Thursday, February 20th, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerChaos acquires architectural AI tools developer EvolveLABhtml PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Chaos has acquired architectural tools developer EvolveLAB. The financial terms of the deal have not been announced.The firms have not confirmed whether there will be any price changes to EvolveLABs tools, which include AI ideation and visualization app Veras, but all will remain standalone products.EvolveLAB: workflow add-ons and AI ideation tools for Revit and other architectural appsFounded in 2015, EvolveLAB develops workflow tools for architectural design and BIM software: primarily Revit, but also AutoCAD, Rhino and SketchUp.Its flagship application, Veras, is a generative AI-powered tool, available as an add-on for Revit, Rhino, SketchUp and VectorWorks, and as a web app.It generates AI images of buildings, primarily for the ideation phases of architectural design.EvolveLABs other products include Revit add-ons Morphis, for generative design, and Glyph, for documentation; plus Helix, which converts AutoCAD and SketchUp files to Revit components.Veras: a natural fit for Enscape users?Chaos has now acquired all of EvolveLABs tools, and at least some of its staff: both EvolveLAB founder and CEO Bill Allen and CTO Ben Guler will join Chaos.Of the new tools, the one with the most obvious fit to Chaoss own software is Veras: the announcement gives examples of architectural practices using Veras for ideation, and Enscape, Chaoss real-time renderer, for final rendering.According to Chaoss FAQs on the buyout, In the future, we will look to integrate Veras and Enscape for even faster iteration cycles. Chaos previously previewed its own work-in-progress AI technologies, announcing them last year under the banner Chaos Next, although it has since removed that page from its website.According to Chaos, the two firms will now join forces and work together to explore ways to integrate products and accelerate our AI roadmaps.What does the buyout mean for users of EvolveLAB and Chaoss other software?EvolveLABs other products are much further from Chaoss existing software, which is focused far more on visualization than design, and includes the V-Ray, Corona and Vantage renderers.Veras is currently the only EvolveLAB app listed in the All Products section of Chaoss website.However, the FAQs on the acquisition say that all products will remain available as standalone offerings.The FAQs dont say whether the cost of the products will change, but note that Chaos is exploring options to combine the EvolveLAB and Chaos offerings at an attractive price.Read Chaoss announcement that it has acquired EvolveLABRead Chaoss FAQs on the buyout (at the foot of the page)Read EvolveLABs own announcementHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsChaos acquires architectural AI tools developer EvolveLABChaos adds AI visualization and ideation app Veras to its product line. See what the buyout means for users of both firms' tools.Thursday, February 20th, 2025Epic Games releases Twinmotion 2025.1Sizeable update to the real-time visualization app adds volumetric clouds, Virtual Shadow Maps and automatic LOD generation.Wednesday, February 19th, 2025Assetify 2 converts Blender animations to game-ready formatsAsset baking and export add-on can now convert Geometry Nodes to shape keys for export to game engines in glTF or Alembic format.Tuesday, February 18th, 2025Is AI replacing render farms?[Sponsored] Online render farm Forrender argues that traditional workflows provide control and scalability that new AI tools cannot.Tuesday, February 18th, 20255 key features in Blender 4.4Check out the key changes due in the next version of the open-source 3D app, including important updates to animation and viewport rendering.Monday, February 17th, 2025SuperSplat 2.0 lets you create flythroughs of 3D Gaussian SplatsFree, open-source online tool for viewing and editing 3DGS data can now add camera animations to existing scans.Monday, February 17th, 2025More NewsKeenTools releases KeenTools 2025.1 for Blender and NukeMaxon releases Red Giant 2025.3 and Universe 2025.2Maxon releases Redshift 2025.3Chaos releases Vantage 2.7Adobe launches the Firefly Video Model in public betaWacom launches redesigned Intuos Pro pen tabletsFree add-on Paint System 'turns Blender into Photoshop'Free tools: Render Manager and Light Editor for BlenderRichard Rosenman releases IK Studio for After EffectsTopaz Labs releases Gigapixel 8.2See CG benchmarks for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUsChaos releases Beta 2 of the new V-Ray for BlenderOlder Posts

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Epic Games has released Twinmotion 2025.1, the next major version of its Unreal-Engine-based real-time visualisation software.Its a sizeable update, adding a new volumetric clouds system, support for Virtual Shadow Maps, a LOD system, and updates to materials, lights, rendering and Sequence creation.A real-time tool for 3D visualization and virtual productionOriginally created by visualization studio KA-RA and acquired by Epic Games in 2019, Twinmotion is a real-time visualization tool for architectural, automotive and product design.It imports hero models in a range of 3D file formats, or via live links to CAD software, with users able to dress the scenes using a library of stock assets.Atmospheric properties including clouds, rain and snow, and ambient lighting based on geographical location and time of day can be adjusted via slider-based controls.The software is now free to indie artists and studios with revenue under $1 million/year, following Epic Games recent changes to the pricing of its products.Epic Games is also now increasingly pitching the software at the entertainment marked, as an on-ramp to Unreal Engine for virtual production and real-time VFX.Twinmotion 2025.1 introduces a new volumetric clouds system, made possible by the underlying update of the software to Unreal Engine 5.5Twinmotion 2025.1: features Unreal Engines Volumetric clouds and Virtual Shadow MapsTwinmotion only got one major release last year instead of the usual two, so Twinmotion 2025.1 is a double-size update.Under the hood, the software has been updated to Unreal Engine 5.5, the latest version of the engine, leading to some significant new features.One is the new volumetric clouds system, which makes it possible to add realistic, animatable, shadow-casting clouds to outdoor scenes.The feature is still experimental when using Twinmotions Path Tracer render mode, leading to visual differences to real-time mode, and reduced performance on AMD GPUs.Twinmotion also now supports Unreal Engines Virtual Shadow Maps, providing more visually accurate shadows in real-time mode, although