For those who don’t know the tool: Light Painter is a Blender add-on for lighting lookdev that paints onto a light texture in Cycles using Spot or Area lights, right in the viewport.

Setup: Cycles or nothing

Light Painter by ShaderError depends on Cycles light texture nodes, so it requires Cycles as the render engine. It does not support Eevee for this workflow. The baseline is Blender 3.6 through 5.1, and tCycles as the render engine and GPL as the license. Before you get excited and start scribbling highlights onto your hero asset, there is a short checklist that matters. You need a Spot Light or an Area Light, since the tool only works with those two light types. Point and Sun lights do not apply here, because the workflow relies on directional texture projection.

For sharper painting while you work, keeping the light size small helps. Spot Light uses a small Radius value and a Spot Size under 160 degrees to reduce distortion. Area Light uses scene scale dependent Size and a fairly low Spread value while painting. You can soften things later by changing Radius or Spread, but the painting stage favors crisp edges so you can read what you are doing.

The docs also recommend enabling GPU Compute for performance, since the tool relies heavily on shader computation. CPU rendering still works, but GPU is expected to be faster.

Painting on lights, not on meshes

The core idea is simple: you paint into a texture image that drives the light, and the tool previews the result in the viewport while you paint. You choose the target light in a panel, pick a texture resolution, and run a reset action that initializes the node setup. Then you paint using tools that include a brush and a gradient tool.

Light Painter stores the paint in a light texture image, with selectable resolutions from 512 pixels up to 4096 pixels. Higher resolution gives finer detail at the cost of more memory and slower interaction.

There is also a surface scoping system that controls what receives paint. You can paint on all meshes, a single object, or a collection. Separately, there is a skip list for objects that should behave as transparent for the painting depth pass, like glass windows, translucent curtains, fog and dust volume boxes, wireframe grids, and objects used for volumetric effects. If a see-through object blocks your strokes, it needs to be marked there.

Layers, masks, and the temp EXR stash

Light Painter includes a Photoshop style layer stack per light. Layers have blend modes, opacity, visibility, and transforms, and they composite from bottom to top. Blend modes listed in the docs include Mix, Multiply, Screen, Add, Subtract, Overlay, and Soft Light.

Each layer creates a Blender image datablock to hold pixel data. The layer system also writes temporary files to disk in the OpenEXR format to support undo, persistence, and compositing. These temporary files are cleaned up automatically when the add-on is disabled or when Blender closes, and layer metadata such as names, blend modes, order, and transforms is saved inside the blend file.

Layer transforms are non-destructive in light UV space, with offset, rotation, scale, and a pivot. The docs list shortcut gestures while the brush or gradient tool is active for moving, rotating, and scaling the active layer.

Selections add another control lever. You can build a mask to restrict painting so areas outside the selection are protected. The selection tool supports rectangle, polygon, lasso, and brush shapes, plus modes like add, subtract, and intersect. Expect to use this when you want to localize a fill or protect a face from accidental spill while you dial in a rim.

About that spill: the docs warn about light bleed beyond the painted region when the light source has a physical size. Blender can spread light beyond the texture boundary and into shadowed areas, and the current version does not compensate for that during painting.

Camera space vs light space

There are two paint spaces. In camera space, the paint is designed to match what you see on screen, with brush falloff mapping one-to-one with the viewport result. In light space, the brush math and gradient blending happen in the light texture space, while the brush centre and gradient endpoints come from the viewport, which can look distorted in the viewport depending on angle and distance.

Light space comes with two projection approaches for mapping the cursor. Raycast traces against geometry each frame and falls back when the cursor moves off surfaces. Plane establishes a paint plane on the first click, then projects subsequent cursor positions onto that plane. The gradient tool always uses raycast in light space.

This split is practcial. Camera space supports quick art direction because what you see is what you paint. Light space supports behavior that follows the light texture space more directly, and the docs describe it as a fallback for edge cases where camera space painting fails to cover some texels, such as steep angles or complex shadow boundaries.

Some studios will end up using both in the same shot. Start in camera space for broad strokes, switch to light space for the annoying bits, and remember that the annoying bits always find you in the final.

Preview and troubleshooting

The add-on includes a real-time overlay preview system. One mode previews only what is currently being drawn. Another mode overlays the full light texture and mask across the viewport and marks unpaintable areas in red, so you can see where the light reaches and where it is blocked.

There is also a preview option to show raw paint colour versus a falloff preview that includes rendering factors like distance attenuation and exposure. A light blur option attempts to mimic how Blender spreads the light based on the physical size of the source, with a multiplier to scale the effect.

If the result looks broken, reset the operator that rebuilds the shader node setup and resets layers. Changing light size can reset layers because the texture proportion ties to light size, and the docs recommend undo if the size change was accidental.

Advanced settings in the docs cover near and far clip for the light frustum, a surface bias for shadow acne, softness and bleed reduction controls, and internal capture resolutions.

