For those who don’t know the tool: Maya is a core DCC from Autodesk for modeling, rigging, animation, and FX, with lookdev via LookdevX and node FX via Bifrost, plus pipeline handoff through USD.

The headline feature is editorial glue

Maya 2027.1 adds support for OpenTimelineIO in the Sequencer, enabling interchange of editorial cut data between DCC and timeline tools.

Sequencer gets editorial glue, not just buttons

Maya 2027.1 adds import and export support for OpenTimelineIO, with OTIO data being a standardised equivalent to XML for supported sequence, track, shot, audio, and file reference information. OTIO import preserves camera assignments and camera attributes, and reconstructs tracks from stored track information. The same workflow includes additional shot-level data such as labels, colors, thumbnails, and frame range information.

Sequencer also gets a round of editorial workflow updates beyond OTIO. Autodesk claims improvements to timeline exchange, shot editing, audio handling, playblast output controls, and scripting access. Shot creation now works directly on a selected track, or from a selected Time Slider range. Shot editing includes an updated hold workflow where hold frames come from a dedicated Hold mode while you drag shot edges. That sounds small until you try it on a cut with a dozen micro-trims and discover you do not need to invent a new swearing dialect.

Audio behavior becomes stricter. Sequencer uses only audio associated with the sequence. Audio not linked to Sequencer gets ignored, and Sequencer audio does not mix with Trax audio. A new Time Slider audio menu option called Use Sequencer Sounds controls that behavior. Playblast Shot Options adds Display Size controls for output resolution, with options listed as From Window, From Render Settings, Custom, and From Image Attributes. Output resolution depends on the chosen Display Size and Scale settings. Zooming in Sequencer now centers on the cursor when you use the mouse wheel, which helps the tiemline stop teleporting away from the thing you actually meant to inspect.

As always, new interchange formats look great in demos and get weird at 2 a.m. Test OTIO import and export on your real sequences before you bet a delivery on it.

MotionMaker focuses on editing clarity

Autodesk positions 2027.1 as a release with AI-powered tools and everyday workflow updates, and MotionMaker gets the everyday part this time. MotionMaker now shows frame ranges directly on clips and active windows. The stated goal is clearer timing feedback and behavior aligned with Sequencer.

Character naming gets a cleanup. Autodesk standard characters display simplified names in the UI, dropping the adsk_ prefix while keeping internal identifiers for compatibility. Character definitions also support a display name attribute used in the Create menu and character creation options.

New keyboard shortcuts navigate to the adjacent start frame before or after the current action clip in the timeline, aimed at faster clip-to-clip movement while editing. Updates to character registry handling also reduce redundant processing when creating MotionMaker registries.

Smart Bevel keeps hunting the ugly edge cases

Smart Bevel receives quality updates described as handling more complex geometry with fewer errors, with the practical promise of less manual cleanup on geometry with many intersecting edges.

Cutback relaxation improves to help prevent straight-edge segments from shifting, aimed at hard-surface models that mix linear and smooth forms. Smart Bevel also reduces spikes and jagged sawtooth corners in certain edge cases. Limiting works better across intersection types, with improvements intended to stop bevel results from crossing. Intersections previously missed are now detected.

Arc welding of new junctions becomes more thorough, and isolated arc removal becomes more reliable. Smart Bevel also improves handling of edge sequences that previously failed to bevel, with the result described as proper beveling and prevention of holes or missing faces at junctions along the sequence. Preset support expands so Smart Bevel presets can now save the Remove Isolated Arcs state.

Bifrost adds a search box and more sim and rig polish

Bifrost 3.1.0.8 adds a way to find where specific nodes are used in the graph, plus other new features and improvements. The same version lists updates for rigid body simulation, including per-instance colors, plus performance improvements for rigging and viewport drawing. New high-level compounds include deform_onto_mesh_UVs, wrap_deform_by_mesh, and wrap_deform_by_points. Rigs built with Bifrost now support Maya Cached Playback for improved performance, with a stated limitation that Cached Playback only works if the rig uses no feedback ports.

USD for Maya targets variants, and pins the manager

The USD plugin update listed as USD for Maya 0.36 adds support for targeting specific variants to receive edits, including changes to geometry and materials. The USD Variant Manager can now be pinned to its current display to prevent it from updating when you change selection. That is the kind of feature you only notice after it saves you from editing the wrong thing during a review.

LookdevX projects textures, searches graphs, and stays Arnold-friendly

LookdevX 2.1.0 adds texture projection nodes for mapping textures without UV coordinates. The workflow described uses the Node Library under Autodesk to add a projection node into the graph, connect a texture input, then connect the output to a material. Eight projection types are available: Planar, Spherical, Cylindrical, Ball, Cubic, Tri-Planar, Concentric, and Perspective. A Projection node combines all types into one node, with switching done inside the node so the texture updates on the object.

