For those who do not know the tool: Cascadeur is a standalone 3D character animation application from Nekki, aimed at keyframe animation, AI-assisted posing and physics-based motion work. In practice, its niche is not “AI makes animation now”, thankfully, but “the software helps with the parts people usually fix at 2 AM while reconsidering their profession.”

Unreal Live Link

Cascadeur 2026.1 is a technical update. The release focuses on three areas that tend to determine whether an animation tool is genuinely useful or just very proud of itself: handoff to Unreal Engine, clearer scene rendering in the viewport, and less manual repair after the fact.

The biggest pipeline change is the new Live Link for Unreal Engine. Cascadeur’s documentation states that the plugin works with Unreal Engine 5.5 to 5.7 and Cascadeur 2026.1 or later. Installation is currently manual: ZIP packages for each supported Unreal version are unpacked directly into the Unreal Engine plugin folder. FAB distribution is planned for later; that is a modern way of saying “for now, please enjoy file paths.”

Filament

The second major change is the full switch to Filament for scene visualisation. According to the 2026.1 release notes, Filament is now the rendering engine used in Cascadeur for visualising scenes and provides the expected controls of a modern real-time renderer. Viewport upgrades are easy to undersell, but readable lighting and better scene feedback affect timing, spacing and posing decisions far more than marketing screenshots do. The release notes also state that switching to Filament fixed quad-mesh display issues on macOS, so this is not just a prettier viewport but also a more “stable” one. (Sorry for the very bad pun. Stable. Quad. And yes, it is time for the weekend.)

Root Motion is the new AI-assisted feature in this release, and the official wording is notably restrained. Cascadeur describes it as “a new generative tool” that produces animations based on the character’s trajectory. The workflow starts with a rough draft motion and at least two keyframes, then runs the Root Motion command. That is a much healthier framing than the usual machine-learning mysticism. The animator still defines the setup. The software does not merely arrive in a robe and demand applause.

Cleanup

The cleanup side also gets useful attention. Collision Penetration Cleaning analyses an animation and removes intersections. Cascadeur notes that older scenes require rig regeneration for the tool to work correctly, whereas scenes created in 2026.1 work out of the box. Mildly inconvenient, yes. Still preferable to hand-fixing every knee, elbow and floor contact.

AutoPosing and physics tools also get more practical. Improved AutoPosing for quadrupeds is part of the release. Point Constraints now work in AutoPosing, and they are also taken into account in AutoPhysics and Ragdoll. Additional quadruped spine switching angles have been added in Settings. In plain production terms, that means better support for non-biped rigs and more reliable behaviour for constrained objects during assisted motion passes. Or, translated into the dialect of late-night animation cleanup, fewer props quietly leave the hand and pursue an independent career.

The release also lands neatly next to Digital Production’s earlier interview with Cascadeur CTO Alexander Grishanin. In that February conversation, he described Cascadeur as a standalone 3D character animation DCC focused on physics-assisted keyframe animation, AutoPosing and AI Inbetweening, with FBX and USD support for engine-oriented pipelines.

He also explained that broader integration into standard production workflows had become a core development goal. Read against that background, 2026.1 looks less like a feature heap and more like a continuation of the same agenda: better engine connectivity, better scene readability and more automation where it actually reduces labour. A rare case in which the new release more or less matches the old interview instead of contradicting it for sport.

Cascadeur 2026.1 release notes:
https://cascadeur.com/help/category/312

Cascadeur Live Link documentation:
https://cascadeur.com/help/category/268

Digital Production interview:
https://digitalproduction.com/2026/02/18/cascadeur-on-physics-ai-and-control/

The post Cascadeur 2026.1 adds Unreal Live Link, Filament rendering and AI root motion. first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

For those who do not know the tool, RealityScan is Epic’s photogrammetry application for reconstructing 3D assets, scenes, and datasets from photographs and scans. It is used in areas such as VFX, game development, visualization, heritage capture, and geospatial workflows. RealityScan 2.1, the previous major release, added broader automation options, support for SLAM data, and other workflow extensions, so 2.1.1 reads very much like the expected follow-up pass: less about headline features, more about making interchange and export behave properly when real projects get involved.

RealityScan 2.1.1 is now available, and while this is not the kind of release that arrives with fireworks and a new category of buzzword, it does address several parts of the workflow that tend to matter once scans actually have to leave the application and survive contact with the rest of production.