Pricing and licensing

Light Painter is sold on Superhive in multiple tiers. LightPainter Lite is listed at $12. LightPainter for individuals is listed $36. LightPainter Indie for up to 3 people is listed at $80. LightPainter Full for up to 14 people is listed at $350. LightPainter Studio for 15 or more people is listed at $750. Currently there is a promotion that halves the prizes, no idea how long that goes.

As always, test any new tool and workflow in a controlled scene before it touches production assets, especially anything that rewires nodes, writes temp files, or changes how your lgiht setup evaluates across machines.

// Product page, pricing tiers, compatibility, license
https://superhivemarket.com/products/light-painter

The post ShaderError Light Painter paints light in Blender first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Antoine Bagattini, the creator of BagaPie has released BagaCam OSL, a camera add-on that implements Open Shading Language (OSL) camera shaders directly in Blender. It runs within Blender’s Cycles render engine, allowing users to apply and customise optical effects directly at render time rather than in compositing.

The add-on introduces a OSL-driven camera system, allowing effects to behave as part of the physical light simulation. Because the shaders influence ray casting rather than pixels, they interact properly with volumetrics, transparency, motion blur, and reflections, behaviours typically missing from post filters.

Built-in optical effects

BagaCam OSL ships with a preset browser containing camera looks based on real lens artefacts. Included effects are barrel and pincushion distortion, chromatic aberration, vignette, glow, and several depth-of-field variations. The system also supports custom bokeh shapes, including anamorphic and petzval patterns, directly within Cycles.

Each camera in Blender can hold its own preset. When switching between presets, parameters reset to their default values to maintain consistency across scenes. Advanced users can access the raw OSL shader parameters to tweak the optical model beyond the preset limits.

OSL under the hood

Open Shading Language (OSL) is a shading language designed for physically based rendering. Cycles’ OSL implementation lets artists define shaders that describe how rays behave rather than how pixels look. BagaCam OSL uses this system to make the camera itself a shader, modifying how rays are projected into the 3D scene. This allows, for example, a chromatic aberration shader to refract light in the ray-tracing step, rather than faking it afterwards in compositing. It also means depth-of-field and motion blur remain physically consistent because they occur at the render stage.

Limitations and requirements

BagaCam OSL currently works only in Cycles. Eevee and Eevee Next do not support OSL camera shaders. GPU OSL rendering is limited to single-GPU setups, and CPU rendering remains the most stable mode for complex OSL operations. The add-on targets Blender 5.0 and later. Pricing details are listed on the Superhive product page. It’s 12 USD.

Why this matters

Integrating optical simulation at the camera stage allows for physically plausible renders without relying on external compositing. For production workflows requiring realistic lenses or cinematic depth, BagaCam OSL offers a direct, render-level alternative to Nuke or After Effects lens filters. Artists working on VFX, archviz, or animation projects can now match real camera characteristics within Blender’s render itself, with fewer steps between shot design and final comp.

As with any new tool, it should be tested on production scenes before adoption, especially when combining OSL with complex shading networks.

The post Blender Gets Real Lenses: BagaCam OSL Released first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Analog meets Geometry Nodes: Blender now has an add-on that simulates real photographic film stocks. Developer Edin Spiegel’s Accurate Film Simulation brings the tonal response of Kodak Portra 400, Ektar 100, Gold 200, and Tri-X 320 directly into the 3D viewport.

Unlike a simple overlay or LUT, the tool recreates the physical behavior of film emulsions. The Geometry Nodes version references spectral sensitivity curves and simulates dye particles within the film layer, producing an image response modeled on real-world film chemistry. For faster results, a Compositor variant generates procedural noise for grain, mimicking analog texture without the compute hit.

The add-on’s dual-mode architecture gives artists a practical choice: filmic accuracy for look-dev, or render-time efficiency for production shots. It integrates into Blender’s native node system without external dependencies, making it easy to fit into existing pipelines for both still and animated content.

With the ongoing revival of “analog” imagery in digital workflows—from AI-upscaled home movies to photorealistic CG that deliberately avoids sterile perfection—this add-on lands squarely on trend. Its use of physical data rather than preset LUTs offers both educational and aesthetic value, particularly for artists chasing cinematic color response rather than pure digital precision.

Early users report authentic grain behavior and smooth tone roll-off typical of real film, though the heavier simulation may lengthen render times. Support for motion sequences and ACES color management remains to be tested.

Accurate Film Simulation is available on Superhive Market for around 3 USD, making it one of the more affordable ways to introduce photographic imperfection into Blender’s mathematically perfect world

The post Accurate Film Simulation for Blender: Analog Soul, Digital Body first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

VFX artist Rob Dickinson has unveiled Mesh Cleaner for Blender, a nifty free add-on designed to tackle those pesky artifacts that often plague 3D models. Whether you’re dealing with 3D scans or prepping models for animation, rendering, or even 3D printing, this tool aims to make your life a tad easier.

