The developer Nevercenter has released version Silo 2026.0, introducing a significant new feature: the Silo Blender Bridge plugin, linking Silo with the open-source 3D tool Blender.

The new bridge

The Silo Blender Bridge enables users to select one or more objects in Blender, send them to Silo for editing, and automatically see updates back in Blender whenever they save. It also supports creating new objects in Silo that instantly appear inside Blender. The workflow provides Blender users access to Silo’s responsive and lightweight modelling environment, while Silo users gain easier entry into Blender’s full suite of rigging, animation, and rendering tools.

At present, the bridge exchanges geometry using temporary FBX files, which both programs can read and write. Nevercenter notes this may limit certain Blender-specific features, such as modifiers, but the company plans to evaluate more direct communication in future versions depending on user feedback. Installation can be done directly from within Silo via the “Silo Blender Bridge” menu, which automatically installs the plugin to Blender’s add-ons folder. Alternatively, users can download and install it manually. Once installed, it must be enabled under Edit → Preferences → Add-ons inside Blender.

Platform support and licensing

Silo 2026.0 runs on Windows 10 (64-bit) and macOS 12.0 or newer, supporting both Intel and Apple Silicon systems. The perpetual licence is priced at USD 159, covering both Silo and the Milo real-time renderer. The update is free for anyone who purchased Silo within the past year from Nevercenter’s website. Existing users can check or renew their licence at nevercenter.com/upgrade.

The update can be downloaded directly from nevercenter.com/silo/download, with a free trial available for new users. Nevercenter encourages artists to share feedback through email, social channels, or the official Silo User Forums on Discord, where the team collects feature requests and user experiences for future improvements.

Why this update matters

Silo has maintained a small but loyal user base since its first release in 2003 (Fuuuuuck, we are getting old!), appreciated for its speed and uncluttered approach to 3D modelling. By integrating with Blender, Nevercenter opens Silo to a much broader workflow context. The bridge allows production artists to model quickly in Silo’s clean environment and then hand off to Blender for layout, rigging, or rendering — all without repeated exporting and importing.

This integration marks a practical expansion rather than a reinvention: the bridge keeps Silo’s strengths intact while offering Blender users a new way to handle sub-D geometry editing. Nevercenter has explicitly framed this release as a first step, asking users to test the bridge and provide feedback before further development toward a deeper connection.

Workflow cautions

Since the plugin relies on FBX as an intermediary, certain limitations remain. Modifiers and Blender-specific data such as vertex groups or custom materials may not fully survive the round-trip. Users should also expect the bridge to handle static geometry best, rather than complex animated or rigged assets. As with all new integrations, Nevercenter advises testing the plugin thoroughly before relying on it for production work.

Community and feedback

The developer is actively soliciting user input, encouraging modelers to share their experiences on the Silo User Discord, as well as via Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube. This feedback will guide the next stage of development and possible refinements to the bridge’s internal communication system.

Bottom line

The Silo Blender Bridge in Silo 2026.0 offers a practical, lightweight link between Silo’s modelling environment and Blender’s broader toolset. The workflow is not yet a live-sync system, but it substantially reduces friction between the two applications. For modelers seeking Silo’s fast, focused interface without leaving their Blender pipeline, this release provides a simple but effective bridge, literally and figuratively. As always, test the workflow on sample scenes before using it in production.

The post Here comes Silo 2026.0 with Blender bridge first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

JangaFX has released LiquiGen 1.0, its real‑time liquid simulation tool now deemed production‑ready. The software introduces substantial stability improvements along with new simulation features, export formats and rendering controls.

New physics and viscosity controls

LiquiGen 1.0 now simulates highly viscous liquids such as honey, oil or melted chocolate with physical behaviors like coiling and buckling handled via a PIC/FLIP solver supporting whitewater, spray, foam and bubbles. Viscosity and stickiness can now be adjusted per emitter.

Camera, materials and meshing upgrades

The update adds a more industry-standard camera control system—zoom‑to‑cursor, pan‑around, and animated camera import via Alt key and other shortcuts. A new material system offers realistic presets for water, plastics, metals and more. A choice of higher‑quality meshing supports morphological dilate/erode/open/close operations, along with SDF (signed distance field) and normals smoothing.

Expanded export and pipeline integration

LiquiGen now exports mesh flipbooks (single FBX sequences colour‑coded per frame), Vertex Animation Textures (VAT), Alembic caches, VDB velocity fields and rich rasterised passes including thickness, reflection and refraction. These formats target VFX pipelines, game engines and motion graphics workflows.

