Universal Scene Description in Action you own this product

The future of 3D for technical creatives
Linfan Zhang, Andy Green
  • MEAP began February 2025
  • Publication in Summer 2025 (estimated)
  • ISBN 9781633436046
  • 400 pages (estimated)
  • printed in black & white

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Universal Scene Description in Action makes developing 3D scenes and environments accessible to anyone—even non-programmers!

Learn the fundamentals of Universal Scene Description and start creating engaging 3D scenes with Python and the OpenUSD framework! Written by tech researcher Dr. Linfan Zhang and digital artist Andy Green, this accessible guide balances technical depth with creative insights to help you get started creating scenes for animation, VFX, and VR/AR.

In Universal Scene Description in Action you’ll learn:

  • OpenUSD's core architecture and capabilities
  • 3D workflows with meshes, textures, and advanced shading
  • Dynamic scenes using Python and OpenUSD
  • Lighting, physics, and particle systems
  • AI-powered scene creation and automation

The open source Universal Scene Description (USD) framework has been a game changer for how artists create, share, and edit 3D content. Developed by Pixar and adopted by industry giants like Apple and NVIDIA, USD files preserve the relationships, hierarchies, and metadata that are vital for collaborating on 3D projects. The framework is cross-platform and cross-software, making it seamless for artists to integrate assets from tools like Maya and Blender.

about the book

Universal Scene Description in Action makes USD intuitive through clear diagrams, real-world projects, and accessible language. Skip the complex technical documentation. In this easy-to-follow book you’ll learn to control assets with Python scripting, add textures, establish lighting, animate objects, create physics simulations, and add visual effects. You won’t need any extra digital resources—you’ll work with premade 3D assets straight from the book’s asset repo. You’ll even see how USD makes it easy to integrate generative AI like ChatGPT and StableDiffusion into your workflows.

about the reader

Perfect for 3D artists and technical programmers interested in developing 3D environments. Some experience with Python programming and 3D creative tools is helpful. To get the most out of the projects, you’ll need an RTX graphics card.

about the authors

Dr. Linfan Zhang is a Senior Applied Scientist at Microsoft, combining expertise in 3D technologies, Machine Learning, and AI. She holds a PhD in Statistics from UCLA. At Microsoft, Dr. Zhang has spearheaded innovative projects utilizing cutting-edge models like GPT-4 and Florence to drive advancements in ad quality, compliance, and relevance.

Andy Green is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans traditional art, photography, and music production. His digital artwork has been featured at prestigious venues including Art Basel Miami, L'église de la Madeleine, and IHAM Gallery in Paris. Andy integrates USD into his creative process, producing 3D models, art, and animations through Blender and Omniverse.

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choose your plan

team

monthly
annual
$49.99
$399.99
only $33.33 per month
  • five seats for your team
  • access to all Manning books, MEAPs, liveVideos, liveProjects, and audiobooks!
  • choose another free product every time you renew
  • choose twelve free products per year
  • exclusive 50% discount on all purchases
  • Universal Scene Description in Action ebook for free