LookdevX also adds Graph Editor search to find nodes by name, aiming to reduce scrolling in larger graphs. Universal SRT manipulator support lands for the first matrix44 input port on LookdevX nodes, letting you edit that transform directly in the viewport via the usual manipulator workflow.

Arnold and Substance updates ride along

Autodesk lists Arnold for Maya 5.6.1.1 as part of the update, with changes since 2027 including a tech preview of Flow Render, custom AOVs for volume shaders, MIKKTSpace normal mapping support, and additional updates. Maya 2027.1 also includes Substance 3D 3.0.6.

Treat both as pipeline changes, even if you never touch a shader graph. Renderer and material tooling changes can break assumptions in templated scenes, and reliabel output beats exciting output when a client stares at a schedule.

Platforms and pricing

Maya 2027.1 is available for Windows 11, RHEL, and Rocky Linux 8.10 and 9.7, plus macOS 14.0 and later. The software is rental-only, with subscriptions listed as US$255 per month or US$2,010 per year. In many countries, artists earning under US$100,000 per year and working on projects valued under US$100,000 per year qualify for Maya Indie subscriptions, listed as US$330 per year. Maya Creative 2027.1 is also available, listed as pay-as-you-go with prices starting at US$3 per day and a minimum spend of US$300 per year. It has the same new features as Maya 2027.1, except for Bifrost.

New tools and innovations should always be tested before use in production, ideally on real shots and real assets, not a perfect demo cube that never gets a change request.

https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2027/ENU/?guid=GUID-F923AA68-6CE5-4292-88EA-292F5A786BA2

The post Maya 2027.1 adds OTIO to Sequencer first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

For those who don’t know the tool: Autodesk Flame is the finishing suite that lives between conform, comp, and delivery, with companion stations like Flare and render muscle via Burn for facilities that enjoy sleeping sometimes.

The big three: metadata, scribbles, depth

Flame Family 2027 puts a spotlight on three things that tend to break at the worst possible moment: clip metadata, frame-level notes, and depth workflows. The metadata work targets frame-based metadata keys and keeps them intact from import through export. Annotations land as a practical review tool. Flame Family 2027 can add annotations to frames in the Player or in a Viewport, and it can also display the list of annotations on the current frame. Machine learning shows up as a Depth map feature. Flame Family 2027 can generate a Depth map using internal or external machine learning models.

Metadata that survives the trip

Flame Family 2027 treats metadata as something that should survive real production, not just an import dialogue. In Batch, a Metadata node can view and modify the metadata of a clip. Open Clip can define metadata keys and values to be ignored or modified on a per-feed basis, which gives facilities a way to standardise what comes in and how it gets normalised before it spreads everywhere.

Tokens get a larger role in that same cleanup story. Flame Family 2027 can define Custom Tokens and also limit the display of resolved tokens to a chosen number of characters. Preferences can set Custom Tokens to be used throughout the application, and Centralised Components can deploy system-based Custom Tokens across a facility using a dedicated workflow. That combination aims straight at consistency: one naming plan, one token vocabulary, fewer surprises at export time.

There are also Python API additions tied to the new metadata workflow, aimed at facilities that build glue code around ingest, naming, and publishing. The exact scope of those additions is not specified anywhere I could find it.

One detail worth calling out for day-to-day operators: Flame Family 2027 adds context-menu copy and paste for characters in text fields, including Copy Text, Cut, Paste Text, and Delete, plus a Paste Text option when nothing is selected. Dialogs with multiple text fields can also use Tab and Shift + Tab to move between fields, as long as one field is already in editing mode. None of this sells a subscription, but all of it reduces small daily friction that adds up.

About a third of the way in, the mteadata story boils down to this: fewer per-shot fixes and fewer one-off scripts to keep identifiers, flags, and frame-level tags from vanishing mid-pipeline.

Annotations that behave like a real tool

Annotations in Flame Family 2027 are not limited to a single panel or a single kind of workflow. Artists can add annotations to frames in the Player or in a Viewport. Explorer can access a list of Markers and can also display the list of annotations on the current frame. Snapshot can include annotations, which helps when review happens outside the application and you still want the note to travel with the image. Also: They are somewhat accessible via Python, but so far only “.has_annotations” and “.clear_annotations()“. That is a start, but not a full integration into the overarching pipline that keeps the added Memes from Prep intact until delivery.

Effects also gets marker support: Markers and Segment Markers can be added from the Effects environment. That is a quiet workflow bridge between building looks and keeping editorial or review signposts in sync.

Keyboard shortcuts shift a bit to accommodate the new annotation layer. In the Flame keyboard shortcut profile, Delete or Backspace is assigned to Delete. Tracking shortcuts change too: Tracking Delete Current KeyFrame and Go To Previous in Action, GMask Tracer, and Image move from Delete or Backspace to Shift + Delete or Backspace. Search also changes: F12 no longer opens Search; it now opens Toggle Annotations Display instead. Space + Tab still opens Search, and F16 can be used on macOS.

Tangent panel users get new mapper functions for annotations. Tangent Mapper adds Annotations control for toggling the Annotations layer display, plus navigation functions for previous and next annotation. Data management functions are also added, including Clear Unreferenced Cache for the current project and all projects.

Depth maps, now with fewer excuses

Depth maps via machine learning arrive as a production feature in Flame Family 2027.

A Depth map can be generated using internal or external machine learning models. The Tools workflow can generate a Depth Map using a machine learning model, then create a matte from that Depth Map inside a Selective. This positions depth as an artist-facing selection primitive, not just a technical curiosity.

Let’s quote the documentation: New machine-learning-based models are available as Analysis Type options to generate depth data. ML Depth Indoor and ML Depth Outdoor are internal machine learning models, while Load Model allows an external ONNX depth extraction model to be loaded.

The Documentation does not specify which machine learning models exactly are included (or at least, I couldn’t find it), which external model formats are supported, or what hardware constraints apply. Even without those details, the intended use is clear: build depth, turn it into mattes, and iterate quickly.

Like any ML feature, you will still want to test it on your own footage, your own lens mess, and your own deliverables before trusting it in production. That includes checking edges, temporal stability, and failure cases on smoke, hair, reflections, and anything else that enjoys humiliating clever algorithms.

Conform, color, and the rest of the plumbing

Flame Family 2027 also invests in pipeline plumbing, the kind that keeps facilities from inventing new swear words. Conform can import OTIO files in the Conform environment, via OpenTimelineIO. That gives conform artists a more direct path for timeline interchange when the upstream system exports OTIO.

Color management updates land via OpenColorIO, updated to version 2.5.1. The Sources do not describe behavioral changes from that update, only the version number.

Project management adds OpenEXR uncompressed as a Cache and Renders format for floating-point content. For facilities that lean on float caches, this adds another option alongside existing cache formats.

Configuration and OS support expands to include Rocky Linux 9.7. DKU 21.0.0 is listed as Rocky Linux only and includes support for Rocky Linux 9.7 and an updated NVIDIA driver. The Sources do not specify the exact driver version.

Hardware I O support gets AVIO updates with updated AJA and Blackmagic Design drivers. Service Monitor gains new Diagnostics intended to help troubleshoot configuration.

User settings import changes affect Setup. User settings can be imported on a new system before the application is launched for the first time, and importing a user profile overwrites all existing user settings.

Backburner 2027.0 is a minor update with fixes and no visible changes for end users, via Autodesk Backburner. Burn can be installed on macOS workstations, which expands where that render companion can live.

As always, new features and new workflows deserve a proper test pass on real show material before they touch a live delivery schedule.

The post Autodesk Flame 2027: metadata and depth maps first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

DJV 3.0 has made its debut after a five-year hiatus, bringing essential updates for VFX and animation pipelines. Darby Johnston, former Lucasfilm engineer and maintainer of DJV, has rebuilt the core viewer around OpenTimelineIO (OTIO) and added experimental USD playback, while maintaining its reputation for clean, reliable performance.

OTIO timeline support—no guesswork

DJV 3.0 now reads editorial timelines via OTIO, thanks to its new high-performance core built on tlRender. Users can load OTIO or OTIOZ files and scrub through frame-accurate sequences , image and audio, making timeline review straightforward and robust .

USD previews—experimental but promising

A standout new feature is USD rendering: DJV uses Hydra to convert USD files into image sequences. This allows fast, on-the-fly previews of USD-authored scenes, though it remains flagged experimental. Users should confirm sequence fidelity before treating it as production-ready.

Color, A/B, audio support—all intact

DJV retains a strong suite of essential features:

• A/B comparisons with wipe, overlay, difference, split and tile modes
• OCIO for professionally accurate color management
• Multi-track audio, variable-speed playback, reverse playback, and HUD feedback

Free, open source, and cross-platform

DJV 3.0 is distributed under the BSD 3-clause license, with precompiled binaries for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The official site notes that packaged builds include minimal FFmpeg support, so full codec compatibility may require using system libraries or compiling from source.

Stability and pipeline confidence

DJV has long been praised by studios for its uncluttered UI, customizable keys, and reliable playback performance. According to the official documentation, it excels at high-resolution, high-bit-depth playback with frame-accurate controls darbyjohnston. Now with OTIO and USD support, it takes another step toward contemporary pipeline needs. As always, these new features should be evaluated with non-critical assets before integrating into live production.