Workflow diagnostics and interface polish

The release introduces a Diagnostics Panel to visualise simulation domains, force and velocity fields, mesh vs particles, and imported SDFs for collider/emitters. A “Show SDF” toggle helps troubleshooting and voxel resolution choice. UI improvements include searchable dropdowns, copyable dialog messages, tooltips, timeline step‑back and a startup splash screen.

Stability and performance enhancements

Most critically, JangaFX now classifies LiquiGen as production‑ready, citing substantial gains in stability and performance—especially on smaller‑scale simulations. GPU requirements include NVIDIA GTX 1060 or AMD RX 580 and above. Windows 10+ and Linux are supported; macOS support is planned for version 1.1

Licensing and pricing tiers

Indie users (revenues under $1 million) can subscribe at $19.99/month and obtain a perpetual licence after 18 months, or buy a perpetual standalone licence for $299.99. Studio licences (up to $100 million revenue) cost $1,400 for node‑locked and $2,300 for floating licences. As always with new tools—even one now marked production‑ready—actual use in production should be tested and qualified before integration.

The post JangaFX unleashes LiquiGen 1.0: liquids meet production‑ready polish first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

In nuce: The user vfxguide has published his Damage Bundle on blendermarket.com. It is a toolset for Blender that allows artists to enrich 3D objects with cracks, scratches and other damage – in a matter of seconds. The toolset is aimed at artists who want to enhance their environment design with object details; it is priced at 32 US dollars and works with Blender 2.93, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4.

In toto: The One Click Damage Tool included in the download scope in particular ensures quick damage traces. In addition, the associated add-on called The Cracker causes cracks and the Stomper Tool can be used to stomp flat (for example on floor panels) – and the Glass Breaker Tool can be used to smash windows.

Click further: To the Damage Bundle on blendermarket.com. Digital Production last reported on destruction orgies on 4 April 2022 – at that time, a plug-in for Unreal Engine 4 and 5 ensured that 3D vehicles were given scratches.

Source: 80.lv ( report by Theodore McKenzie)

The post Do some damage with this Blender toolset! first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: The Senior Technical Artist at Red Storm Entertainment, John Martini, also known under his pseudonym Joker Martini, has released a new tool for 3ds Max: Slice and Dice. Slice and Dice works with 3ds Max 2018 and upwards and is priced at 10 US dollars. John Martini’s employer, Red Storm Entertainment, is a subsidiary of the video game company Ubisoft. From the 90s to the present day, Red Storm Entertainment is known for developing numerous spin-offs of the tactical shooter computer games centred around Tom Clancy.

Slice And Dice 1.0 – Overview

In toto: According to the description, the tool helps artists to slice up geometries – and restore them to their original state at any time if required. It goes on to say that the tool would significantly speed up the workflow and save Artists hours of manual work. In the almost eight-minute video above, Joker Martini demonstrates how to use his tools.

Click further: The Slice and Dice from 3ds Max is available at jokermartini.com . In the past, Digital Production has repeatedly reported on tools, scripts and other little helpers from the forge of John Martini. Below are some of the most interesting tools for 3ds Max that are worth a click.

• 9.06.2022: Dashed spline plugin available for 3ds Max! Another great plugin for 3ds Max from Joker Martini!
• 2.06.2022 : Honeycomp Plane plugin available for 3ds Max!
  Not for people with trypophobia: With this plugin from Joker Martini you can generate honeycombs!
• 19.05:2022: Here comes the “Cable Basher” for 3ds Max!
  Do you hate social bashing? Then try the socially acceptable alternative now with Cable Bashing – and create cables along splines!

The post 3ds Max tool for cutting geometries! first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: the promise of New Work: flat hierarchies, new office concepts and, of course, the buzzword par excellence – digitalisation. Digitalisation? Yes, Vanishing Point Virtual Production has presented its Antimatter tool, which can automate work steps thanks to digital work processes – in the areas of visual effects and virtual production.

Does Antimatter matter? The tool works on the basis of deep learning. According to the software description, the deep learning technology behind it was trained using thousands of shots from practical film production. How does it work in practice? The user loads a video file or image sequence into the tool – the tool reloads this input as a video file or image sequence from the matte frame. The output is saved as jpg, png, exr (for image files) or mov, mp4, avi (for video files).

Cost & system requirements: A free trial version is available for download. However, this is limited by the possibility of extracting files. The system requirements are a Windows PC with 7 gigabytes of free hard drive space and an Nvidia graphics card from the GTX or RTX series. The full version of Antimatter is priced at £595, which must be paid once – the software is then free to use.

Click further: Everything else about Antimatter. The video, linked below, shows the standard workflow within the software.

Vanishing Point Antimatter workflow example

The post Create matte frames thanks to deep learning? first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.