A One-Stop Shop for Geometry Cleanup

Mesh Cleaner consolidates Blender’s essential geometry-cleaning tools into a single, user-friendly panel. With just one click, you can:

• Remove double vertices: Say goodbye to those unwanted duplicates that mess up your mesh.
• Eliminate loose geometry: Clean up stray elements that shouldn’t be there.
• Fill holes: Automatically detect and patch up gaps in your mesh.
• Convert triangles to quads: Transform those tricky triangles into quads, making your model more animation-friendly.

Compatibility and Cost

Good news for Blender enthusiasts: Mesh Cleaner is compatible with Blender 4.3 and is available as a free download. You can grab it from Gumroad. While it’s free, consider tossing a few coins Rob’s way if you find it useful—after all, even digital wizards need to pay the bills. As with any new tool, it’s prudent to test Mesh Cleaner on your models before integrating it into critical projects. Ensure it meshes well with your workflow to avoid any unexpected hiccups.

In Conclusion

For those in the 3D production trenches, Mesh Cleaner offers a straightforward solution to common modeling headaches. By streamlining the cleanup process, it lets artists focus more on creativity and less on troubleshooting. So, why not give it a whirl? Your meshes might just thank you.

Links: Download from Gumroad

The post Mesh Cleaner for Blender first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

In the ever-evolving world of 3D, efficiency is key. Enter Assetify, the Blender add-on designed to catapult your assets from the confines of your .blend files into the vast universe of game engines, rendering platforms, VR/AR applications, and even 3D printing. And it does so with the grace of a seasoned ballet dancer—minus the tutu.

Automated Texture Baking

Remember the days of manual texture baking? Neither do we, thanks to Assetify. This tool automates the baking of diffuse, roughness, metallic, normal, and alpha textures, ensuring your assets are dressed to impress. With presets tailored for Unreal Engine 5 and Unity, Assetify packs textures just the way these platforms like them. Whether you’re consolidating multiple materials into a single texture package for performance gains or keeping them separate for custom resolutions, Assetify has you covered. It’s like having a personal chef who knows exactly how you like your eggs—over easy, with a side of optimization.

Multi-Format Exporting

Diversity is the spice of life, and Assetify serves up a smorgasbord of export options:

• FBX: The go-to format for most 3D software and game engines, including Unreal Engine and Unity.
• OBJ: The universal translator of 3D applications and VR/AR platforms, perfect for rendering or archiving.
• GLTF/GLB: The sleek, modern standard for web-based 3D applications and AR/VR experiences.
• STL: The trusty companion for all your 3D printing adventures.

With Assetify, your assets are always ready for the next big thing, be it a game, a virtual tour, or a 3D-printed masterpiece.

Collection Management

Managing assets can sometimes feel like herding cats. Assetify brings order to the chaos with its robust collection management features. Process entire collections, maintain hierarchies, and bake/export assets with a few swift clicks. Toggle between Asset Mode for individual items and Collection Mode for grouped workflows, giving you the flexibility to handle projects of any scale. It’s asset management so smooth, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

UV Unwrapping

UV unwrapping can be as enjoyable as untangling holiday lights. Fortunately, Assetify automates the creation and packing of basic UV maps, ensuring efficient texture mapping without the usual headaches. Whether you’re working with static models or complex procedural setups, Assetify’s UV unwrapping has your back, saving you hours of tedious labor. Now you can spend more time creating and less time wrestling with UVs.

Geometry Nodes Support

Procedural assets are all the rage, and Assetify is fully on board. It seamlessly integrates with geometry nodes, allowing you to bake and export even the most intricate setups into game-ready formats. As long as you’re using a principled BSDF as an output, Assetify handles any procedural configuration with ease. Focus on your creative process, and let Assetify take care of the technical heavy lifting.

Pricing

Quality tools often come with a price tag, but Assetify offers a range of options to suit various needs:

• Individual License: $34.99
• Studio License (2-5 seats): $69.99
• Studio License (5-10 seats): $129.99
• Studio License (10+ seats): $199.99

Investing in Assetify is like buying time—and who couldn’t use more of that?

Note: As with any new tool, it’s advisable to test Assetify’s features on non-critical projects to ensure compatibility and performance before integrating it into your primary workflow.

Assetify on Blender Market

• DefoQ’s Creator Page

For a visual demonstration of Assetify’s capabilities, check out the video demo available on the Assetify product page.

The post Assetify v.2: Turning Blender Assets into Game-Ready Gold first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Navigating complex shader trees in Blender can feel like wandering through a labyrinth blindfolded. Enter Shader View, an innovative add-on that displays real-time output previews directly above each node, eliminating the tedious back-and-forth of connecting nodes to the material output just to see their effects. This tool renders node output previews in the background, ensuring a fluid workflow even in projects with over 200 nodes.

