.usd File Extension
.usd file is, how USD scenes are stored, and how Poly supports Universal Scene Description files. File extension details for .usd
Partial Support| File type | Universal Scene Description scene |
|---|---|
| MIME type | |
| Encoding | Text or binary USD scene data |
| Operating systems | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Opens with | usdview, Blender |
| Poly support | Yes. Poly recognizes USD scenes and makes supported geometry and scene metadata available. |
| Indexed by Poly | Yes. Poly indexes the filename and creates visual similarity information for supported 3D content; available scene metadata is shown in details. |
| Preview in Poly | Yes. Poly previews supported USD geometry and scene content. |
| Poly agent | Yes. An optimized rendition of the 3D object or scene is provided to the agent, allowing compact yet information-rich multimodal interaction with 3D files. |
What kind of file is a .usd?
.usd is the general filename suffix for a Universal Scene Description scene. Unlike .usda and .usdc, which identify a particular representation, .usd can contain either the human-readable text form or the binary crate form.1 A USD stage can describe meshes, transforms, materials, variants, references, and animation.
The suffix describes the scene format, not whether every resource is self-contained. A stage can refer to other USD files or image assets, so keep its related files together when moving it between applications.
How do I open a .usd?
usdview is the reference viewer in the OpenUSD toolset. Blender and other 3D applications can also import USD scenes when their USD support is enabled. Use the application that authored the scene when you need to edit composition arcs, variants, or animation.
If you need a predictable representation, export explicitly as .usda for readable text or .usdc for a compact binary scene. Exporting is different from renaming a suffix.
Poly support for .usd
Poly recognizes .usd as model/x-usd, previews supported geometry, makes the filename searchable, and records available scene metadata in the details panel. Visual similarity helps locate related 3D content. An optimized rendition of the 3D object or scene is provided to the agent, allowing compact yet information-rich multimodal interaction with 3D files.
| Construct | Poly handling |
|---|---|
| Mesh geometry and transforms | Supported when present and valid; declared Y-up and Z-up stages are respected |
| Materials and embedded resources | Supported when representable and available with the stage |
| External references and textures | Companion files uploaded separately are not assembled into the stage; missing geometry can prevent a preview, while missing optional textures can change appearance |
| Cameras and lights | Not retained in the Poly rendition |
| Animation | Supported clips may be represented, but complete USD animation playback is not promised |
History and alternatives
Pixar introduced USD as an interchange and composition system for complex 3D scenes. Its design supports composing many smaller assets into a stage, which is useful for production workflows but makes a self-contained delivery package valuable.2 Use .usdz when you need a packaged USD scene with related resources.
For a browser-oriented runtime asset, consider .glb. For a readable USD stage, choose .usda. Changing a suffix does not convert the underlying data.
Footnotes
- OpenUSD. USD Frequently Asked Questions. ↩
- OpenUSD. USDZ File Format Specification. ↩