Cava / Serif updates Affinity
For those who don’t know the tool: Affinity is a free single app that combines vector, photo, and…
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The GIMP Team boosts GIMP 3.2
GIMP 3.2 arrives with linked layers, vector layers, smarter non-destructive filters, and new export options. Less redo, more done.
Blender LTS patches, still no surprises
Blender 4.5.6 LTS and 4.2.17 LTS deliver bug fixes only, confirming Blender’s long term support policy for production use.
Blender 5.0 hits release candidate!
Blender 5.0’s release candidate is live. Expect ACES 2.0, smarter Geometry Nodes, and a sleeker UI before the final launch later this month.
Blender 5.0 Beta!
Blender 5.0 Beta runs until 5 November 2025, bringing ACES 2.0, node and compositor updates, HDR colour support, and stricter compatibility rules.
Cascadeur 2025.2 Adds Motion Styles, Tangent Editing, and Automatic Fulcrum Detection
Cascadeur 2025.2 adds motion-style selection, viewport tangent editing, longer inbetweening and auto fulcrum detection.
LightWave 2024: Not dead yet
LightWave Digital has released the latest version of its 3D animation software LightWave 2024. This version integrates the modular character rigging system RHiggit, which was previously available as a paid add-on.
Building your own Super 8 film scanner
Nowadays, you don’t have to be an engineer or electrician to make your own tools. Thanks to the…
Cinema 4D and more from Maxon One!
Update time at Maxon too: The entire suite gets updates - perhaps also things that you can use well?
The Foundry releases Mari 6.0!
The software for drawing 3D textures has been released in version 6.0 and Charli Holt, Product Manager for Mari, is proud of the many USD-related improvements.
The Cascadeur animation software is available as a full version!
The beta tests have been successfully completed - now the full version is being released. A five-minute video shows which new functions are coming.
With the Omniverse Create 2022.3 Beta comes PhysX 5.1!
Nvidia releases the latest version of the real-time physics system - one of the technological pillars of Nvidia's Omniverse creative platform.
Simulationssoftware finalFluid als Full Release!
Cebas Visual Technology lifts its sim tool finalFluid out of the beta phase. Fire, smoke, dust & co. are created in 3ds Max!
Omniverse Create 2022.3 released – Omniverse Create 2022.3.1 coming soon
A beta release in two parts - part two will follow in November. Relevant for VFX artists: Support for DLSS 3, MaterialX USD workflows. A release note.
Maxon releases Cinema 4D 2023.1!
The most exciting new features include: the new Pyro simulation tool, an improved Redshift workflow - but also support for USD workflows.
Version 2.5.0 of Light Tracer Render has been released
The most important new features include: Animation of scene objects and camera movements. Another new feature is the ground projection for HDRI environment maps!
Blender 3.3 LTS with hair-monic function!
The open-source 3D software rolls out its next full-fledged release. We brush, comb and pluck our way through the new flagship function - curve-based grooming!
Unreal Engine 5 Enters Preview
The UE5 Preview expands Nanite, Lumen, world building, animation and MetaSounds, while Epic warns against production use.
Keyshot 11 | Release
More than a lucky shot? With the new version, Luxion is also switching to the subscription model - and abolishing perpetual licences.
TyFlow | Release
The popular particle simulation tool has outgrown the beta phase. What can the full release do?
Blender 3.0 Scheduled for December 2021 Release
The Blender Foundation announced that Blender 3.0 was scheduled for release on 1 December 2021.
Milo 2021.2 Improves Real-Time Rendering and VR Preview
Nevercenter’s Milo 2021.2 improved rendering, ray tracing and HiDPI support while adding camera field-of-view controls and a live turntable.
RED V-RAPTOR 8K VV Records 8K at up to 120 fps
RED’s V-RAPTOR 8K VV combined a multi-format VistaVision sensor, high-frame-rate REDCODE RAW recording and more than 17 stops of dynamic range.
Bifrost 2.3 Adds Real-Time Feedback and Simulation Improvements
Autodesk Bifrost 2.3 introduced real-time feedback, virtual sliders, adaptive volumes and upgrades for simulation graphs, Aero, MPM, Alembic and OpenVDB.
Affinity 1.10 Improves Performance Across Photo, Designer and Publisher
Serif’s Affinity 1.10 release improved memory handling in Publisher, layer blending in Photo and complex-document rendering in Designer.
Chaos Vantage 1.2 Expands Real-Time V-Ray Scene Support
Chaos Vantage 1.2 added clear-coat and glossy Fresnel support, multiple-camera import, background overrides and PNG alpha output.