Performance and Customization at Your Fingertips

Shader View is optimized for performance, handling extensive shader trees smoothly. Each node’s preview is customizable, allowing adjustments to fit your specific workflow. You can modify the render sample count, switch between EEVEE and Cycles render engines, and toggle lighting modes—particularly useful when working with normal maps. The add-on also intelligently prevents node preview overlaps, keeping your node editor clean and organized.

A Nod to Node Preview

Inspired by Simon Wendsche’s Node Preview add-on, Shader View enhances the concept with several improvements:

• Per-Node Customization: Independent settings for each node provide greater flexibility.
• Animation Compatibility: Functions seamlessly with animated shaders.
• Performance Tuning: Adjustable settings ensure smooth operation, even on older hardware.
• Active Socket Highlighting: Highlights the active output socket for nodes with multiple outputs.
• Overlap Prevention: Smart logic prevents rendered previews from overlapping.
• User-Friendly Interface: Designed for ease of use without compromising functionality.

Pricing and Availability

Shader View is available for purchase on Gumroad for $14.90.

The post Real-Time Node Previews in Blender—Because Guesswork is So Last Year first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

In the ever-evolving world of 3D animation, time is of the essence—especially when it comes to rendering.Enter Samuel Francis’s latest contribution to the Blender community: the Animation Render Time Estimator.his free add-on is designed to predict the total render time for your Blender animations, ensuring you’re not left guessing when your masterpiece will be ready for viewing.

How It Works

Traditionally, Blender provides progress updates on individual frames during rendering, but it doesn’t offer an estimate for the entire animation’s completion time. The Animation Render Time Estimator fills this gap by analyzing the initial frames of your animation—skipping the very first to avoid any startup anomalies—and calculating an estimated total render time. Users can customize how frequently these estimates are updated, allowing for flexibility based on the project’s complexity and rendering duration.

User Experience and Interface

Once installed, the add-on integrates seamlessly into Blender’s user interface. It displays the estimated render time and a progress bar, providing real-time feedback as your animation renders. For those who prefer a more behind-the-scenes approach, the script also prints this information directly to Blender’s console.

System Requirements and Availability

The Animation Render Time Estimator is compatible with Blender version 4.2 and above. Best of all, it’s available for free. Donations or “Pay as you want pricing is appreciated – just think of the guessing time your saving, what this part of your time is worth, and then you’ll arrive at a fair price ;) . Interested users can download it from Samuel Francis’s Gumroad page.

The post Blender’s New Add-on: Because Waiting Forever Isn’t a Workflow first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

---

Delta Quad is here to save you from messy topology headaches. This Blender add-on is designed to convert N-gons—those pesky multi-sided faces—into clean, quad-based topology with just a few clicks. Available for purchase on Gumroad, Delta Quad offers a streamlined solution for Blender users looking to tidy up their meshes and optimize their workflow.

What Does Delta Quad Do?

Delta Quad focuses on a specific problem in 3D modeling: N-gons can create issues in workflows requiring clean topology, like sculpting, rigging, and texturing. This add-on automates the conversion process, replacing N-gons with neatly tessellated quads while maintaining the original geometry’s overall structure. The result? Clean topology that works seamlessly across different stages of your 3D production pipeline.

Key Features:

• Automated N-Gon to Quad Conversion: Delta Quad analyzes your mesh and transforms N-gons into quad faces, making your topology clean and animation-ready.
• Preserves Geometry: The add-on ensures that the mesh structure remains intact during conversion, so your designs stay true to your original vision.
• Simple UI: With a minimalist interface, Delta Quad integrates seamlessly into Blender, allowing artists to work without interruption.

Pricing and Availability

Delta Quad is available for purchase on Gumroad for $10+ Dollars -you can support the creator if you want to.. At this price, it’s a no-brainer for Blender professionals and enthusiasts alike.

A Word of Caution

As with any new tool, it’s recommended to test Delta Quad on non-critical projects before integrating it into your primary production pipeline.

The post Delta Quad: The Add-On That Tames N-Gons in Blender first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

BlenderCraft isn’t just an add-on; it’s a block-based playground for Blender enthusiasts. Designed for crafting Minecraft-style environments, it equips artists with procedural generation tools and over 300 Minecraft blocks ready to use at the click of a button. Available for just $8 on BlenderMarket, it’s as budget-friendly as it is feature-packed.

Everything BlenderCraft Offers
BlenderCraft lets you procedurally generate Minecraft-style terrains directly inside Blender. Over 300 prebuilt Minecraft blocks are included, ready to drop into your scenes with minimal setup. The add-on features a seamless and visually accurate Minecraft-style user interface, ensuring that block placement, editing, and management feel intuitive.

Fully Customizable Inventory
BlenderCraft introduces a fully draggable inventory, which can be repositioned anywhere in Blender or even on a second monitor. This enhances workflow efficiency and makes it easier for artists to focus on creative exploration without clutter.

Python and PyQt Required
For all its ease of use, BlenderCraft does require some backend preparation. Users need to have Python and PyQt installed to run the add-on smoothly. This prerequisite ensures that the interface and features perform seamlessly but might require a bit of setup for non-technical users.

