Autodesk has made a significant move for 3ds Max users by open-sourcing the USD plugin for the 3D modeling and animation software. The source code is now available on GitHub under an Apache 2.0 license. This release enables 3ds Max users to integrate the Universal Scene Description (USD) format into their workflows. The plugin, first introduced in 2022, is designed to make 3ds Max compatible with USD-based pipelines, providing support for importing and exporting USD data, and offering the ability to load USD stages directly in the viewport for editing.
Enhancing USD Support for 3ds Max Users
The open-sourced USD plugin enhances 3ds Max’s ability to function in USD-based pipelines, a format that has seen rapid adoption in VFX, animation, and industrial design. USD, originally developed by Pixar, is widely used for scene data exchange across different CG applications. The plugin’s integration into 3ds Max allows studios to import and export data in the USD format, which makes it easier to incorporate 3ds Max into broader USD workflows.
Autodesk’s open-sourced version is described as supplementing the software’s XRef referencing workflows. In many use cases, it may even replace existing referencing setups, further streamlining data exchange. The plugin is still in beta, with the latest release being version 0.9, but its open-source nature means studios can tailor the import/export process to fit their specific needs. Originally developed by Pixar, USD is a powerful framework for exchanging scene data and has become a standard in the VFX and feature animation industries. With increasing interest from other sectors, such as industrial design and visualization, USD’s flexibility is evident. Notably, NVIDIA’s Omniverse design collaboration platform has integrated USD, which further pushes its adoption across industries beyond entertainment. Autodesk, Pixar, and NVIDIA were all founding members of the Alliance for OpenUSD (AOUSD), which was established to guide the continued development of the format.
Open-Source for Customization
By releasing the source code for USD for 3ds Max on GitHub, Autodesk allows studios to build the plugin with the specific version of USD required in their pipeline. This open-source move provides an opportunity to fine-tune workflows and customize the default import and export processes. This aligns with Autodesk’s ongoing efforts to develop and release open-source USD-related tools, such as Bifrost USD for Maya, which has been available since 2022. USD for Maya, initially developed outside of Autodesk, has always been open-source.
For studios already using USD-based workflows in Maya or other applications, the open-source USD for 3ds Max provides an opportunity to extend those pipelines into 3ds Max, making it a viable option for a wider range of production environments.
Availability and System Requirements
The USD plugin for 3ds Max is available for free under the Apache 2.0 license. It is compatible with 3ds Max 2022 and later versions, and a list of dependencies is available in the GitHub repository’s build instructions. Although the plugin is in beta, its release gives users a chance to experiment with the new features and integrate them into their workflows.
Note: As the plugin is still in beta, it’s important for production teams to test its compatibility and functionality before incorporating it into live projects.
