Shader Playground, rendered in Arnold for Maya, using OpenPBR Surface. Artwork by Nikie Monteleone.

OpenPBR BSDF reference code from Adobe

OpenPBR BSDF reference implementation for Substance is public as a small library with prepare, sample, eval, pdf API and multi-target compilation.
A character in a dark cavern gazes at a glowing, crystalline creature resembling a serpent. The blue-lit environment sparkles with tiny lights, creating an otherworldly atmosphere.

On a Mission: Creating “NO ONE’S LIGHT”

No One’s Light is what happens when you start with 50 sci-fi ideas, delete 47 of them for survival reasons, and end up with a five-minute animated short that still looks like an alien planet got a proper art department. Blender handles the…
A group of animated animals gathered on a stone surface in a natural setting. A large bear roars, while smaller creatures, including a fluffy squirrel, a chubby rabbit, a tiny green lizard, and a deer, look on, creating a lively, playful scene.

How Pixar Cheats a Skunk Tail

Kranzler talks Hoppers grooming and shading, including a layered wet-fur look and why skunks got a “cheated” tail.
A person in dark clothing stands outside a brightly lit convenience store, facing a large moose. Two parked cars are visible nearby under the glow of neon lights of the store, creating an intriguing night scene.

MPC’s Cold Storage

MPC Paris delivered 575 shots on Cold Storage, from invisible fixes to slime, creatures and a nuclear finale. But how?
A fresh red strawberry partially enveloped in smooth white cream, with the cream forming a swirl around the berry, set against a soft, blurred background that emphasizes the vibrant colors.

VFX School Closes and Leaves the Lights On

For those who don’t know the school: The VFX School was an online training platform focused primarily on Houdini-based FX simulation workflows. Its courses centred on effects such as destruction, fluids and pyro simulations, sometimes…
A person wearing large, reflective goggles that show a fiery orange sky, with their hair gently blowing in the wind against a blue background.

A World Divided: Shaping a Global WWII Epic at Overmind Studios

125 shots, six episodes, and a two-person team. VFX lead Tobias Kummer explained how Overmind Studios delivered geographic transformations, period cleanup, atmospherics, and a nuclear blast for A World Divided, built on disciplined templating…
A collection of colorful 3D spheres displayed on a flat surface, featuring variations in design and texture names labeled underneath. The foreground highlights an orange sphere with black accents and a shiny finish.

280 free automotive Substrate materials for UE 5.7

Epic’s new Automotive Substrate Materials pack on Fab bundles over 280 vehicle-focused Substrate materials plus templates, setup assets, and calibrated maps, targeting consistent results across Lumen and the Path Tracer in Unreal Engine 5.7.3…
A large, healthy tree with a dense canopy of vibrant green leaves and a thick trunk. The tree stands against a plain gray background, showcasing its natural shape and structure.

The Grove 2.3

The Grove 2.3 adds direct drawing, subdivide and export improvements, Houdini Indie support and huge storage savings.
A diver in a dark underwater environment, wearing a full-face diving helmet and breathing apparatus. Bubbles rise around him as ambient light filters through the water, creating a mysterious atmosphere.

Grading Kraken: insights from the colour grade

Senior Colourist Dylan Hopkin (Shortcut Oslo) outlines the grading process behind the new sci-fi film Kraken, and how contrast, colour and AI-assisted tools were used to support storytelling.

SynthEyes 2026 Speeds Up

SynthEyes 2026 adds a Mocha-powered affine point tracker, real-time GeoH previews and expanded USD support to cut solve iteration time.
A 3D animation software interface displaying a sequence of seven humanoid figures in varying poses, with one figure standing in a center position, showcasing character animation progress. The background is black, emphasizing the models.

Cascadeur on physics, AI and control

Cascadeur explains how physics solvers and local AI shape modern keyframe animation. Physics-assisted keyframing and AI-generated Inbetweening sound like shorthand for automation. In practice, they describe a layered system that revolves…
A promotional image featuring the ColorEdge logo and the word "OLED" on a dark background with swirling shades of blue and purple. The text "Coming soon" is displayed below the logo.

EIZO Previews First OLED ColorEdge

EIZO is bringing OLED into the ColorEdge lineup. The company is previewing an OLED ColorEdge model under development, positioned for 4K HDR workflows and featuring refined ABL luminance control, a status indicator, built-in calibration sensor…
A digital editing software interface showing a landscape image with trees, a stone structure, and a person standing near the center. Editing tools and options are visible on the top and bottom panels.

Live FX 9.9: New Unreal Engine workflows, in a 3-part tutorial

Assimilate has published a short three-part tutorial series for combining Live FX 9.9 with Unreal Engine in virtual production. The videos cover GPU Texture Share on a single system, an nDisplay workflow that outputs multiple render streams,…
A detailed view of a 3D modeling software interface featuring a wireframe representation of a human face, primarily focusing on the nose. The sidebar shows various tools and options related to the modeling process, labeled 'Bezier Deform'. The workspace is dark with contrasting colors for clarity.

Modeler 26 for Houdini released

Modeler 26 for Houdini introduces a significantly expanded PolyPen, Bezier-based deformation, curve-driven boolean operations, viewport card drawing, and a new object layer system.
A colorful animated character with large eyes and a cheerful expression stands on a vibrant, textured surface, surrounded by small, whimsical creatures. The background features swirling, colorful patterns, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.

Blender 5.1 Beta Improves Performance, Workflow, and Compositing

Blender 5.1 enters public beta with a familiar focus on refinement rather than disruption. The update brings targeted improvements across animation, compositing, UI, and USD export, offering a smooth and predictable upgrade path for artists…
A cartoonish pink pig with a cheerful expression, floating among white clouds against a light blue sky. The pig has a small balloon tied to its body, adding a whimsical touch to the scene.

Animate re-animated

The King is dead, long live the King: Adobe caves, and Animate remains available with support and fixes, but no new features.
A person with a distinctive, textured skin expression gazes intently, illuminated by a warm, fiery glow in the background. Their features suggest a serious or intense moment, with shadows enhancing the dramatic effect.

Unreal Reality: Building A New Specimen

Director Dimitri Vallein breaks down the real-time production of his Unreal Engine short film New Specimen, from motion capture to cloth sims.
A close-up view of a metallic pot filled with cooked spaghetti, with strands of pasta cascading around it. The rich, warm tones create a cozy atmosphere, highlighting the texture of the pot and pasta.

InstaMAT Test: Painting, Procedurals and Pasta

InstaMAT merges painting, materials, and mesh editing into one node-based tool that connects Substance-style workflows with procedural control. Sounds great, so we'll get our hands dirty and test it!