The developers promise ongoing updates, adding new features and content to keep BlenderCraft at the cutting edge of Minecraft-style design.

Blender Integration
Built to integrate with Blender’s existing tools, BlenderCraft supports automatic UV mapping, works with modifiers, and allows for procedural flexibility. The streamlined interface ensures that users can focus on building while the technical details are handled in the background.

For just $8, BlenderCraft is a low-risk, high-reward addition to your Blender setup. It’s voxel art made smarter, faster, and way more fun.

The post BlenderCraft: Bringing Minecraft-Style Worlds to Blender first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Fluid simulation in Blender just got an upgrade. Cell Fluids 2.0, an updated add-on for Blender, delivers more features to help create visually striking liquid effects for VFX, game development, and real-time graphics workflows. This tool, built for production artists, focuses on enhancing fluid physics simulations without promising to make Blender splash-proof for every production pipeline.

What’s New in Cell Fluids 2.0?

The update introduces new functionalities, including the ability to simulate fluids at a cellular level. The tool integrates seamlessly into Blender’s existing environment, allowing users to tweak parameters to achieve more realistic results. Whether you’re creating cinematic liquid destruction or a calm ripple for a game, Cell Fluids 2.0 aims to offer flexibility.

Notably, the tool promises improved simulation accuracy and greater customization. This includes options to fine-tune viscosity, density, and interaction with surfaces. Artists can now control how fluids interact with objects in a scene, allowing for detailed splashes, spills, and other dynamic effects.

Cell Fluids 2.0 is available for purchase for 25$. For additional details, check out the official page on Blender Market.

The post Cell Fluids 2.0 Released: A Splashy Update for Blender first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

The Blender add-on LayerPainter has received a significant update, bringing enhancements aimed at digital artists and VFX professionals who rely on texture painting within Blender. The add-on streamlines layer-based texture creation, introducing tools that promise to make complex painting tasks more efficient.

The updated LayerPainter add-on for Blender delivers a comprehensive set of features tailored for texture painting and PBR (Physically Based Rendering) workflows. It includes advanced layer management tools that let artists easily create, organize, and modify multiple paint layers. Each layer supports unlimited filters and masks, offering flexibility for intricate texture designs. The add-on provides simple baking options for generating texture maps, alongside intuitive paint tools designed for precision. With blending modes, preview functionality for layers and colors, and support for exporting textures (including ORA files), LayerPainter ensures a streamlined workflow. Artists can also create custom node groups to use as filters, combine and resize layers, apply advanced filters, and rely on autosave functionality to safeguard their work. These features make LayerPainter a robust option for anyone working on detailed textures in Blender.

https://twitter.com/Hirourk/status/1863284491269148730

What’s New in LayerPainter?

The most notable improvement in the updated LayerPainter is its reworked UI. The interface has been redesigned to offer a more intuitive workflow, particularly for artists working on detailed, multi-layered textures. These changes aim to reduce the time spent navigating menus and settings, enabling a more focused creative process.

Another key feature is the introduction of new painting tools, allowing for greater control over texture precision and blending. This update also includes enhanced layer management capabilities, making it easier to organize and edit multiple texture layers within a single project.

Compatibility and Pricing

LayerPainter continues to be exclusively available for Blender, and the update supports the latest Blender builds. The tool remains affordable, priced at either “Free” or as a donation to the developer ( A well earned donation!). For details and purchasing, visit the official HAS LayerPainter page on Gumroad.

Is It Production-Ready?

While LayerPainter’s new features cater to advanced artistic needs, professionals should proceed with caution when incorporating it into production pipelines. Updates can introduce unexpected issues, and testing on non-critical projects is recommended before relying on it for larger tasks.

The post LayerPainter Update Enhances Painting Workflow in Blender first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Designed for professional users, this tool allows for basic crowd animation workflows to be integrated into Blender without needing additional third-party software. As always, test the tool’s performance in your projects before adopting it fully.

Streamlined Tool for Crowd Animation in Blender

“People Going Places” offers a simplified solution to crowd simulation. It avoids some of the heavier processing requirements seen in more advanced crowd systems, but it doesn’t sacrifice key functionality. This add-on lets users efficiently animate characters walking or moving across a scene, crucial for background activities or distant figures that don’t require close-up detail.

Instead of focusing on the complexity of individual character behaviors, the add-on prioritizes ease of use and resource efficiency. Users can assign basic movement patterns to multiple characters with minimal setup, significantly reducing the time and effort involved in manual animation. As a result, it’s a useful option for large crowd scenes in films, games, or visual effects where the detail of individual characters is less critical.

Performance and Limitations

The add-on is free, and its lightweight design means that it doesn’t heavily impact your system’s performance, even with large numbers of agents (animated characters) in a scene. It leverages Blender’s existing particle systems for the movement of agents. However, it doesn’t offer the advanced crowd simulation tools found in paid packages like Golaem (Now Autodesk) or Massive, both of which offer sophisticated AI-based crowd behavior and detailed customization.

