diff --git a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/blendShape.cpp b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/blendShape.cpp
index 89369f1b09..d9ad87ee30 100644
--- a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/blendShape.cpp
+++ b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/blendShape.cpp
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ UsdAttribute
 UsdSkelBlendShape::CreatePointIndicesAttr(VtValue const &defaultValue, bool writeSparsely) const
 {
     return UsdSchemaBase::_CreateAttr(UsdSkelTokens->pointIndices,
-                       SdfValueTypeNames->UIntArray,
+                       SdfValueTypeNames->IntArray,
                        /* custom = */ false,
                        SdfVariabilityUniform,
                        defaultValue,
@@ -265,12 +265,20 @@ UsdSkelBlendShape::ValidatePointIndices(TfSpan<const int> indices,
                                         std::string* reason)
 {
     for (size_t i = 0; i < indices.size(); ++i) {
-        const unsigned pointIndex = indices[i];
-        if (pointIndex >= numPoints) {
+        const int pointIndex = indices[i];
+        if (pointIndex >= 0) {
+            if (ARCH_UNLIKELY(static_cast<size_t>(pointIndex) >= numPoints)) {
+                if (reason) {
+                    *reason = TfStringPrintf(
+                        "Index [%d] at element %td >= numPoints [%zu]",
+                        pointIndex, i, numPoints);
+                }
+                return false;
+            }
+        } else {
             if (reason) {
-                *reason = TfStringPrintf(
-                    "Index [%d] at element %td >= numPoints [%zu]",
-                    pointIndex, i, numPoints);
+                *reason = TfStringPrintf("Index [%d] at element %td < 0",
+                                         pointIndex, i);
             }
             return false;
         }
diff --git a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/blendShape.h b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/blendShape.h
index 6b3d7360a4..1dd7890bd4 100644
--- a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/blendShape.h
+++ b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/blendShape.h
@@ -209,8 +209,8 @@ class UsdSkelBlendShape : public UsdTyped
     /// authored, the number of elements must be equal to the number of elements
     /// in the *offsets* array.
     ///
-    /// \n  C++ Type: VtArray<unsigned int>
-    /// \n  Usd Type: SdfValueTypeNames->UIntArray
+    /// \n  C++ Type: VtArray<int>
+    /// \n  Usd Type: SdfValueTypeNames->IntArray
     /// \n  Variability: SdfVariabilityUniform
     /// \n  Fallback Value: No Fallback
     USDSKEL_API
diff --git a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/blendShapeQuery.cpp b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/blendShapeQuery.cpp
index bd8da72429..77dc36deea 100644
--- a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/blendShapeQuery.cpp
+++ b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/blendShapeQuery.cpp
@@ -149,10 +149,10 @@ UsdSkelBlendShapeQuery::GetBlendShapeIndex(size_t subShapeIndex) const
 
 
 
-std::vector<VtUIntArray>
+std::vector<VtIntArray>
 UsdSkelBlendShapeQuery::ComputeBlendShapePointIndices() const
 {
-    std::vector<VtUIntArray> indices(_blendShapes.size());
+    std::vector<VtIntArray> indices(_blendShapes.size());
 
     WorkParallelForN(
         _blendShapes.size(),
@@ -163,7 +163,27 @@ UsdSkelBlendShapeQuery::ComputeBlendShapePointIndices() const
                 // XXX: Some null blend shapes may be stored on _blendShapes
                 // to preserve the 'blendShapeTargets' order.
                 if (blendShape.shape) {
-                    blendShape.shape.GetPointIndicesAttr().Get(&indices[i]);
+                    VtValue val;
+                    if (blendShape.shape.GetPointIndicesAttr().Get(&val)) {
+                        if (val.IsHolding<VtIntArray>()) {
+                            indices[i] = val.UncheckedGet<VtIntArray>();
+                        } else if (val.IsHolding<VtUIntArray>()) {
+                            // Backwards-compatibility:
+                            // pointIndices used to be a uint[],    
+                            // but was changed to a int[].
+                            // Convert the old value type.
+                            const VtUIntArray& uindices =
+                                val.UncheckedGet<VtUIntArray>();
+                            indices[i].resize(uindices.size());
+                            
+                            auto dst = TfMakeSpan(indices[i]);
+                            for (size_t i = 0; i < dst.size(); ++i) {
+                                const unsigned index = uindices[i];
+                                dst[i] = index >= 0 ?
+                                    static_cast<int>(index) : 0;
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
                 }
             }
         });
@@ -346,7 +366,7 @@ UsdSkelBlendShapeQuery::ComputeDeformedPoints(
     const TfSpan<const float> subShapeWeights,
     const TfSpan<const unsigned> blendShapeIndices,
     const TfSpan<const unsigned> subShapeIndices,
-    const std::vector<VtUIntArray>& blendShapePointIndices,
+    const std::vector<VtIntArray>& blendShapePointIndices,
     const std::vector<VtVec3fArray>& subShapePointOffsets,
     TfSpan<GfVec3f> points) const
 {
@@ -418,30 +438,30 @@ _ComputeRangesFromCounts(const TfSpan<const unsigned>& counts,
 /// sufficient to satisfy the given shapes.
 size_t
 _ComputeApproximateNumPointsForShapes(
-    const std::vector<VtUIntArray>& indicesPerBlendShape,
+    const std::vector<VtIntArray>& indicesPerBlendShape,
     const std::vector<VtVec3fArray>& offsetsPerSubShape)
 {
     // Get the max index across all of the shapes.
-    unsigned maxIndex =
+    int maxIndex =
         WorkParallelReduceN(
             0, indicesPerBlendShape.size(),
-            [&indicesPerBlendShape](size_t start, size_t end, unsigned init) {
-                for (auto i = start; i < end; ++i) {
-                    for (auto index : indicesPerBlendShape[i]) {
+            [&indicesPerBlendShape](size_t start, size_t end, int init) {
+                for (size_t i = start; i < end; ++i) {
+                    for (int index : indicesPerBlendShape[i]) {
                         init = std::max(init, index);
                     }
                 }
                 return init;
             },
-            [](unsigned lhs, unsigned rhs) {
+            [](int lhs, int rhs) {
                 return std::max(lhs, rhs);
             });
 
     // Also take the sizes of sub-shapes into account, for non-indexed shapes.
     for (const auto& offsets : offsetsPerSubShape) {
-        maxIndex = std::max(maxIndex, static_cast<unsigned>(offsets.size()));
+        maxIndex = std::max(maxIndex, static_cast<int>(offsets.size()));
     }
-    return maxIndex + 1;
+    return maxIndex > 0 ? maxIndex + 1 : 0;
 }
 
 
@@ -462,7 +482,7 @@ UsdSkelBlendShapeQuery::ComputePackedShapeTable(
         return false;
     }
 
-    const std::vector<VtUIntArray> indicesPerBlendShape =    
+    const std::vector<VtIntArray> indicesPerBlendShape =    
         ComputeBlendShapePointIndices();
 
     const std::vector<VtVec3fArray> offsetsPerSubShape =
@@ -501,8 +521,10 @@ UsdSkelBlendShapeQuery::ComputePackedShapeTable(
             }
         } else {
             // Blend shape is sparse. Only increment indexed points.
-            for (const unsigned index : indices) {
-                TF_AXIOM(index < numOffsetsPerPoint.size());
+            for (const int index : indices) {
+                TF_DEV_AXIOM(index >= 0 &&
+                             static_cast<size_t>(index) <
+                             numOffsetsPerPoint.size());
                 numOffsetsPerPoint[index] += numSubShapes;
             }
         }
@@ -545,7 +567,7 @@ UsdSkelBlendShapeQuery::ComputePackedShapeTable(
             for (size_t pi = 0; pi < offsets.size(); ++pi) {
                 const GfVec3f& offset = offsets[pi];
 
-                TF_AXIOM(pi < nextOffsetIndexPerPoint.size());
+                TF_DEV_AXIOM(pi < nextOffsetIndexPerPoint.size());
                 
                 const unsigned offsetIndex = nextOffsetIndexPerPoint[pi];
                 dst[offsetIndex] = GfVec4f(offset[0], offset[1], offset[2],
@@ -556,7 +578,10 @@ UsdSkelBlendShapeQuery::ComputePackedShapeTable(
         } else {
             // Must take indices into account.
             for (size_t j = 0; j < indices.size(); ++j) {
-                const unsigned pointIndex = indices[j];
+                const int pointIndex = indices[j];
+                TF_DEV_AXIOM(pointIndex >= 0 &&
+                             static_cast<size_t>(pointIndex) <
+                             nextOffsetIndexPerPoint.size());
 
                 const GfVec3f& offset = offsets[j];
                 
diff --git a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/blendShapeQuery.h b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/blendShapeQuery.h
index 05a519ed77..3fde921296 100644
--- a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/blendShapeQuery.h
+++ b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/blendShapeQuery.h
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class UsdSkelBlendShapeQuery
     /// ComputeSubShapes().
     /// Since the _pointIndices_ property of blend shapes is optional,
     /// some of the arrays may be empty.
-    USDSKEL_API std::vector<VtUIntArray>
+    USDSKEL_API std::vector<VtIntArray>
     ComputeBlendShapePointIndices() const;
 
