Blender 5.2 LTS lands with node physics
The LTS release brings XPBD hair and cloth, texture-aware Cycles rendering, new Geometry Nodes tools and EEVEE cleanup.
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Here comes Houdini 22
2 hours and 18 minutes. That is almost exactly the runtime of the first Matrix film, and exactly the duration of the Houdini 22 release keynote. So yes, this promises a rather chunky package of new features and improvements.
Maxon ships Redshift 2026.5
Redshift 2026.5 spreads the night sky, grows texture displacement, flips Cinema 4D defaults to OpenPBR, and gets friendlier with Arm64.
Redshift 2026.4 adds Redshift Live and expands support for Vectorworks
Maxon has released Redshift 2026.4. The update introduces Redshift Live as a new real-time render mode, drops Redshift RT, adds support for Vectorworks 2026 Update 4, and brings a set of rendering and workflow updates across the wider Redshift ecosystem.
glTF sample assets and fidelity site refresh
New glTF browsing and comparison pages make it easier to test assets, spot renderer quirks, and argue about pixels with evidence.
OctaneRender 2027.1 alpha goes neural
OctaneRender 2027.1 alpha chases cleaner viewports, smarter lights, and more USD. Test it like it is spicy, because it is.
Maxon ships Redshift for Archviz
Redshift Archviz moves BIM scenes from waiting to tweaking, with real-time previews, assets, and a one-click hop to Cinema 4D for the fancy shots.
Nevercenter speeds up Milo 2026 and drops VR quietly
Milo 2026.0 moves to Unreal Engine 5.7, adds raytracing on Mac, pathtracing on Windows, faster lighting, workflow tweaks and removes VR.
Ocean, clouds, and splats: D5 Render 3.0 sets sail
D5 Render 3.0 introduces new environment tools, expanded AI generation, and a lightweight D5 Lite for SketchUp users.
Rays Behaving Badly No More: MoonRay 2.34.0.1 Fixes the Path
MoonRay 2.34.0.1 lands with a light path visualiser, better macOS and Linux builds, smarter lightsets, and fewer crashes for your next render night.
Checkpoint, fixed: Pixar ships RenderMan 27.1
Pixar refines RenderMan 27.1: better Lama layering, smarter checkpointing, memory savings, and fixes across Blender and Houdini bridges.
Arnold 7.4.4: better hair, bloom & light-sampling
Autodesk’s Arnold 7.4.4 lifts hair realism, adds aperture-bloom modes and speeds global-light sampling. Worth a test in your next render?
Chaos Vantage 3 Released: USD, MaterialX, AI Materials & Volumetric Rendering
Chaos Vantage 3 expands its real-time rendering engine with USD and MaterialX support, AI-driven material generation, volumetric rendering, and Gaussian splats. The update brings Vantage closer to open-pipeline workflows for VFX and visualization and adds plenty of new toys for artists who prefer to stay in real time.
Unity 6.2 Welcomes AI, But Pace Caution—User Liability on Copyright
Unity 6.2 introduces Unity AI, replacing Muse and Sentis with integrated generative tools for assets and code, plus Mesh LOD and UI updates.
Autodesk ships Arnold 7.4.3 with Inference imager and GPU volume speedups
Arnold 7.4.3 introduces a machine-learning Inference imager, faster GPU volume rendering, improved Global Light Sampling, and enhanced OpenPBR and USD workflows.
D5 Render 2.11: Now With AI, Sci-Fi Plants, and Path Tracing by Default
D5 Render 2.11 lands with AI-assisted planting, PBR texture creation, default path tracing, camera and lighting upgrades, and expanded collaboration for teams.
Substance 3D Designer 15 arrives
Substance 3D Designer 15 arrives with a new real-time/path-tracing renderer, in-viewport post FX, and direct scene-based material editing.
![A blue, futuristic aircraft with robotic features displayed in a dark, industrial environment. The image features the text 'Marmoset Toolbag 5.02 [Beta Release]' above the aircraft, highlighting software branding. The background has a metallic appearance with grid lines.](https://i0.wp.com/digitalproduction.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/502-beta-socialsbanner.jpg?resize=380%2C250&quality=70&ssl=1)
Baking, Decals, Fog and a Smudge of Beta in Marmoset Toolbag
Marmoset launches the Toolbag 5.02 beta with new features for baking, painting, fog rendering and scene management.
Chaos Corona 13: AI, GPU & Cartoon Vibes
Corona 13 adds AI Enhancer, GPU rendering via Vantage Live Link, cel/outline shaders, Scatter Clusters, AI‑based asset variations, Firefly removal, VRScene import, Thin‑Film shader.
Redshift 2025.3: Lighting the Way to Better Renders
Maxon's Redshift 2025.3 enhances volume scattering, USD procedural support, and introduces experimental compatibility with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs.
MoonRay 1.7: DreamWorks’ Renderer Gets a Shiny Update
DreamWorks Animation releases MoonRay 1.7, introducing PortalLight, enhanced NVIDIA GPU acceleration, and Cryptomatte support in hdMoonRay.
3dgs Render 2.0 Adds 3D Gaussian Splats Editing to Blender
3DGS Render 2.0 introduces Blender support for 3D Gaussian splat editing, streamlining real-time graphics workflows for VFX and game development.
Renderman 26 is here!
Highlights of RenderMan 26: XPU receives extensive updates that improve lighting support, camera control and adaptive sampling capabilities. Plus an interactive version of the Denoiser with ML and a stylised looks toolset. And the free, non-commercial version of RenderMan 26 is already available.
Houdini 20
The long-awaited update has finally been released and brings with it a whole host of new features. So many, in fact, that a special issue would be worthwhile. For now, here's an overview and an in-depth article on rendering by Olaf Finkbeiner in the next issue.
New pricing for OctaneRenderer!
Software developer Otoy is scrapping its previous licensing model and replacing it with: Studio Plus subscriptions, including numerous assets and software solutions.
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!
Release: V-Ray 6 for Maya
Chaos Group is back with the latest version of the renderer - and with new functions such as geometric tiling, procedurally generated clouds and new shader profiles. Available for Windows, Mac and Linux.
Houdini 19.5: I/O – UI – RBD -FLIP – PYRO – UX ..
There are no completely new features in the Houdini 19.5 update this time. Rather, there are fundamental revisions to the most important functionalities of Houdini: RBD Rigid Body Dynamics and Fluids Simulations. I/O, i.e. input & output, is another topic that extends across all tools. And as expected, there are some user interface standardisations and improvements - especially in the interactive tools. Let's dive right in!
Radeon ProRender 3.4 – These are the new functions
AMD releases version 3.4 of its free GPU renderer - for Blender and Maya. Are the new functions convincing?
V-Ray 6 goes into open beta!
Healthier than beta-carotene? Pump the open beta of V-Ray 6 into the pipeline now - and discover what 3ds Max users can expect.
U-Render 2022.4 released!
What can the new U-Render do that the old U-Render couldn't? Well, NPR, SSGI and VFFM of course? So let's get to non-photorealistic rendering, screen space global illumination - and lots more feature joys!
D5 Render 2.0 Adds Weather and Path Tools
RTX-accelerated D5 Render 2.0 adds a redesigned interface, weather, path tools, 3D grass and improved large-scene lighting.
U-Render Tutorial Series Explores Image Contrast and Three-Point Lighting
U-Render tutorials explain how contrast shapes an image and demonstrate practical three-point lighting for real-time rendering.
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.
Houdini becomes hyperactive
Once again, SideFX doesn't do things by halves. The new Houdini 18.5 is packed with classic updates, but also with completely redesigned tools.
Maya 2020.4 Delivers Major Bifrost and Arnold 6.1 Updates
Maya 2020.4 expands Bifrost with curve support, fields and scattering, while Arnold 6.1 adds imagers and nested dielectrics.
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.
V-Ray 5 für Houdini | Free Public Beta
After 3ds Max and Maya, Houdini is now following suit. Light Path Expressions make light.
RenderMan 24 Plans XPU Rendering and Blender Support
Pixar’s RenderMan 24 roadmap included the CPU/GPU XPU renderer, RIS support, stylised looks, layered materials and new OSL nodes.
Appleseed 2.0 Expands SSS, NPR and Adaptive Sampling
Appleseed 2.0 adds random-walk SSS, NPR shading, false-colour analysis, tile-based adaptive sampling and Substance Painter support.
Corona Renderer 6 Adds Sky and Distance Maps
Corona Renderer 6 for Cinema 4D introduced a procedural sky model, Distance Map, adaptive environment sampling and new bloom controls.
V-Ray 5 for Maya Released
V-Ray 5 for Maya adds a new frame buffer, Light Mix, LPEs, ACEScg, background proxy loading and expanded GPU support.
Corona Render 5 | Cinema 4D Release
Corona Render 5 has been released: following 3ds Max, the Cinema 4D release is now available too!
Corona Renderer 5 Released
The Corona Renderer enters its next round: Corona 5 for 3ds Max has been released with a focus on performance.
Mantras Mantra
The mantra of Mantra is to render what Houdini has created in terms of geometry, volumes or particles. And SideFX recently won an Oscar for this. So if you want to render at Hollywood level, you've come to the right place. Especially if the pipeline should and may be very compositing-orientated, Houdini offers exactly these tools and features. - by Olaf Finkbeiner
Corona Renderer 3 Now Also for Cinema 4D!
And there it has hatched from beta: Corona Renderer 3 from Render Legion is now available for Cinema 4D!
PBR Metal Roughness: Tutorial
Rohan Dalvi with an introduction to the Metal Roughness workflow:
Simlab Composer 9 Ready to Go!
Simlab also offers a free Lite version that can be used for commercial purposes.
OctaneRender 4.0 and Roadmap
The Octane 4.0 preview is here: alongside a test version, there is information on the new features: a new free version, AI tools and more!
New Update for RenderMan
Pixar's RenderMan version 21.5 is now available: Among other things with better skin materials, improved shaders and workflows.
Render Time: Arnold 5 Released
The physically based Arnold renderer from Solid Angle is now available in version 5. We present the most important new features.
V-Ray 3.5 for Maya Released
Chaosgroup's V-Ray renderer in version 3.5 is now also available for Maya. There will soon be a free webinar on the new features.
Chaos Group: V-Ray 3.5 for 3ds Max
Even faster and better? Chaos Group is releasing a new version of the V-Ray renderer for 3ds Max that promises faster rendering features.
Otoy: Octane 4 Is Being Discussed
After a 2016 keynote on the Octane Renderer within the Unity engine, Jules Urbach is now talking about new functions in Octane 4.
Corona 1.5 for 3ds Max
The second update this year for the Corona Renderer brings improvements to the LightMix feature and optimised material compatibility, among other things.
Create Shaders for the Iron Man Suit
In this two-part tutorial series, you will learn how to create the shaders for Iron Man's suit in Arnold for Cinema 4D.
Render Farm Manager RenderPal Version 2
The render farm manager RenderPal V2 supports a large number of renderers and 3D applications such as Maya, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, Nuke, After Effects, Modo and more. Version 2.14 was most recently released.
Particle Action in Houdini!
With Octane or Redshift: Here are helpful tutorials on particle renderings with Houdini
Redshift Plug-in for Katana
There is now a plug-in for the Redshift render engine that runs in the lighting and look tool Katana - for faster rendering and an improved workflow.
Mmmm … Delicious.
CG artist Phil Moreton has created deceptively real renderings with "Swiss Delights"—of the tastiest things Switzerland has to offer.
Corona 1.4 Is Here
Version 1.4 of Corona Renderer for Autodesk 3ds Max is here—faster and with several workflow improvements.
Fractal CG Natural Landscapes
“Emergence”: Julius Horsthuis's fractal organic landscapes have geometric structures and a tendency towards an acid trip.
Guide to Successful VR Projects
VR is on everyone’s lips, but many people don’t really know what, how, why ... V-Ray developer Chaos Group has now published a Virtual Reality Guide for artists.
V-Ray 3.3 for 3ds Max
The new update is intended to render V-Ray 3ds Max scenes up to 50 percent faster—all further features in this overview video. And: we want this cake!
Guide to Hyperion
Walt Disney Animation Studios has published a guide to its in-house renderer Hyperion.
More Maxwell in Realflow
In the tutorial, Gustavo Sanchez-Perez from Next Limit Technologies shows the latest improvements to the Maxwell Render integration in Realflow 2015.
Marmoset Toolbag 2.08
New features and video tutorial - the Toolbag can now also do volumetric fog! More about this in the upcoming DP - in the renderer focus.
3Delight 2.0 for 3ds Max
3Delight is a render engine for 3ds Max with interesting features: among other things, the plug-in supports multi-light, OpenVDB and active shader support. The second full version has now been released.
Guerilla Render 1.3
Mercenaries Engineering has released Guerilla Render version 1.3. Here is an overview of the new features.
Free Version of FurryBall Available
The FurryBall 4.x GPU renderer can now be used free of charge for non-commercial projects, without annoying watermarks.
Marmoset Toolbag 2.06
News from Marmoset: The features of Toolbag in the current version are explained in the following clip.
Rendering Miracle from Weta?
Manuka is the name of Weta's newly developed, physically based in-house renderer. With it, the studio meets the demanding rendering needs of its projects.
FurryBall 4.8 Released with C4D Plug-in
The real-time GPU renderer comes with small improvements in its current version and now works with Cinema 4D.
Iray for Maya 2015
(0x1) Software announces the release of the Iray renderer for Maya 2015 – for next Monday, June 30. But information about features and prices is already available.
Free Octane for Cinema 4D Package
CurseStudio has published an Octane 2.0 for Cinema 4D tutorial as well as a free original scene file for 3ds Max.
Visualizer 1.3 for Maya
Caustic has released version 1.3 of Visualizer for Autodesk Maya. It is said to be the only interactive photorealistic renderer that runs directly in the Maya viewport.
Indigo Renderer 3.6
Version 3.6 features new improvements and features. And there is still a release sale until December 13.
Rendering Particles with Fury 2
Fury 2 from Exocortex is a particle renderer for Autodesk Maya and Softimage.
Pixar: RenderMan Studio Repackaged
Pixar Animation Studios has combined RenderMan for Maya with RenderMan Studio and kept the price of the complete package low.
MentalCore v1.0 Available
After more than a year of development, MentalCore v1.0 is ready. With the plug-in, large renders can be realized in much less time. For the early adopters and as a thank-you to the beta testers, MentalCore can now be purchased in advance at the Special Prize.
RenderMan Pro Server 16.0
Pixar releases RenderMan Pro Server 16 with Raytracing Hider, Radiosity Cache, physically correct shading and deep compositing.
FinalRender 3.5
VFX company cebas Visual Technology presented finalRender 3.5 today – the renderer, already on the market for 20 years, received an entirely new GI engine and accelerated global-illumination rendering alongside the usual improvements. The “3D Camera” module is now also included and, following its use on Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland”, is available to end users for the first time.
SIGGRAPH 2009: Unlimited Threading with RenderMan
The RenderMan product family will support unlimited threading in future, enabling studios and artists to increase the performance of their render farms.
Gelato Pro Now Available Free of Charge
NVIDIA Gelato Pro 2.2 rendering software will no longer be developed / NVIDIA will focus on further developing mental ray software in the future
NVIDIA GPU Renderer Gelato Pro Now Available as a Free Download
Final version of the software; development team will also focus on mental ray in the future.
mental ray workshop
The aim of this training workshop in Berlin is to provide participants with the know-how to significantly improve the quality of their renderings with mental ray, to save a lot of time with the right settings and also to show that additional renderers in Autodesk 3ds Max are not even necessary. The clearly structured topic blocks cover the basics through to professional applications such as industrial and architectural visualisation or programming your own shaders. Participants will be able to create images of outstanding quality and unrivalled realism with mental ray. The high quality is ensured by the fact that both the training content and the written (German) tutorials have been coordinated with mental images GmbH. Both individual days and the entire workshop can be booked. Those who complete the entire workshop will receive a certificate from mental images GmbH. During the workshop, each participant works on an HP high-end workstation, which can also be purchased at special conditions.
SIGGRAPH 2007: Autodessys Introduces form.Z RenderZone Plus 6.5
The new form.Z RenderZone Plus 6.5 offers photorealistic rendering with Global Illumination using Final Gather, Ambient Occlusion and Radiosity.
Nvidia Presents Gelato 2.1
New version of the rendering software ships with plug-ins for Maya 8.5 and 3ds Max 9.0 and enables stereo rendering and fog-lighting effects
Maxwell Render Also for Intel Macs
Next Limit now offers its software in version 1.1 as a “Universal Binary” for Intel and PowerPCs / some new features
Update for Renderpal
The render manager for network and workstation now offers a command-line job submitter and other new features
Siggraph: Splutterfish Brazil 2.0 Debuts
Splutterfish shows new version at trade fair / Delivery begins in autumn
Alias|Wavefront Releases Mental Ray for Maya 1.5
Maya 4.5 users on Windows, IRIX and Linux received the final integrated renderer plug-in, while Mac OS X users gained a free public beta.
Swiffworks for MAYA generates Flash output
The latest development "Swiffworks" can output Flash directly from MAYA