| Quad Meshes | Yes |
| Basic 3D Geometry | Yes |
| PBR Materials | Yes |
| Transparent Materials | Yes |
| Vertex Colors | Yes |
| Materials | Yes |
| Scene Composition | Yes |
| Hierarchical Scene Graph | Yes |
| Scene Nodes | Yes |
| Standardized Format | Yes |
| Embedded Textures | No |
| Multiple UV Channels | Yes0 |
| Normal Mapping | Yes |
| Procedural Textures | Yes |
| Texture Compression | No |
| Texture Transforms | Yes |
| Texturing | Yes |
Converting and Optimizing USDZ Files
There are various ways to convert between USDZ files and other 3D formats. With RapidPipeline, you can easily convert and and optimize USDZ files, at scale. It supports USDZ, as well as many other file formats (examples: 3dsMax, FBX, glTF, OBJ, PLY, STEP, STL, USD, VRM), at high quality.
Due to the potential limitations aforementioned on the table above, in principle, this format cannot always perfectly convert 3D data between USDZ and other formats. In the following, you can find format conversion guides between USDZ and the most important other formats, along with a rough score for compatibility of this workflow:
Converting USDZ to Other 3D File Formats
- USDZ to 3dsMax
- USDZ to FBX
- USDZ to glTF
- USDZ to OBJ
- USDZ to PLY
- USDZ to STEP
- USDZ to STL
- USDZ to USD
- USDZ to VRM
Converting Other 3D File Formats to USDZ
What's the best way to get USDZ files into my 3D applications?
Doing 3D conversion right, especially at scale, can be tricky, as 3D data is in general a rather complex (yet very powerful!) medium. This also applies to USDZ files - the conversion guide above gives a rough idea. Once you know what you would like to do, tools like RapidPipeline can help you perform the necessary steps, and to automate the process.
However, especially when introducing pipelines and workflows at scale in an enterprise context, it is usually good to rely on dedicated expertise, making sure you do not introduce any steps into your 3D workflow that are detrimental to the final output's quality, or that take your team too much time (and money).
If you're interested to hire dedicated expertise from the best in the field to help your company reach your goals fast and reliably, please do not hestitate to contact DGG. Being the creators of RapidPipeline, and ambassadors for open 3D standards for more than a decade, we have been building some of the world's most advanced 3D pipelines, having processed many millions of 3D assets.
Therefore, our expertise will help you to reach your goals faster, at scale, and with the least possible friction, since we are focused on maximum interoperability.
To get started with 3D data conversion and optimization today, sign up for a free account!
If you have any questions, feel free to chat with our human team.
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