     /// Compute an array holding the point offsets of all sub-shapes.
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ class UsdSkelBlendShapeQuery
         const TfSpan<const float> subShapeWeights,
         const TfSpan<const unsigned> blendShapeIndices,
         const TfSpan<const unsigned> subShapeIndices,
-        const std::vector<VtUIntArray>& blendShapePointIndices,
+        const std::vector<VtIntArray>& blendShapePointIndices,
         const std::vector<VtVec3fArray>& subShapePointOffsets,
         TfSpan<GfVec3f> points) const;
 
diff --git a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/generatedSchema.usda b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/generatedSchema.usda
index fa37a112a7..c0b9ab463b 100644
--- a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/generatedSchema.usda
+++ b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/generatedSchema.usda
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ class BlendShape "BlendShape" (
         doc = """**Required property**. Position offsets which, when added to the
         base pose, provides the target shape."""
     )
-    uniform uint[] pointIndices (
+    uniform int[] pointIndices (
         doc = """**Optional property**. Indices into the original mesh that
         correspond to the values in *offsets* and of any inbetween shapes. If
         authored, the number of elements must be equal to the number of elements
diff --git a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/schema.usda b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/schema.usda
index 016fffb78f..c12dc56216 100644
--- a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/schema.usda
+++ b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/schema.usda
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ class BlendShape "BlendShape" (
         base pose, provides the normals of the target shape."""
     )
 
-    uniform uint[] pointIndices (
+    uniform int[] pointIndices (
         doc = """**Optional property**. Indices into the original mesh that
         correspond to the values in *offsets* and of any inbetween shapes. If
         authored, the number of elements must be equal to the number of elements
diff --git a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/testenv/testUsdSkelBakeSkinning/baseline/blendshapes.baked.usda b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/testenv/testUsdSkelBakeSkinning/baseline/blendshapes.baked.usda
index 57c49ba05a..4834a83ad7 100644
--- a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/testenv/testUsdSkelBakeSkinning/baseline/blendshapes.baked.usda
+++ b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/testenv/testUsdSkelBakeSkinning/baseline/blendshapes.baked.usda
@@ -548,13 +548,13 @@ def Xform "TestPlane"
         def BlendShape "targetA"
         {
             uniform vector3f[] offsets = [(0, 11.999916, 0), (0, 11.999958, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12.000042, 0), (0, 12.000084, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 11.999916, 0), (0, 11.999958, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12.000042, 0), (0, 12.000084, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 11.999916, 0), (0, 11.999958, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12.000042, 0), (0, 12.000084, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 11.999916, 0), (0, 11.999958, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12.000042, 0), (0, 12.000084, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 11.999916, 0), (0, 11.999958, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12.000042, 0), (0, 12.000084, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 11.999916, 0), (0, 11.999958, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12.000042, 0), (0, 12.000084, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 11.999916, 0), (0, 11.999958, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12.000042, 0), (0, 12.000084, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, -0.00007343292, 0), (0, -0.00004720688, 0), (0, 0.00004196167, 0), (0, 0.00008392334, 0), (0, -0.00007343292, 0), (0, -0.00004720688, 0), (0, 0.00004196167, 0), (0, 0.00008392334, 0), (0, -0.00007343292, 0), (0, -0.00004720688, 0), (0, 0.00004196167, 0), (0, 0.00008392334, 0), (0, -0.00007343292, 0), (0, -0.00004720688, 0), (0, 0.00004196167, 0), (0, 0.00008392334, 0)]
-            uniform uint[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 80, 81, 88, 89, 91, 92, 99, 100, 102, 103, 110, 111, 113, 114]
+            uniform int[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 80, 81, 88, 89, 91, 92, 99, 100, 102, 103, 110, 111, 113, 114]
         }
 