RealityCapture 1.2 Tarasque Adds Measurement, Contours and Orthomosaic Tools
RealityCapture 1.2 Tarasque added volume and area calculations, contour export, height profiles and beta orthomosaic improvements.
Blackmagic | Triple Release
New from Blackmagic Design: HyperDeck Studio, Studio Camera 4K and Web Presenter 4K!
Tutorial: Rendering, Lighting and Shading in Marmoset Toolbag 4
3D Scan Store demonstrates head rendering in Marmoset Toolbag 4, covering ZBrush export, lighting, shaders, maps, eyes and textures.
Modo 15.1 Refines Modelling, Rendering and USD Workflows
Foundry’s Modo 15.1 added OmniHaul, Static Analysis, Curve Booleans, expanded MeshOps, mPath dispersion and USD improvements.
Maxon Moves Redshift to Subscription-Only Licensing
Maxon announced that Redshift perpetual licences would end on 31 August 2021 as the GPU renderer moved to subscriptions.
3DCoat 2021 Adds Retopology, New Sculpt Tools and Free Learning Mode
3DCoat 2021 introduced a revised brush engine, retopology, curves, sculpt layers, Kitbash Room and an unlimited free learning mode.
Blender Guru Compares Nine Major Rendering Engines
Andrew Price compares Cycles, V-Ray, Redshift, LuxCore, Arnold, Corona, Octane, E-Cycles and Cycles X in a renderer benchmark.
Lighttracer Review: Native GPU Path Tracing in a Web Browser
A historical review examines Lighttracer’s client-side WebGL path tracing, materials, lighting, cameras, GLB export and GPU performance.
RenderMan 24 Introduces XPU, Lama Materials and Live Rendering
Pixar’s RenderMan 24 introduced the CPU/GPU XPU architecture, live rendering, Lama layered materials and expanded stylised-look tools.
Book: V-Ray 5 for 3ds Max 2020 Rendering Workflows
Jamie Cardoso’s technical book covers client acquisition, materials, virtual cameras, lighting and rendering workflows in V-Ray 5 and 3ds Max.
Synth Eyes 2106 | Release
Better tracking with these eyes: The latest version of the 3D tracking software from Andersson Technologies.
Tutorial: Rendering VDB Clouds with Corona Renderer 6
SOA Academy demonstrates a VDB cloud-rendering workflow in Corona Renderer 6 and provides an accompanying article with additional guidance.
Sculptron 1.1 Adds Alembic Support and Improved Viewport Selection
Otoy released Sculptron 1.1 with Alembic import and export, image-based alpha support, improved viewport selection and adjustable interface opacity.
Chaos Phoenix 4 Adds Active Bodies and Massive Wave Force
Chaos Phoenix 4 for 3ds Max and Maya introduced Bullet-based Active Bodies collisions, smoke colour absorption controls and Massive Wave Force.
3DCoat 2021 Tutorial Series Explores New Modelling Tools
A four-part video tutorial series demonstrates 3DCoat 2021’s new modelling tools by building a rhinoceros model step by step.
Greyscalegorilla Launches Cloud Subscription Greyscale Plus
Greyscale Plus brought Greyscalegorilla plug-ins, materials, textures, HDRIs and training into a cloud subscription for Cinema 4D rendering workflows.
Isotropix Releases Clarisse 5 with More Than 100 Improvements
Clarisse 5 brought more than 100 features and improvements for set dressing, look development, lighting, rendering and workflow, plus new pricing options.
Andy Lefton Demonstrates Organic Environments in Cinema 4D
Senior 3D generalist Andy Lefton explains how he combines Cinema 4D, X-Particles and Redshift to create organic environments.
Nicole Ruggiero Builds and Animates Characters in Cinema 4D
Visual artist Nicole Ruggiero demonstrates character creation, posing, animation, compositing and finishing in Cinema 4D.
David Brodeur Creates an Infinite Zoom in Cinema 4D
David “Brilly” Brodeur demonstrates how to build an endlessly zooming Cinema 4D camera animation that moves through layered surreal worlds.
Jake Ferguson Creates Anime-Inspired Renders in Cinema 4D
Emmy-winning art director Jake Ferguson demonstrates modelling, lighting, animation and compositing for an anime-inspired short-film render.
Arvid Schneider Shares 12 Arnold Rendering Tips
Arvid Schneider presents 12 practical Arnold rendering tips, many of which also apply to renderers such as RenderMan and V-Ray.
Blender Foundation Unveils Cycles X Rendering Architecture
Cycles X reworked Blender’s production-rendering architecture to improve GPU performance, viewport interactivity and resumable rendering for Blender 3.
Akeytsu 2020.3.6 Refines Mirroring and Adds Unlit Rendering
Nukeygara’s Akeytsu 2020.3.6 improved rigging and animation mirroring and introduced an unlit display mode for clearer character silhouettes.
3ds Max Update Focuses on Speed and Security
Autodesk’s 3ds Max update highlights workflow, texturing, rendering, Bake to Texture, modelling tools and security improvements.
Otoy Releases GPU Sculptor Sculptron 1.0
Sculptron 1.0 introduces a commercial GPU sculpting workflow with Outliner, Scene Graph, modifiers, transforms and HDRI viewport lighting.
Appleseed Approaches Production Readiness
The open-source Appleseed renderer targets animation and VFX with OSL, SeExpr, motion blur, spectral rendering and a permissive MIT licence.
Robert Hranitzky Demonstrates Product Rendering
Robert Hranitzky explains remote product-visualisation workflows using Cinema 4D and After Effects in a 45-minute presentation.
Modo 15 Reworks MeshFusion and Animation
Foundry’s Modo 15 overhauls MeshFusion booleans and the animation editor, with viewport depth of field, mPath interaction and Python 3.
Corona Renderer Showreel Highlights C4D and Max
Chaos Czech’s three-minute Corona Renderer showreel features work created in Cinema 4D and 3ds Max by studios and independent artists.
PolySnow Plus Rebuilds 3ds Max Snow Tool in C++
PolySnow Plus moves the 3ds Max snow plug-in to C++ and adds brush-based tools for snow, icicles and frozen surface details.
Chaos Cosmos Launches with 650 Free Assets
Chaos Cosmos launches with more than 650 models and HDRIs for V-Ray, Chaos Vantage and V-Ray Vision workflows.
Vue and PlantFactory Add USD and Arnold Support
e-on’s 2021.1 release adds USD export, Cinema 4D integration, Arnold materials, Vue relighting and PlantFactory leaf-cluster baking.
PhysX Painter 2.0 Adds Object Forces and Drop Brush
Kinematic Lab’s 3ds Max plug-in paints objects into scenes, then uses gravity, attraction and explosion forces to distribute them.
KeyShot 10.1 Adds Physics Placement and USD
KeyShot 10.1 adds gravity and collision placement, multi-light editing, USD import, USDZ and GLB export, and a new licence portal.
Blackmagic | Hardware
Exciting technology in a triple pack: Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro, Atem Mini Extreme - and Web Presenter HD.
Gnomon Workshop Builds a Photorealistic 3D Prop
Babak Bina’s three-hour production tutorial builds a photorealistic gas torch using Maya, Mari and V-Ray.
Unity Shader Graph 2020.2 Introduces Master Stack
Unity’s Shader Graph 2020.2 adds the Master Stack and clearer real-time feedback for visual shader creation.
Tutorial: Creating Translucent Fabric in V-Ray for 3ds Max
A quick tutorial demonstrates how to use VRay2SidedMtl to create translucent fabric materials in V-Ray for 3ds Max.
Katana 3.0 Revisited: Hydra and 3Delight Integration
A detailed look back at Katana 3.0, including its Hydra viewport, integrated 3Delight renderer and improvements to lighting workflows.
Poser 12 Adds GPU Ray Tracing and Render Denoising
Poser 12 updates the SuperFly renderer with Nvidia GPU ray tracing, Intel Open Image Denoise and a revised material-management system.
HDR Light Studio Xenon Drop 2 Adds Diffusion Controls
HDR Light Studio Xenon Drop 2 introduces diffusion filtering, instant feedback and new planar and spherical light options.
U-Render 2021.1.3 Expands Smart Material Presets
U-Render 2021.1.3 expands smart material presets, fixes live-mode previews and strengthens its Cinema 4D integration.
Free Earth Displacement Map Released at up to 48K
VFX Asset released a free 16-bit Earth displacement map at up to 48K, alongside a paid higher-resolution 172K edition.
Arnold 6.2 Adds Light Mixing and OpenColorIO 2.0
Arnold 6.2 introduces light mixing, expanded GPU rendering, USD improvements and OpenColorIO 2.0 support.
Terragen 4.5 Adds PBR Workflow and OpenColorIO Support
Terragen 4.5 updates its default shader for PBR workflows and adds OpenColorIO support to the Professional edition.
Ocean Wave Shader Released for Blender Eevee
A low-cost ocean-wave shader provides small-scale water simulations for Blender’s real-time Eevee renderer.
Tutorial: Rendering Metallic Surfaces in Maya and Arnold
Arvid Schneider demonstrates modelling, anisotropic shading and final rendering for metallic surfaces in Maya and Arnold.
LightPlacer Simplifies Lighting in 3ds Max
LightPlacer is a US$15 script for creating and managing V-Ray, Corona, Arnold and Octane lights in 3ds Max.
