ZibraVDB is a compression solution developed by Zibra AI to make film-quality volumetric visual effects practical for games. Released last year, it allows large OpenVDB-based effects to be integrated into game projects without major sacrifices in quality or performance.
Although OpenVDB effects are common, they are rarely used in games because of their large file sizes, poor real-time performance, and the need for time-consuming conversions. To render effects in real time, artists typically simulate volumetric effects in tools such as Houdini or Blender, then export them as flipbooks, which are 2D texture sequences that approximate a 3D effect.
While flipbooks are lightweight and suitable for real-time rendering, they often lack realism. They are baked from a single camera perspective, which limits reusability across different parts of a project, and they cannot interact with game environments in the same way as true volumetric data.
ZibraVDB addresses these limitations by compressing volumetric effects stored in the OpenVDB format. The solution achieves on average a 20x reduction in file size, and in some cases up to 100x. This makes it possible to use high-quality volumetric effects in games in real time, with detailed visuals that maintain performance and do not significantly increase build size. Developers can also adjust the appearance of effects using shaders, controlling parameters such as color, density, and playback speed.
In addition to visual effects, ZibraVDB can also be used for scene lighting, where volumetrics contribute to illumination, reflections, and atmosphere for greater realism.
The solution is available for both Unreal Engine and Houdini, making it accessible within popular game development and VFX workflows.
To make the technology more accessible, Zibra AI has introduced a free Personal tier for individual creators, hobbyists, and students. The only requirement is that users have earned less than $100,000 in the past 12 months from commercial work in the digital content industry.
You can request a free key on the Personal tier page. For more information, visit the Zibra AI website.