Blender users may find that for basic needs—such as distant crowd shots or background activity—this tool meets the demands of their projects without adding extra costs. It is particularly useful for those seeking to quickly populate a scene with background movement but who don’t need the complexity of a dedicated crowd simulation tool. That said, it may not be suitable for close-up shots or highly detailed crowd interactions, as each agent is limited in terms of its behavior and animation patterns.

Price and Licensing Model

The tool is “pay what you want” on Gumroad. This makes it easy to try in your producition, and you can “buy a second license” if it helped you, or becomes part of your pipeline.

For just 2 US-Dollars you can even get a set of 32 low LOD textured animated characters.

Further Development and Support

Though the current iteration of “People Going Places” is functional, it’s relatively new and may not yet have extensive documentation or community support. Developers and artists should stay tuned for updates and improvements over time, as feedback from the Blender community could influence the addition of new features or performance enhancements. As of now, official documentation is sparse, but you can follow development or ask questions within the Blender Artists forums or other community hubs.

Gumroad – People going places

The post Lightweight Crowds: “People Going Places” first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

The “Quad Maker” add-on is designed to optimise the retopology process in Blender. It offers functions that enable more efficient modelling. The main features are the automatic recognition and adaptation of topology patterns and the simplification of complex meshes. This promises to improve the way VFX artists, game designers and other users work.

The Quad Maker integrates seamlessly into Blender’s existing user interface and complements it with new tools for the creation of topology quads. Using the add-on saves time and effort by automating repetitive retopology tasks. Another feature is the option to analyse and improve existing topologies. This can be particularly useful for optimising existing models for animations or game engines by removing unnecessary polygons and making mesh structures more efficient.

The tool offers various presets that can be customised depending on the application. Users can define specific topology presets to maintain precise control over the final result. These presets are helpful when different requirements are placed on models, such as organic shapes or technical models. In addition, Quad Maker can be integrated into existing Python-based scripts, which increases the level of automation.

Another highlight is the add-on’s ability to retain the original shape of the model while adapting the topology. This ensures that the artistic expression of the original is retained in the retopology. The automatic recognition of edge loops and polygon areas helps to further reduce working time. The tool makes it possible to focus on the creative aspects of modelling instead of wasting time on technical details.

Before using Quad Maker in ongoing projects, each function should be thoroughly tested to ensure that it fulfils the requirements and does not cause any unexpected problems. The results of the add-on are based on algorithms and techniques that, although advertised as efficient by the developers, may not be optimised for every possible requirement.

Licence model and pricing

Quad Maker is available as a paid add-on. Licensing terms and pricing vary, with both single user and team licences available. Details on prices and licence models can be found on the manufacturer’s website.

More information about the Quad Maker add-on.

The post Blender add-on “Quad Maker” for more efficient retopology first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

KeenTools has released “FaceTracker” for Blender. The software offers real-time face tracking and is available for free in the beta version.

KeenTools, known for its face tracking tools in Nuke, has released a new extension called “FaceTracker” specifically for Blender. The plugin enables real-time face tracking directly within the Blender environment and is free to use in the beta phase. This integration offers users the opportunity to efficiently integrate face mocap data into their workflow. KeenTools aims to make the use of Face-Mocap easier and more accessible by making the proven technology available to Blender users.

The “FaceTracker” functionality is seamlessly integrated into the Blender interface. Users can access the familiar controls and functions they know from other KeenTools plugins. It utilises the core technologies that KeenTools has already established in other popular 3D software solutions such as Nuke. The tool supports a wide range of use cases, from the creation of character animations to the realisation of complex VFX sequences.

A key advantage of “FaceTracker” is its real-time capability. This allows artists to see changes and adjustments immediately without having to wait for long render times. The real-time transmission of face tracking data in Blender makes it possible to react directly to feedback and thus optimise the production process. The technology behind “FaceTracker” uses algorithms based on machine learning to deliver accurate results without the need for time-consuming preparations or markings on the actor’s face.

An important aspect that users should be aware of is the beta phase of “FaceTracker”. Bugs and unforeseen problems can occur during this phase. Any new functionality should therefore be carefully tested before it is used in ongoing projects in order to avoid possible interruptions to production.

Price and licence models
KeenTools is currently offering “FaceTracker” for Blender in a beta version free of charge. This phase allows users to test the plugin and provide feedback. KeenTools has not yet announced how long this beta phase will last and what costs may be incurred after the official release. Users should keep an eye on developments on the KeenTools website to stay informed about future pricing and licence models.

Further information and detailed instructions on how to use “FaceTracker” in Blender can be found in the official KeenTools documentation. For direct updates and support, KeenTools also offers regular releases on their website.

