RESOURCES

Lists of helpful tutorials below.

OPEN USD 101

What is USD?
Variant Sets
Asset Structure

USD Documentation

Pixar
Pixar Kitchen Set

Open USD Glossary of Terms:
openusd.org, Terms and Concepts

SideFx (Houdini)
SideFX, Houdini, USD Basics

Nvidia USD Resources
USD and Hydra Resources

Animal Logic
USDBook LIVRPS Composition Arcs

Dreamworks
Zero to USD in 80 Days

USD Working Group
Instancing Explained

Colin Kennedy’s USD-Cookbook
USD-Cookbook


Github

Pixar USD examples

Weta Digitals USD examples

Mati’s GitHub

Pappa Chucks Github

USD-Plugin-Samples


Videos

GM Explores Automated Workflows with USD: GM’s GTC on USD

SideFX Primer: What is USD: A Primer | Rob Stauffer | SIGGRAPH 2019

Omniverse Basics: USD Layers in Omniverse | Paul Kind | Nvidia Omniverse, 2023

As demo’d with chess assets.
Highlights:

  • To create a layer, click on the “create layer” button and select a location and file name.

  • The layer appears in the stack and can be moved around, but is strongest when on top.

  • Double-click the layer to set it as the authoring layer, which determines which layer your changes will affect.

  • Make changes to the layer as desired by moving things around, adjusting materials, and adding assets.

  • Changes are stored in the layer by Deltas or new refs.

  • Double-click the root layer to stop editing in the given layer.

  • To get rid of changes, disable or remove the layer from the stack.

  • Layers are a powerful tool in digital art workflows and offer many advantages.

USD: Building Asset Pipelines from Matt Kuruc | Pixar Graphics, ~1997 on Vimeo.


Exercises and DLI Courses


Utilities

Isaac Unit Converter
USD Book


FAQ’s and Common Problems

Error: Cannot Nest Gprims: Do Not Nest Gprims