alembic
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Description:
Open computer graphics interchange framework
Type: Formula  |  Latest Version: 1.8.10@0  |  Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Developer tools
Tags: vfx 3d-graphics computer-graphics geometry interchange
Install: brew install alembic
About:
Alembic is an open-source framework for storing and sharing complex 3D computer graphics and visual effects scenes. It provides a standardized, efficient way to serialize 3D geometry, shaders, and animation data across different applications. This interoperability streamlines workflows between VFX software like Maya, Houdini, and Cinema 4D.
Key Features:
  • Cross-platform 3D data interchange
  • Efficient geometry and shader storage
  • Extensible architecture for custom data
  • Wide DCC software integration
Use Cases:
  • VFX pipeline data exchange
  • 3D scene caching and archiving
  • Rendering farm scene distribution
Alternatives:
  • USD (Universal Scene Description) – USD is a more comprehensive scene description and composition framework from Pixar, while Alembic focuses primarily on geometry caching and interchange.
  • FBX – FBX is a proprietary format with broader DCC support but Alembic offers better performance for large datasets and is open-source.
License: BSD-3-Clause
Dependencies: hdf5, imath, libaec
Bottles available for: arm64_tahoe, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, sonoma, arm64_linux, x86_64_linux
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Nov 17, 2025 10:49pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 8a1fb219
Oct 3, 2025 7:48pm 0 VERSION_BUMP ccd3e2c8
Sep 11, 2025 12:22pm 1 VERSION_BUMP 53f3cc5b
Sep 27, 2024 10:13am 1 VERSION_BUMP 7994a6ac