         def BlendShape "targetB"
         {
             uniform vector3f[] offsets = [(0, -0.00006341934, 0), (0, -0.000040769577, 0), (0, 0.000036239624, 0), (0, 0.00007247925, 0), (0, -0.00006341934, 0), (0, -0.000040769577, 0), (0, 0.000036239624, 0), (0, 0.00007247925, 0), (0, -0.00006341934, 0), (0, -0.000040769577, 0), (0, 0.000036239624, 0), (0, 0.00007247925, 0), (0, -0.00006341934, 0), (0, -0.000040769577, 0), (0, 0.000036239624, 0), (0, 0.00007247925, 0), (0, -12.0000725, 0), (0, -12.000036, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -11.999964, 0), (0, -11.9999275, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12.0000725, 0), (0, -12.000036, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -11.999964, 0), (0, -11.9999275, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12.0000725, 0), (0, -12.000036, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -11.999964, 0), (0, -11.9999275, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12.0000725, 0), (0, -12.000036, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -11.999964, 0), (0, -11.9999275, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12.0000725, 0), (0, -12.000036, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -11.999964, 0), (0, -11.9999275, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12.0000725, 0), (0, -12.000036, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -11.999964, 0), (0, -11.9999275, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12.0000725, 0), (0, -12.000036, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -11.999964, 0), (0, -11.9999275, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0)]
-            uniform uint[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 3, 4, 11, 12, 14, 15, 22, 23, 25, 26, 33, 34, 36, 37, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120]
+            uniform int[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 3, 4, 11, 12, 14, 15, 22, 23, 25, 26, 33, 34, 36, 37, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120]
         }
 
         def BlendShape "targetC"
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ def Xform "TestPlane"
                 weight = 1.5
             )
             uniform vector3f[] offsets = [(-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, -1.6621925e-8), (-8, 10.999964, -2.8394425e-9), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 2.8394425e-9), (-11, 8.0000725, 1.0568328e-8), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, -5.9604645e-8), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0)]
-            uniform uint[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117]
+            uniform int[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117]
         }
 
         def BlendShape "targetD"
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ def Xform "TestPlane"
                 weight = 0.5
             )
             uniform vector3f[] offsets = [(-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, -1.6621925e-8), (-8, 10.999981, -2.8394425e-9), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 2.8394425e-9), (-11, 8.000038, 1.0568328e-8), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, -5.9604645e-8), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0)]
-            uniform uint[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117]
+            uniform int[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117]
         }
 
         def BlendShape "targetE"
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ def Xform "TestPlane"
                 weight = 1.5
             )
             uniform vector3f[] offsets = [(-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, -1.6621925e-8), (-8, 10.999981, -2.8394425e-9), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 2.8394425e-9), (-11, 8.000038, 1.0568328e-8), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, -5.9604645e-8), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0)]
-            uniform uint[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117]
+            uniform int[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117]
         }
 
         def BlendShape "targetF"
@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ def Xform "TestPlane"
                 weight = -0.499
             )
             uniform vector3f[] offsets = [(-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, -1.6621925e-8), (-8, 10.999981, -2.8394425e-9), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 2.8394425e-9), (-11, 8.000038, 1.0568328e-8), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, -5.9604645e-8), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0)]
-            uniform uint[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115]
+            uniform int[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115]
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/testenv/testUsdSkelBakeSkinning/blendshapes.usda b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/testenv/testUsdSkelBakeSkinning/blendshapes.usda
index 7d39b1fc86..bf60bd320f 100644
--- a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/testenv/testUsdSkelBakeSkinning/blendshapes.usda
+++ b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/testenv/testUsdSkelBakeSkinning/blendshapes.usda
@@ -285,13 +285,13 @@ def SkelRoot "TestPlane"
         def BlendShape "targetA"
         {
             uniform vector3f[] offsets = [(0, 11.999916, 0), (0, 11.999958, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12.000042, 0), (0, 12.000084, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 11.999916, 0), (0, 11.999958, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12.000042, 0), (0, 12.000084, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 11.999916, 0), (0, 11.999958, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12.000042, 0), (0, 12.000084, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 11.999916, 0), (0, 11.999958, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12.000042, 0), (0, 12.000084, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 11.999916, 0), (0, 11.999958, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12.000042, 0), (0, 12.000084, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 11.999916, 0), (0, 11.999958, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12.000042, 0), (0, 12.000084, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 11.999916, 0), (0, 11.999958, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12.000042, 0), (0, 12.000084, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, 12, 0), (0, -0.00007343292, 0), (0, -0.00004720688, 0), (0, 0.00004196167, 0), (0, 0.00008392334, 0), (0, -0.00007343292, 0), (0, -0.00004720688, 0), (0, 0.00004196167, 0), (0, 0.00008392334, 0), (0, -0.00007343292, 0), (0, -0.00004720688, 0), (0, 0.00004196167, 0), (0, 0.00008392334, 0), (0, -0.00007343292, 0), (0, -0.00004720688, 0), (0, 0.00004196167, 0), (0, 0.00008392334, 0)]
-            uniform uint[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 80, 81, 88, 89, 91, 92, 99, 100, 102, 103, 110, 111, 113, 114]
+            uniform int[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 80, 81, 88, 89, 91, 92, 99, 100, 102, 103, 110, 111, 113, 114]
         }
 
         def BlendShape "targetB"
         {
             uniform vector3f[] offsets = [(0, -0.00006341934, 0), (0, -0.000040769577, 0), (0, 0.000036239624, 0), (0, 0.00007247925, 0), (0, -0.00006341934, 0), (0, -0.000040769577, 0), (0, 0.000036239624, 0), (0, 0.00007247925, 0), (0, -0.00006341934, 0), (0, -0.000040769577, 0), (0, 0.000036239624, 0), (0, 0.00007247925, 0), (0, -0.00006341934, 0), (0, -0.000040769577, 0), (0, 0.000036239624, 0), (0, 0.00007247925, 0), (0, -12.0000725, 0), (0, -12.000036, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -11.999964, 0), (0, -11.9999275, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12.0000725, 0), (0, -12.000036, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -11.999964, 0), (0, -11.9999275, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12.0000725, 0), (0, -12.000036, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -11.999964, 0), (0, -11.9999275, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12.0000725, 0), (0, -12.000036, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -11.999964, 0), (0, -11.9999275, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12.0000725, 0), (0, -12.000036, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -11.999964, 0), (0, -11.9999275, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12.0000725, 0), (0, -12.000036, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -11.999964, 0), (0, -11.9999275, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12.0000725, 0), (0, -12.000036, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -11.999964, 0), (0, -11.9999275, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0), (0, -12, 0)]
-            uniform uint[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 3, 4, 11, 12, 14, 15, 22, 23, 25, 26, 33, 34, 36, 37, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120]
+            uniform int[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 3, 4, 11, 12, 14, 15, 22, 23, 25, 26, 33, 34, 36, 37, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120]
         }
 
         def BlendShape "targetC"
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ def SkelRoot "TestPlane"
                 weight = 1.5
             )
             uniform vector3f[] offsets = [(-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, -1.6621925e-8), (-8, 10.999964, -2.8394425e-9), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 2.8394425e-9), (-11, 8.0000725, 1.0568328e-8), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, -5.9604645e-8), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.9999275, 0), (-8, 10.999964, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000036, 0), (-11, 8.0000725, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0)]
-            uniform uint[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117]
+            uniform int[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117]
         }
 
         def BlendShape "targetD"
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ def SkelRoot "TestPlane"
                 weight = 0.5
             )
             uniform vector3f[] offsets = [(-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, -1.6621925e-8), (-8, 10.999981, -2.8394425e-9), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 2.8394425e-9), (-11, 8.000038, 1.0568328e-8), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, -5.9604645e-8), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0)]
-            uniform uint[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117]
+            uniform int[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117]
         }
 
         def BlendShape "targetE"
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ def SkelRoot "TestPlane"
                 weight = 1.5
             )
             uniform vector3f[] offsets = [(-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, -1.6621925e-8), (-8, 10.999981, -2.8394425e-9), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 2.8394425e-9), (-11, 8.000038, 1.0568328e-8), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, -5.9604645e-8), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0)]
-            uniform uint[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117]
+            uniform int[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117]
         }
 
