Using Compound Nodes in Maya LookdevX

I've been hard at work this weekend, trying to come up with a workflow that will integrate with MaterialX shader exports into RawKee exports.

After feedback from the community, it became clear that there isn't really anything I can do on the exporter side to export Shader content that will be compatible with existing X3D Browser shader implementations.

Starting the RawKee Blog
This is the start of UND DREAM Lab's blog concerning updates to the RawKee X3D exporter ecosystem. I say ecosystem, because the lab has hired two new student employees to expand on the existing RawKee code base to support multiple DCC applications and formats. Our first target beyond Maya is a RawKee-based add-on for Blender, which we are calling RawKee4Blender. RawKee4Blender will eventually have all the features of RawKee - Python Edition for Maya 2025+.

A consortium of leading cultural institutions has announced a draft  specification for presenting computer-based 3D content.  During the plenary session of the Jan 2026 Online meeting of the International Image Interoperability Framework a document for their Presentation 4 API was described and public links provided.

​X‑Ite, X3DOM, and the Castle Game Engine — three tools that all deal with X3D. Together, they form a complete ecosystem for 3D Web visualization.

The Convergence of X3D and Artificial Intelligence: Reshaping Digital Realities. Web3D Consortium's special Interest Group, AI with X3D aims to explore, develop, and promote the interation of artificial intelligence technologies within the X3D framework. The group will focus on automated 3D content, improving user experiences with intelligent behavior and enhanced user interaction while optimizing performance, thereby driving innovation across various industries through the application of AI in X3D.

Blender, the powerful open-source 3D creation suite, offers robust capabilities for creating, manipulating, and exporting 3D content in various formats. X3D (Extensible 3D) is an ISO standard XML-based file format for representing 3D computer graphics. This blog explores how to effectively use Blender with X3D, enabling you to create immersive 3D content for web applications, virtual reality, and more.

What is X3D?

The 3D web is entering a new era—one defined by openness, interoperability, and immersive experiences that run everywhere. At the center of this evolution stands X3D Version 4, the latest generation of the ISO‑standardized framework for declarative 3D graphics.

The 3D web has evolved from experimental to a mature ecosystem powering cultural heritage, e‑commerce, scientific visualization, digital twins, and immersive storytelling. At the heart of this transformation are three foundational technologies: WebGL, glTF, and X3D. Each plays a distinct role—one is a rendering engine, one is a content format, and one is a full declarative standard for interactive 3D scenes. See comparison table below. 

There is great excitement around the development of new features and formats, from glTF 2.0 to X3D 4.0. This blog provides a high-level view of the leading open formats and how and why they should be used together.

See glTF + X3D integration on WebGL examples: