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Introduction

usdtweak is a free, open-source editor for Pixar's Universal Scene Description (USD) format. It provides an intuitive graphical interface for inspecting, authoring, and editing USD stages and layers, without requiring knowledge of USD's ASCII syntax or Python scripting.

Built with C++, ImGui, and OpenGL (via GLFW), usdtweak is lightweight and portable. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with minimal dependencies beyond a USD installation.

Sneak peek​

Key features​

  • Multi-file editing -- Open and edit multiple stages and layers simultaneously. Copy and paste prims between layers.
  • Stage and layer editing -- Work at either the composed stage level or the raw layer level, depending on your needs.
  • Composition arc support -- Create and manage references, payloads, variants, inherits, specializes, and sublayers through the UI.
  • 3D viewport -- Visualize your scenes with Hydra Storm rendering. Translate, rotate, and scale objects interactively with gizmo manipulators.
  • Property editing -- Modify prim properties, metadata, and attribute values including time-sampled data.
  • Text editing -- View and edit layers directly as USDA ASCII text for quick fixes and debugging.
  • Export options -- Export stages as USDZ packages (standard or ARKit-compatible) or as flattened USD files.
  • Edit target control -- Choose which layer receives your edits when working on a composed stage, enabling non-destructive workflows.
  • Undo/redo -- Full undo and redo support for all editing operations.
  • Animation playback -- Timeline panel with playback controls and frame scrubbing.
  • Extensibility -- Launcher bar for integrating external tools, and a playblast tool for rendering image sequences.

Who is it for?​

usdtweak is designed for:

  • Pipeline technical directors building and debugging USD assets and compositions
  • Technical artists who need a visual editor for USD without the overhead of a full DCC application
  • USD developers who want a quick way to inspect and modify USD files during development
  • Anyone working with USD who prefers a graphical editor over command-line tools or Python scripts

Getting started​

New to usdtweak? Head to the Quick Start guide to get up and running in minutes, or check the Installation page for download and setup instructions.

Contact​

If you have questions, feedback, or encounter issues, you can: