Foundry has opened public testing for the Nuke 17 Open Beta, the latest step in the long-running effort to modernise its compositing platform. The company highlights a reworked 3D system, an overhauled annotation interface, and a new Variable framework intended to strengthen data exchange across pipelines.
This release continues Foundry’s shift toward USD-based workflows, a direction the company has been exploring since Nuke 14. On paper, the new 3D system allows compositors to access the same assets and scene data used by other departments, aligning Nuke with 3D and animation tools in a shared pipeline.
The 3D rebuild: a long road
The official documentation (As far as it is currently available) lists updated projection and masking workflows, lighting controls, and new node structures within the 3D environment. There is also mention of a revised ScanlineRender v2, plus geo stacking and path masking. Foundry positions these as steps toward tighter scene organisation and smoother data exchange.
However, as Topic Rooms VFX notes in its opinion of the beta, many artists are questioning who this new system is really for. Most compositors still use Nuke’s 3D tools for projection, relighting, and camera mapping rather than full scene rendering. The publication points out that a USD-driven workflow may benefit pipeline engineers more than everyday artists.
What artists say they actually want from Nuke 17
According to the same commentary, artists would rather see practical improvements such as faster projection nodes, volumetric light tools, or even a lightweight preview renderer similar to Eevee. The argument is that Foundry continues to refine its 3D infrastructure while ignoring smaller quality-of-life updates that could immediately improve daily compositing work.
Annotations and variables
Beyond the 3D rebuild, Nuke 17 introduces a completely redesigned annotation workflow. The new Annotations Panel and Toolbar are meant to simplify feedback cycles, reducing the confusion that often arises in collaborative review sessions. The documentation describes this as a “whole new experience” for timeline annotation, suggesting a clearer, faster way to handle shot notes and client feedback.
The Variable system is another quiet but potentially important addition. It provides a framework for sharing and managing template data across nodes and scripts, effectively improving communication between compositors, pipeline engineers, and automation tools. If it works as intended, this could make complex setups more maintainable.
Still early days for Nuke 17
It’s worth emphasising that this is an early beta. Foundry has made it clear that the listed features are subject to change before the final release, and more updates are promised. The company provides a free sample script and assets to help testers explore the new 3D environment, along with detailed documentation on the updated node behaviour.
For now, users are invited to test, experiment, and submit feedback — but not to expect production-ready stability. As with any beta, it’s advisable to evaluate Nuke 17 in a controlled environment before integrating it into a live pipeline.
The Nuke 17 Open Beta is available for download from Foundry’s official site.