Push Pro Improves 3ds Max’s Push Modifier
Push Pro adds intersection avoidance, improved detail preservation and vertex-colour control to 3ds Max’s Push workflow.
More Than 70 Free High-Resolution HDRIs Available from iHDRI
Game artist Elvis Posa made more than 70 indoor and outdoor HDR environments available for commercial use.
Tutorial: Building Layered Procedural Shader Networks in Blender
CG Fast Track’s four-part Blender tutorial covers mesh fundamentals, normal maps, layered materials and cloth-shader development.
V-Ray 5 Benchmark Update Introduces Three Hardware Tests
Chaos updated the V-Ray 5 Benchmark application with a redesigned interface and CPU, CUDA and GPU testing modes.
HDRI Projector Setup for Cinema 4D and Octane
Daniel Mozbäuchel’s HDRI Projector setup lets Cinema 4D and Octane users project HDR environments and move objects through them.
Assimilate Scratch 9.3 and Play Pro 9.3 Add NDI Remote Workflows
Assimilate’s 9.3 releases integrate NewTek NDI, ColourSpace CMS and Nobe OmniScope for camera-to-post and remote workflows.
Radeon ProRender 2.5 for Blender Enters Beta
AMD released a free Radeon ProRender 2.5 beta for Blender with updated next-generation rendering and viewport frame-rate controls.
OctaneRender 2021 Preview Adds Hydra Support and Ampere Improvements
OTOY previewed OctaneRender 2021 with a revised AOV system, improved Nvidia Ampere performance, Hydra rendering and an RNDR+ bundle.
Chaos Vantage Launches for Real-Time Exploration of V-Ray Scenes
Chaos Vantage uses Nvidia RTX hardware to display and edit large V-Ray environments with real-time ray tracing.
Mari 4.7 Adds Procedural Masks and Material Workflow Improvements
Foundry’s Mari 4.7 focuses on collaboration, procedural masks, a redesigned Shelf palette and easier layered-material authoring.
V-Ray 5 for Cinema 4D Launches with Light Mixing and GPU Rendering
Chaos released V-Ray 5 for Cinema 4D with Light Mixing, Adaptive Dome Light, GPU rendering and distributed-rendering tools.
Isotropix Unveils Angie CPU/GPU Renderer
Isotropix previewed Angie, a CPU/GPU renderer planned for integration with Clarisse iFX and Clarisse Builder.
Autodesk Expands Previous-Version Access to Five Releases
Autodesk expanded previous-version rights for subscribers and maintenance customers to include up to five earlier releases.
Radeon ProRender 3.0 Adds RX 6000 Ray Tracing and UDIM Support
AMD’s Radeon ProRender 3.0 for Blender adds hardware-accelerated ray tracing, contour rendering and UDIM workflows.
3ds Max 2021.3 Released with Retopology Tools
Autodesk’s 3ds Max 2021.3 update improved modelling, viewport performance, Arnold GPU rendering and introduced free retopology tools.
Building a Stylised Goth Girl in Maya and ZBrush
Carlos Adrian Gonzalez Villagomez demonstrates a stylised character workflow spanning Maya, ZBrush, Arnold, XGen, Photoshop and Substance Painter.
Marmoset Toolbag 4 Released with Ray Tracing and 3D Painting
Marmoset Toolbag 4 introduced a ray-tracing engine, RTX support, 3D texture painting, a customisable interface and a free asset library.
Procedural Hair Creation Previewed for Substance Painter
Olivier Lau previews a Substance Painter tool for generating procedural hair cards directly across a model’s surfaces.
Ray Tracer Sandbox Enables Real-Time PBR Shader Testing with Vulkan
The open-source Ray Tracer Sandbox lets artists create and test physically based shaders in real time with prepared scenes and assets.
KeyShot 10 Adds Advanced Lighting, Animation and Export Tools
KeyShot 10 introduced a Light Manager, viewport gizmos, caustics, cloth rendering, environment animation and improved 3D export.
Autodesk University 2020 Goes Online with 750 Sessions
Autodesk University 2020 moved online for four days of industry talks, more than 750 sessions and hundreds of live Q&As.
Foundry Completes the Modo 14 Series
Modo 14.2 completed Foundry’s Modo 14 series with USD support, Rig Clay, MeshFusion tools, viewport upgrades and major performance gains.
Creating Atmospheric Blender Eevee Renders
Curtis Holt demonstrates how to build a cinematic spaceship scene and produce atmospheric real-time renders with Blender Eevee.
Using Scene Data and Mathematics with OSL in 3ds Max
Changsoo Eun’s third OSL mini-tutorial shows how scene data and straightforward mathematics can drive shaders in 3ds Max.