The post KeenTools releases “FaceTracker” for Blender first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

With just a few clicks, you can turn your ideas into a complete outfit that can be integrated directly into the scenes. For those who prefer to juggle with formats instead of fabric patterns: The plugin supports all common Blender formats, including OBJ, FBX, and Alembic. Even Marvelous Designer fans are not left out in the cold – the tool also eats .MD and .MXD files. If you need it, you get it. And without a thread.

The cut in the Blender work

With the plugin from Xane Studios, your clothing production workflow will be faster than any online mail order company. Instead of tediously cutting and adjusting the polygons manually, you can now simply generate and vary them. Shirt, trousers, coat – all from a single mould. Whether the outfit is haute couture or a catwalk catastrophe is up to you. The tool links seamlessly with Blender’s existing physics engine. So don’t worry – the garment won’t miraculously slip off your characters even during wild animations. Everything that needs to be fixed is fixed here by placing a few prametres on the model, defining “fluffiness and a few fabric textures and properties, and off you go. This saves time and nerves, which can be better invested in spectacular VFX effects – and not in fashion design.

• Blendermarket – buy the plugin and get started.

The post Blender’s new sewing machine: clothes from nothing! first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

X_Tesla

If you’re currently working on the next dystopian streaming series or just like to let it rip, you’ll love X Tesla by Xavier Martin. This beautiful gizmo generates a lightning bolt between two naturally animated points defined by the artist that would make Thor green with envy. In terms of adjustability, the tool is absolutely on a par with the competing product from a well-known plug-in manufacturer. Amplitude, number of spurs, frequency, glow, spread and much more can be customised, leaving nothing standing in the way of the next thunderstorm.

is.gd/x_tesla

Grad Magic

Next up is a real jack-of-all-trades – Grad Magic from Tony Lions. Grad stands for gradient. But anyone expecting just a colour gradient here is mistaken. When you open Grad Magic, you are immediately reminded of Nuke’s Corner Pin Node: four dots can be moved through the picture to sample colours at their respective positions. Grad Magic thus creates a colour gradient between these four points. The colour gradient then also includes any changes in light over the duration of the footage.

Of course you can also animate the four sampling points, but it gets even better: these can be linked directly to a corner pin node. This allows you to use a point or planar track to quickly generate a patch. For example, an annoying U-crane can quickly disappear when retouching paint. Both the colour sampling itself and the corner pin can be baked in the node or switched live again, which makes the whole thing very flexible. If you have the Nuke Survival Toolkit installed, you already have Grad Magic, otherwise it is also available separately on Nukepedia. As so often, Tony also has an excellent video tutorial(is.gd/tutorial_gradmagic) on his YouTube channel. is.gd/grad_magic

Caustics

A very simple and at the same time very helpful tool is Caustics by Jason Bidwell. With just a few sliders, you can create wonderful water reflections and refractions. Size, distance, speed and aspect ratio can be adjusted as required. From there, it can help to enliven a matte painting, break up masks or control distortion – there are no limits to the imagination here. is.gd/caustics_jb

Colour Noise

If you don’t just want to break up your alpha a little organically, but perhaps also want to imitate an old tube TV or just want to go psychedelic, you’ll find a noise here in which all three colour channels can be set completely freely. Ozgur Taparli’s tool offers separate X and Y scalings for each channel as well as a parameter for distributing the noise. is.gd/colour_noise

Flare Factory 4.0

Lens flares have been a blessing and a curse ever since JJ Abrams’ foray into the Star Trek universe. If they are unwanted in the picture, they make the artist’s life hell. If you want them in, you can spend hours or even days recreating the correct lens flares. The bench mark for this has always been Optical Flares for Nuke from Video Copilot, but if you needed something quicker, Sapphire from Boris FX could also help. The only time you looked really stupid was when there was neither one nor the other, because the lens flare tools that Nuke comes with out of the box make you despair pretty quickly.

Fortunately, Doug Hogan’s Flare Factory offers a remedy. With twelve presets ranging from Blue Panavision to Cylon Warning, the tool offers great starting points, which can then be further refined using five different tabs. Even the lens flare can be adjusted, and rings and chromatic aberrations can also be customised. However, the Flare Factory is purely a generator; external textures cannot be added. It is also not possible to save your own presets within the tool. But if you are looking for a free way to generate a high-quality lens flare in a short space of time and don’t need to recreate a specific lens exactly, you will find a solid tool here. is.gd/flare_factory

Iris – A Procedural Bokeh Generator

Since Nuke 14, Nuke artists have had access to the wonderful and much appreciated PG Bokeh, which also allows the feeding of external images as a kernel for the lens used. Anyone who doesn’t have a well-maintained database of lens kernels will be delighted with Iris. Olivier Blanchet has created a completely procedural kernel generator with which all kinds of kernels can be generated. From circular to star-shaped, with lens dirt and colour shifts, everything is possible here. And, of course, it can also be used to make beautiful glares, flares and glints a little prettier. is.gd/iris_bokeh

T_Steel Wool

Anyone who has studied the pyrotechnic effects of the eighties and nineties will realise that burning steel wool played a decisive role in the destruction of various spaceships and all kinds of other effects. Petar Tsonev’s tool simulates this look wonderfully. An external Roto Shape is used to define the area of the image where it should burn. Thanks to the Roto, the typical burning or glowing edge can then also be displayed. Within the shape, we then see small centres of fire, and the progress of the destruction can of course be adjusted down to the last detail using various sliders. And just like the practical effects from the “good old days”, this can then be used as the basis for all kinds of other effects. is.gd/steelwool

The post Nuke Utilities Volume 8 – Textures first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Christoph Zapletal.

