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OpenVDB

DESIGN
Velocity0.0

Sparse volumetric data structure and toolkit for volumetric effects

openvdb.org ↗

Half-precision grids and a NanoVDB that finally handles changing topology

volumetricvfxnanovdbhalf-precisionlevel-setsgpu
◆Current state
OpenVDB ships one major version a year with sparse patch releases in between, and many older tags carry no notes beyond a link. The recent substance is concentrated in 12.1.0 and 13.0.0: a batch of level set construction tools, principal component analysis on point distributions, anisotropic surfacing operators, and then Half Grid support both in memory and serialized into the file format. NanoVDB has been steadily accumulating tools alongside the core library.
◆Where it's heading
Two directions are visible. Precision and memory footprint are being treated as a first-class tuning axis — Half Grids halve storage for volumetric data, with the notes flagging that algorithm adaptation for performance and precision is still to come. Separately, NanoVDB is escaping its original niche: built for static rendering, it now covers level set tracking, grid building, morphology and merging, which are dynamic-topology problems.
◆Prediction
The 13.x line should follow through on the stated plan to adapt algorithms for Half Grids, since shipping the format and in-memory support without the optimized code paths leaves the feature half-delivered.

◆Recent moves

  1. 9mo ago

    13.0.0 adds Half Grids and extends the file format to serialize them

    Half Grid support lands both in memory and in the file format, with algorithm adaptation for performance and precision explicitly still ahead. The other half of the release is NanoVDB growing past static rendering into level set tracking, grid building, morphology and grid merging.

    View source ↗
  2. 10mo ago

    12.1.1 fixes an AX performance regression and a Houdini 21 build

    A two-item patch release correcting a performance regression in OpenVDB AX and a build failure against Houdini 21.X. Narrow but necessary for studios on that Houdini version.

    View source ↗
  3. 1y ago

    12.1.0 adds level set constructors, point PCA and anisotropic surfacing

    A genuine tools release: createLevelSetCapsule, TaperedCapsule, TubeComplex and DilatedMesh constructors, a points::pca tool for principal component analysis on point distributions, and improved rasterizeSdf surfacing with anisotropic operators. Also speeds up LeafNode ValueIterators and delay-loaded file reads.

    View source ↗
  4. 1y ago

    OpenVDB 12.0.1

    A patch release whose entire body is a pointer to external release notes. Nothing described here.

    View source ↗
  5. 1y ago

    fVDB 0.2.1 fixes Gaussian splatting image cropping

    A small patch to the fVDB sub-project: a Gaussian splatting image cropping bug, environment files moved to the conda-forge channel, and cmake unit test infrastructure. Peripheral to the main OpenVDB library.

    View source ↗
  6. 1y ago

    OpenVDB 12.0.0

    A major version tag documented only by a link to release notes, so nothing about its contents is visible in the feed.

    View source ↗