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Other Review Tools Worth Mentioning

Towards the end of DJV’s development cycle, both Autodesk and DNEG released their own pipeline-ready review tools. Autodesk’s Open RV offers OTIO and OCIO support with ShotGrid integration and annotation capabilities. DNEG’s xSTUDIO delivers high-resolution playback, OCIO 2, annotations, HUD overlays, and a Python/C++ API—though it is still maturing. For artists who value a clean, fast, open-source tool with solid OTIO and USD capabilities, DJV 3.0 is a tidy choice. Professionals seeking deeper pipeline hooks and annotation workflows may still look to RV or xSTUDIO—albeit with extra overhead.

DJV on Github

The post DJV 3.0 Returns: Free VFX Review Tool Gains Timeline & USD Support first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Kdenlive 25.04, part of the KDE Gear 24.04 release, is out—and while the update doesn’t scream revolution, it brings a handful of genuinely useful features for editors juggling cuts, color, and codecs. You’ll find improved AV1 support, better OpenTimelineIO (OTIO) compatibility, GPU-accelerated filters on Intel and AMD cards, and a much-needed overhaul of the keyframe interface. The timeline and effects workflow also got a bit of care, which, frankly, was overdue. Production artists know that non-linear editors (NLEs) live and die by timeline usability, so this update might warrant a second look—though as usual, test before deploying in active projects.

OpenTimelineIO, meet Kdenlive (again)

OTIO support was introduced in Kdenlive 23.08, but 25.04 improves compatibility and fixes bugs. This should make interop with applications like DaVinci Resolve and ShotGrid more reliable. The format, developed by Pixar, has become a de facto standard for exchanging editorial data—so the fewer quirks here, the better.

AV1 export, minus the eyebrow raise

Version 25.04 finally adds AV1 encoding using the libaom-av1 encoder, allowing for modern, high-efficiency exports. The option is available in the render dialog, although there’s no mention of hardware acceleration—so don’t expect lightning-fast renders unless you’re on a fast CPU.

GPU acceleration for Intel and AMD users

Previously limited to NVIDIA setups, GPU-accelerated filters now work on Intel and AMD graphics cards using the MLT video framework. This expands real-time performance benefits to more users. Again, worth testing: acceleration tends to be driver-dependent and sometimes acts more like a polite suggestion than an actual performance gain.

Curve editor: keyframing gets an upgrade

A newly introduced curve editor simplifies keyframe manipulation, offering smoother interpolation and a clearer visual layout. If you’ve ever wrestled Kdenlive’s old keyframe system, this will feel like a long-overdue detox. The keyframe toolbar is now easier to access and more user-friendly, though no word on whether it plays nicely under all themes or high-DPI monitors—so double-check your UI scaling.

Timeline & UI workflow updates

Users can now select entire track sections directly in the timeline, useful for batch trimming or moving clips. The search function in the Project Bin has been improved, along with a new “Rating” feature to help tag and sort media clips. Smaller UI tweaks include better visibility for bin clips, an improved project loading dialog, and changes to how transitions are handled when clips are trimmed.

Import profiles & render presets: now more efficient

Version 25.04 updates import profiles and rendering presets to reflect current usage scenarios more closely. It also brings small but helpful features like customizable button layouts in the monitor and easier clip replacement tools. This isn’t flashy, but it’s the kind of UX detail that accumulates in everyday workflows.

Timeline: fading and track priorities

Timeline fading has been simplified—something about “fade from/to black” just got more intuitive. Also new: track compositing priority is now determined by track order, not just track number. That’s important for anyone layering complex transitions or chroma keys.

Bugs, bugs, and the cleanup crew

The release fixes a long list of bugs including:

• Audio artifacts on timeline splits
• UI scaling bugs in the clip monitor
• Color correction filters crashing when applied to image sequences
• Timeline not updating when effects were changed

None of these are groundbreaking, but they hint at a team slowly smoothing out long-standing friction points. Stability remains a work-in-progress—though the release page notes a focus on regression fixes.

Still free. Still open source.

Kdenlive remains free and open source. You can get version 25.04 via the official site or through KDE Gear 24.04. The current release does not list a specific download price (spoiler: it’s still €0), and installation is available via AppImage, Flatpak, Snap, or traditional distro repos.

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While the new keyframe curve editor and AV1 export are promising, it’s worth reminding: version 25.04 may not yet be stable enough for deadline-driven projects. Especially in collaborative or high-resolution pipelines, test before committing. Production environments still need predictable behavior more than shiny features.

Want to see if Kdenlive is ready for your pipeline—or still best left to hobbyist desks? Download it here, kick the tires, and find out.

The post Kdenlive 25.04: Finally, Someone Gave the Timeline Some Respect first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.