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This time in Digital Production
Another two weeks, another collection of software updates, workflow improvements, and things that might actually save you some time. Maxon has rolled out its 2027 releases, RizomUV is making UV workflows less painful, DaVinci Resolve is getting more scripting capabilities, and After Effects expressions are becoming a little more visual. Meanwhile, Blender wants to know what you think needs fixing. We suspect the answers will be extensive.
And if you're looking for a new challenge, HSHL has two research positions covering virtual production and digital locations. Actual opportunities to work with Unreal Engine instead of just adding it to your CV. Apply now, the deadline is tomorrow!
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HSHL Is Hiring: Research Associate for Virtual Production
Your Unreal Engine and C++ skills could help shape the future of filmmaking. Join HSHL’s ProSys OSVP team and build tools for virtual production.
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HSHL Is Hiring: Research Associate for Digital Locations
Join HSHL’s DigiLoc premier academic team and bring your Unreal Engine and 3D environment skills to applied research. You’ll have a giant stage to work with! Apply by 20 October 2026.
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Maxon 2027.0: More Trees, Fewer Detours
Maxon 2027 brings Cinema 4D scatter and Liquid FX, ZBrush UVs, Redshift fur, Red Giant relighting and Autograph MCP. More deep dives follow.
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RizomUV 2027: More UVs, Less Wrestling
RizomUV 2027 adds live unfolding, density maps, a customizable interface and headless Python automation across Windows, macOS and Linux.
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Blender Survey 2026: What Should They Fix Next?
Blender wants your feedback again. The 2026 survey covers workflows, development priorities, money and the future of the project.
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DaVinci Resolve 21.1.1 Adds Async APIs
Audio-only trimming, audible mouse trims and asynchronous scripting expand Resolve’s toolkit, with new CR3 and Windows 11 USAC decoding.
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Expression Alchemist: Nodes for AE Expressions
Expression Alchemist builds visual node graphs into native After Effects expressions. A clever workflow tool, with AI firmly optional.
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SpyderPro Adds Deeper Calibration
SpyderPro adds denser greyscale measurements and detailed validation reports. Datacolor reports improvements across 24 tested displays.
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Exclusive for subscribers
This time, we're looking at the practical side of production, from keeping track of equipment to working with RAW footage on mobile devices. Alexander Vexler talks us through ohm.rent and the surprisingly complicated business of knowing who borrowed which camera, where it went, and whether anyone intends to bring it back. We also put BlackRAW Studio through its paces on iPhone and iPad, examining what mobile RAW workflows can actually deliver beyond looking impressive in a feature list. As always, subscribers get the deeper technical stories, practical testing, and the details that don't fit into a social media post.
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ohm.rent: Who Has the camera This Time?
Cameras, kits and calendar collisions: Alexander Vexler discusses ohm.rent, university equipment loans and keeping rental chaos out of the picture.
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BlackRAW – a pocket-sized Studio
BlackRAW Studio brings BRAW and ProRes RAW playback, grading, proxies and NLE hand-off to iPhone and iPad. We test its speed and workflow limits.
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So, Dude, where's the Artcraft Article?
You may be wondering where our article on Artcraft is. Everybody else wrote about it. You know, the free, open-source Adobe alternative programmed in Rust that quickly expanded into Pro Tools and Microsoft Office territory. Well, we tested it. And decided not to write about it. Because we cover professional software. For all our disagreements with Adobe (And they are many and varied), we agree on one thing: software should work. In actual production, good intentions are no substitute for predictable behaviour and results. Artcraft might be fine for cropping pictures or putting together a holiday video. But that's a long way from professional production. In our tests, every attempt to produce even remotely usable results failed, often miserably. Professional workflows demand precision, consistency, reliable media handling, and predictable output. None of which can be replaced by enthusiasm. That doesn't make the project "bullshit". It makes it a very, very, very early experiment. We may be witnessing a Gutenberg moment in software development, courtesy of increasingly cheap AI coding tools. Unfortunately, the results are following an all-too-familiar pattern. AI text is perfect if you don't expect anyone to read it (except in online listicles). AI music is wonderful if you don't want anyone to listen to it (except in elevators). And AI software is revolutionary if nobody expects it to work (to a deadline). We've reached the point where people who don't understand software can build tools for people who don't know how to use them, producing results neither has the eye to judge. A triumph of democratisation, with reliability considered an optional extra. And, as a writer, let me take you back to the days of the Online publishing revolution,the rise of Social Media and the Blogosphere.... (Eyelid twitches)
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Bye Bye
That's it for this round. Plenty of new features to test and software updates to install. Preferably not five minutes before a deadline. We've all learned that lesson. Some of us repeatedly. If you've tried any of these tools, found something interesting, or have a production story worth sharing, drop me a line. Actual experience is always more interesting than another list of allegedly revolutionary features. Until next time, keep your coffee somewhere reasonably safe from the keyboard. Bela and the Floof
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Digital Production · Bela Beier UG (haftungsbeschränkt), Munich, Germany
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