The most relevant improvements are in the COLMAP pipeline. RealityScan 2.1.1 now exports either to a flat folder structure or to the standard COLMAP directory layout, supports both binary and ASCII export, improves mask export behavior, and filters low-accuracy points automatically during export. On import, Epic has added support for the FULL_OPENCV camera model, which should make it easier to bring in a wider range of calibration data without extra cleanup elsewhere in the chain.

Mask handling is one of the more useful practical changes here. The exporter now supports AI-generated masks, and users can choose whether to keep the .mask.ext suffix when exporting into the standard COLMAP directory structure. Epic also lists fixes for cases where selected mask layers failed to export, along with corrections for quality degradation when exporting COLMAP data based on original distorted images. That is the sort of update that sounds small in a changelog and rather less small when it breaks a handoff.

Another addition is the new “RealityScan XMPs with Image List” export in the Registration exports. This makes it possible to export XMPs corresponding either to the original distorted images or to undistorted images, and to choose between the “local:1 Euclidean” and “Grid plane” coordinate systems. At the same time, Epic has removed the separate Image list export from the Alignment tab, because the same function already existed in Registration export. Exported image lists now use the .imagelist extension, which can be reused when importing inputs or input selections back into RealityScan.

There are also smaller but welcome naming and consistency changes. Texture layer names now respect the specified name, including when selecting layers for texturing. Epic also removed some extra information from those names, including 16-bit and HDR prefixes, and adjusted numbering. On the command line side, importColmap becomes loadColmap, importBundler becomes loadBundler, and importFlightLog becomes importTrajectory. Not glamorous, but coherent. That alone can save someone a mildly irritating half-hour that could be spent watching cat videos.

The fixed-issues section is long, and in this case that is probably good news. Epic lists corrections for an incorrect “model is already colorized” warning on certain LiDAR models, ignored intrinsic parameters during flight log imports, EXR import issues, misplaced imported masks, raster artifacts in depth and mask exports, black mask exports in some cases, crashes related to LOD export settings and long computations, scene transformations being incorrectly retained after COLMAP and Bundler imports, and support for importing PLY files generated by the CGAL library. There are also multiple fixes for export behavior in cameras, orthographic projections, LAS classifications, contour export, and Nira upload handling.

Epic Games documentation for RealityScan 2.1.1

RealityScan 2.1.1 adds better COLMAP support and new XMP export options

RealityScan 2.1.1 is a maintenance release, but a practical one. Epic updates COLMAP exchange, adds new XMP with image list export options, cleans up mask export, and fixes a long list of editor, alignment, and CLI issues.

06.04.2026

Epic Games updates RealityScan: 2.1 out

pic’s RealityScan 2.1 brings LiDAR & SLAM import, server automation tools and improved UV and rendering support.

27.11.2025

RealityScan Mobile 1.8 with Tools for On-the-Go Scanning

Version 1.8 of RealityScan Mobile introduces three capture modes (including AR Guidance), mesh clean-up tools, focus peaking, capture timer and watertight mesh output: ideal for everybody capturing on-the-go.

21.11.2025

RealityScan 2.0: Epic Gives RealityCapture a New Name and New Tricks

Epic overhauls RealityCapture into RealityScan 2.0, complete with AI masking, LiDAR fusion, and a mobile-first workflow focus.

17.06.2025

RealityScan 1.5.3 Update Eases 3D Scans with Better Processing for iOS

Epic’s RealityScan update brings flexible processing, smoother workflows, and better support for iPad Pro and image uploads.

07.11.2024

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The post RealityScan 2.1.1 adds better COLMAP support and new XMP export options first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

For those who don’t know the site: Kitbash3D makes themed 3D environment kits for VFX, games, and visualisation. The new New Delhi Kit joins their growing library of ready-to-use digital worlds, compatible with most major DCC and realtime tools.

City without chaos

Kitbash3D has released New Delhi, a detailed collection of 3D assets designed to recreate the layered architecture and street textures of India’s capital. The kit includes 84 models and 127 PBR materials, intended for artists working in VFX, games, animation, and visualisation. The collection mixes colonial-era façades, contemporary concrete towers, and dense market alleys. Kitbash3D states that the assets are built for “realistic, lived-in environments” and are designed for both large-scale cityscapes and street-level storytelling.

Compatible across pipelines

The New Delhi Kit is supplied in standard formats, including FBX and USD, and integrates with major DCC tools such as Blender, Maya, and 3ds Max. It is also compatible with realtime engines such as Unreal Engine and Unity, and supports common renderers including Arnold, Cycles, and Redshift.