In nuce: The user Blender Bash has released his Stairs Maker add-on, which can be used to create stairs. The add-on works with the geometry nodes from Blender. The highlight: The Stairs Maker add-on allows you to convert a selected object into a staircase or banister. These stairs (railings) created in this way can also be customised. The add-on is priced at 15 US dollars and can be downloaded from blendermarket.com . In the almost twenty-minute video at the end of this news item, Blender Bash explains how its add-on helps to build stairs.

Click further: On 7 July this year , Digital Production reported on a tool that can be used to procedurally generate escalators in 3ds Max. In other words: With Easy Escalator Pro, escalators can be customised in terms of speed, (rolling) direction, height, width and alignment angle. Cost: 49 British pounds.

Build Procedural Stairs in Blender in just 2 minutes with this Add-on

The post Finally an app for stair builders! first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: Artist Alex Heskett has released Instant Imposters. This is an add-on for Blender that allows you to automatically convert high poly meshes into low poly impostors – with just one click, according to the product description.

In toto: In the product video below, the model of a tree is used as an example object: While the High Poly Mesh consists of 180,000 triangles, the Low Poly Impostor counterpart is made up of just 20 triangles. The Low Poly Impostors are capable of 3D parallax, dynamic lighting, self-shading and translucency (partial light transmission). Intuitive controls and node-based rendering are listed as convenient functions. The video also points out that Instant Imposters can be used to optimise entire 3D environments. Alex Heskett is a material-slash-environment artist from the United States who describes himself as a hobbyist – with over six years of experience in digital art. His favourite tools include After Effects and Blender, his hobbyhorse is procedural work.

Availability: Instant Impostors can be downloaded from blendermarket.com or gumroad.com . The add-on is available in three versions: Lite for 20 US dollars (trimmed of the 3D parallax and self-shadowing functions), Full for 50 US dollars (including 3D parallax and self-shadowing) and Studio for 150 US dollars (including a studio licence for commercial projects).

Instant Impostors | Blender Addon Trailer

The post How to reduce the number of polygons in Blender? first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: Stupid: You’ve discovered the ideal teak material in The Poliigon’s asset library – but how do you get the asset beauty from the website into the Blender project? What follows now is awkward clicky-clicky, knotty fingers, right? Not necessarily! The Poliigon team has released a new add-on that should help users to make the Blender workflow smoother. The Poliigon is an asset collection of high-quality textures, models, brushes and HDRIs. The add-on now makes it easier to browse, buy, download and import Poliigon assets by allowing users to access Poliigon’s services directly in the Blender user interface. According to the description, the add-on works with Blender 2.8 and higher.

What can The Poliigon asset library do? The Poliigon offers users over 5,000 assets. The collection that users can access starts at USD 15 per month, which amounts to USD 180 per year. Additional service modules are priced at 23 US dollars and 30 US dollars per month. Interested parties can find out more at poliigon.com.

Click further: All further information on the Poliigon add-on for Blender. The two videos below demonstrate how to set up and use the add-on.

How to install the Poliigon Addon for Blender

How to import materials, models, HDRs, and Brushes using the Poliigon Addon for Blender

The post Add-on makes asset handling more convenient? first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: Blender, the egg-laying wool-milk sow of DCC tools, doesn’t want to do compositing the way you do? Then there’s a remedy waiting for you, because Antoine Bagattini has published a preview that speaks for itself. It shows a new Blender add-on that Antoine and his team are currently working on. The add-on is intended to simplify the handling of Blender’s compositor – thanks to numerous new presets (e.g. pink, green, dark green or gold). Users will also be able to create and save their own presets. See Antoine’s Twitter post below.

Who is Antoine Bagattini? Antoine specialises in architectural visualisation and computer-generated environments – he also creates add-ons. You can follow the artist’s work on ArtStation, Gumroad or Twitter. On the latter, Antoine also provides information about the progress of his Blender add-on – see also the following post (at the bottom). It was on 9 December last year that we last tweeted Antoine. At that time he published his procedural ivy generator for Blender.

Blender in version 3.3: It was only on Monday that we reported on the beta phase of Blender 3.3 – or rather on the associated release, which is due at the beginning of September. And on 11.07.2022 we reported on the release of Blender 3.2.1, with which The Blender Foundation made many bug fixes.

The post Preview of useful Blender add-on released! first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.