OpenVDB is a file format and a C++ library for manipulating, simulating, and rendering sparse dynamic volumes, developed by DreamWorks Animation for use in volumetric applications. OpenVDB is typically used in feature film production to create realistic volumetric images such as water/liquid simulations and environmental effects like clouds and ice. However, it is incompatible with GPUs and can not be applied in games due to the considerable size and computational effort required to render 3D volumes.
NanoVDB is NVIDIA’s version of the OpenVDB library that provides a simplified representation, compatible with the core data structure of OpenVDB, with functionality to convert back-and-forth between the NanoVDB and the OpenVDB data structures and create and visualize the data.
This solution offers one significant advantage over OpenVDB, namely support for GPUs. It is applicable to both CPU and GPU-accelerated simulation and rendering of high-resolution sparse volumes.
Nevertheless, the NanoVDB structure does not significantly compress volume size. Therefore, it’s not so commonly applied in game development.
Our solution can be integrated into any game engine and allows you to easily add high-quality VFX to the project.
ZibraVDB is expected to be released in Autumn 2023. Join the waitlist and follow Zibra AI socials to receive regular updates about our product.
Our plugin is powered by custom AI-based technology that provides high-quality lossy compression and ensures the best possible VFX quality-size ratio, with high PSNR and minimal visible difference between compressed and decompressed effects.