Kitbash3D lists the kit as ready for immediate production use, with pre-optimised geometry and consistent scaling for modular assembly. The files use standard PBR workflows and are organised for straightforward import and texturing.

Architectural detail and reuse

According to the official description, the New Delhi Kit focuses on flexibility and reusability. Building assets can be mixed to create anything from residential areas to commercial centres. Street props, market stalls, and signage extend the set for scene dressing or background population.

The kit is part of Kitbash3D’s ongoing series of geographically themed city kits, following earlier releases such as Tokyo, Paris, and New York. The New Delhi collection adds a South Asian context to the library, expanding possibilities for worldbuilding and localisation in cinematic and interactive productions.

Available now

The kit is available for purchase directly from Kitbash3D. The New Delhi Kit is included in Kitbash3D Unlimited, the company’s annual subscription giving full access to its 3D asset library via the Cargo desktop app. Unlimited costs USD 995 per year for individual freelancers and USD 3,995 per year for small studios with up to 50 employees. Assets can be used in active productions during the subscription, but new projects require an active licence. Perpetual rights are available separately for specific kits.

Artists are advised to test the assets in their own production setups before integrating them into active pipelines, particularly when mixing renderers or real-time and offline workflows. A quick inspection of the models suggests consistent texutre naming and clean geometry, but the actual level of optimisation can vary depending on import method and scene scale.

https://kitbash3d.com/products/new-delhi

The post Delhi in 3D: Kitbash3D goes urban first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

For those who don’t know the tool: Fab is Epic Games marketplace for 3D assets, replacing the Unreal Marketplace. It regularly offers time-limited free asset sets that you can permanently add to your library once claimed. These packs are commercially usable, work in most DCC applications and engines, and are a practical way to expand or start an asset collection without cost.

Two weeks to go before the calendar expires, and if you are looking to bury your good intentions somewhere scenic, Epic Games has the perfect spot. The Cryptic Realms Necropolis pack, normally $99.99, is free on Fab until 27 January 2026.

The pack offers 371 placeable objects to construct a stylised graveyard environment. It includes 80 modular meshes for ruins, tombs and crumbling architecture, plus graves, coffins, and set dressing items to complete the scene of your artistic demise.

Death by detail

Each asset includes 23 materials and textures, up to 4,096 by 4,096 pixels. The models support Nanite and Lumen, Unreal Engine’s systems for high-density geometry and dynamic lighting. There are three preset lighting setups to choose from, along with a modular environmental audio system to ensure your ghosts sound convincing. The pack is built for Unreal Engine 5.1 and later. However, the Fab Standard licence allows use in any engine or tool, including commercial projects, as long as the Fab EULA is followed.

Available now, before it’s dead again

The Necropolis pack can be downloaded free from Fab until 27 January 2026, after which it returns to its regular price. Perfect timing if you plan to give your old projects a decent burial before the new year arrives. As always, test assets thoroughly before using them in production or before the next resurrection of your pipeline.

The post Bury Your Good Intentions in 3D first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Epic Games has released the Ancient Temple Ruins asset pack as part of its time-limited free content on Fab. The pack includes 80 modular environment assets for creating ruined temple scenes and will remain free to download until 13 January 2026.

Created by Shapefarm Senior Environment Artist Rasmus Bagner, the set provides modular architecture (walls, roofs, floors), vegetation (trees, palms, rubber plants) and a range of small scatter props. The assets are built for Unreal Engine 5, making full use of Nanite virtualised geometry. All textures ship at up to 4096×4096px resolution.

Lumen lighting and engine flexibility

The included sample project demonstrates the assets within a Lumen lighting setup, featuring four predefined lighting environments. According to Epic, only the main tree asset includes LODs; all other models rely on Nanite for rendering efficiency. The pack is compatible with Unreal Engine 5.2 or newer.

Although designed for Unreal, the assets are released under the Fab Standard licence, which allows use in “any engine or tool”, including for commercial projects, as long as users comply with the Fab EULA.

Download and production notes

The Ancient Temple Ruins pack can be claimed from Fab’s listing page before the deadline. Once added to a user’s library, the assets remain available permanently. The models can be imported into other tools such as Blender, Maya, or 3ds Max through standard file export.

As with any new asset pack, we recommend testing performance and compatibility within active pipelines before using the models in production scenes. Seriously. Remember your New Year’s resolutions!

The post Epic drops 80 free temple assets on Fab first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.