         def BlendShape "targetF"
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ def SkelRoot "TestPlane"
                 weight = -0.499
             )
             uniform vector3f[] offsets = [(-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, -1.6621925e-8), (-8, 10.999981, -2.8394425e-9), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 2.8394425e-9), (-11, 8.000038, 1.0568328e-8), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, -5.9604645e-8), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0), (-7, 11.999962, 0), (-8, 10.999981, 0), (-9, 10, 0), (-10, 9.000019, 0), (-11, 8.000038, 0), (0, 0, 0)]
-            uniform uint[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115]
+            uniform int[] pointIndices = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115]
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/utils.cpp b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/utils.cpp
index 1c7ad46097..59a7d0b059 100644
--- a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/utils.cpp
+++ b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/utils.cpp
@@ -1656,7 +1656,7 @@ namespace {
 bool
 UsdSkel_ApplyIndexedBlendShape(const float weight,
                                const TfSpan<const GfVec3f> offsets,
-                               const TfSpan<const unsigned> indices,
+                               const TfSpan<const int> indices,
                                TfSpan<GfVec3f> points)
 {
     TRACE_FUNCTION();
@@ -1669,8 +1669,8 @@ UsdSkel_ApplyIndexedBlendShape(const float weight,
         [&](size_t start, size_t end)
         {  
             for (size_t i = start; i < end; ++i) {
-                const unsigned index = indices[i];
-                if (static_cast<size_t>(index) < points.size()) { 
+                const int index = indices[i];
+                if (index >= 0 && static_cast<size_t>(index) < points.size()) {
                     points[index] += offsets[i]*weight;
                 }  else {
                     // XXX: If one offset index is bad, an asset has probably
@@ -1713,7 +1713,7 @@ UsdSkel_ApplyNonIndexedBlendShape(const float weight,
 bool
 UsdSkelApplyBlendShape(const float weight,
                        const TfSpan<const GfVec3f> offsets,
-                       const TfSpan<const unsigned> indices,
+                       const TfSpan<const int> indices,
                        TfSpan<GfVec3f> points)
 {
     // Early out if weights are zero.
@@ -1951,7 +1951,7 @@ _BakeSkinnedPoints(const UsdPrim& prim,
     const UsdSkelBindingAPI binding(prim);
     const UsdSkelBlendShapeQuery blendShapeQuery(binding);
     // Cache the offsets and point indices of all blend shapes.
-    const std::vector<VtUIntArray> blendShapePointIndices =
+    const std::vector<VtIntArray> blendShapePointIndices =
         blendShapeQuery.ComputeBlendShapePointIndices();
     const std::vector<VtVec3fArray> subShapePointOffsets =
         blendShapeQuery.ComputeSubShapePointOffsets();
diff --git a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/utils.h b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/utils.h
index dbd9cad2fe..1d5fb32a24 100644
--- a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/utils.h
+++ b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/utils.h
@@ -599,7 +599,7 @@ USDSKEL_API
 bool
 UsdSkelApplyBlendShape(const float weight,
                        const TfSpan<const GfVec3f> offsets,
-                       const TfSpan<const unsigned> indices,
+                       const TfSpan<const int> indices,
                        TfSpan<GfVec3f> points);
 
 
diff --git a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/wrapBlendShape.cpp b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/wrapBlendShape.cpp
index 61c08f2061..5f7cff2858 100644
--- a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/wrapBlendShape.cpp
+++ b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/wrapBlendShape.cpp
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ static UsdAttribute
 _CreatePointIndicesAttr(UsdSkelBlendShape &self,
                                       object defaultVal, bool writeSparsely) {
     return self.CreatePointIndicesAttr(
-        UsdPythonToSdfType(defaultVal, SdfValueTypeNames->UIntArray), writeSparsely);
+        UsdPythonToSdfType(defaultVal, SdfValueTypeNames->IntArray), writeSparsely);
 }
 
 } // anonymous namespace
diff --git a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/wrapBlendShapeQuery.cpp b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/wrapBlendShapeQuery.cpp
index 6bfab4fcb4..6edc219bb7 100644
--- a/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/wrapBlendShapeQuery.cpp
+++ b/pxr/usd/lib/usdSkel/wrapBlendShapeQuery.cpp
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ _ComputeDeformedPoints(const UsdSkelBlendShapeQuery& self,
 {
     return self.ComputeDeformedPoints(
         subShapeWeights, blendShapeIndices, subShapeIndices,
-        _PyListToVector<VtUIntArray>(blendShapePointIndices),
+        _PyListToVector<VtIntArray>(blendShapePointIndices),
         _PyListToVector<VtVec3fArray>(subShapePointOffsets), points);
 }