currently on Windows only.New automatic LOD systemTwinmotion 2025.1 also adds another feature familiar from game engines: a Level of Detail system.The new Automatic LOD Generation system automatically reduces the poly count of imported meshes according to their distance from the camera, improving rendering performance.It comes with three presets, generating between three and eight LODs.Twinmotions accompanying asset library now features a new Projector Light type.Updates to materials, lights, rendering and Sequence editingThe release also updates Twinmotions core functionality, with the Fog system getting new Height and Color control sliders, and higher maximum fog density.The Sky system gets new Turbidity and Atmosphere density settings.Changes to materials include a new Tire base material, which generates UVs for cylindrical objects like car tires, and new controls in the Car Paint material, including surface imperfections.The Twinmotion Library, the asset library bundled with the software, gets new new Projector light type, for projecting videos onto geometry, and a new Confetti particle system type.The Sequences system, for creating and editing cinematic video sequences, gets a new Orbit Cam rig, and the option to set a target for the Action Cam.User interface, workflow and pipeline integration changesOther changes include a redesign of the Environment tab in the Ambience panel to create a clearer distinction between sky- and HDRI-based lighting.There is also a new Modeling panel, accessible from the footer, for making simple edits to imported meshes: initially, mirroring meshes, and flipping normals on faces to fix artifacts.Changes affecting pipeline integration include the option to import geometry in .wire format from automotive design tool Alias, and to import two-sided geometry.There are also a number of smaller workflow improvements: you can find a full list of changes via the link at the foot of the story.Price, system requirements and release dateTwinmotion 2025.1 is compatible with Windows 10+ and macOS 12.5+. Integration plugins are available for CAD and DCC apps including 3ds Max 2017+, CityEngine 2022.0+ and SketchUp Pro 2019+.The software is free to users with gross annual revenue under $1 million/year. The free edition lacks access to Twinmotion Cloud, but is otherwise fully featured.For larger studios, subscriptions cost $445/seat/year.Read an overview of the new features in Twinmotion 2025.1 on Epic Games blogRead a full list of new features in Twinmotion 2025.1 in the online changelogHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.

Tuesday, February 18th, 2025Article by ForrenderIs AI replacing render farms?html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"[Sponsored] Ukraine-based online render farm Forrender argues that traditional rendering workflows still provide a degree of artist control and scalability that new AI tools cannot.The world of 3D rendering has seen remarkable advances in recent years, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence. AI-driven tools are reshaping workflows, allowing artists to accomplish tasks faster and more efficiently. With the introduction of video generation models like OpenAIs Sora, the question on many peoples minds is: will AI replace render farms?While AI is making significant strides in the field, the reality is more complex. AI is changing how rendering tasks are approached, but it hasnt made render farms obsolete far from it. Lets discuss different aspects of rendering.An AI-generated illustration of current generative AI models.The situation surrounding AI in renderingAI is now being integrated into various parts of 3D production workflows, speeding up iteration, automating tasks, and even providing more overall creative freedom. Some of the most exciting tools and technologies include:OpenAIs SoraAn AI model for generating short videos from text descriptions or images, or extending existing videos. It lets artists quickly visualize ideas without extensive manual animation.Runwayss Gen-3 A cutting-edge generative AI model that transforms text prompts or existing images into video content, opening new creative possibilities in storytelling and concept visualization.Adobes FireflyAdobes generative AI technology now includes a new Video AI model, making it possible to extend shots or perform smart edits directly within Adobes Creative Cloud tools.These tools are helping artists prototype ideas faster, handle repetitive tasks, and experiment with creative possibilities in ways that were previously too time-consuming. However, when it comes to final renders especially those involving high-quality visual effects, complex lighting, or detailed textures, the need for powerful hardware remains essential.An individual approach is essential for high-quality rendersNo matter how advanced AI becomes, there are certain nuances in 3D modeling and rendering that require human expertise and an individual approach. Custom scene setups, project-specific requirements, and high-quality final renders cant always be fully automated. Creative projects, particularly those involving complex animations or highly detailed scenes, need careful handling by experienced professionals.This is where render farms remain crucial. While AI handles smaller tasks, the real heavy lifting of rendering still requires dedicated infrastructure, especially for large-scale productions like feature films, architectural visualizations, and game development.At Forrender, we specialize in providing this personalized approach. Our hands-on support during the scene setup process ensures that artists achieve the highest possible quality from their renders. AI can handle many repetitive tasks, but when it comes to high-performance computing, fine-tuning, and delivering a final product, human oversight is key to ensuring that the vision is realized exactly as intended.Forrenders value propositionForrender provides CPU and GPU rendering at competitive prices. Thats why we offer a blend of automated tools and personalized support, so you can work faster without sacrificing quality.Heres how we meet your needs:Automated submission via our desktop applicationForrender offers a desktop app that simplifies the submission process. Once your project is ready for rendering, our application makes uploads easy and processing quick, leveraging our high-performance cloud render farm. Its designed for professionals who need efficiency without losing control over the details of their projects.Online cabinet for project managementOur intuitive online cabinet allows users to track the progress of their renders, manage multiple projects, and keep an eye on billing all in one convenient place.Remote desktop rentalNeed extra computational power beyond rendering? Forrender also offers remote desktop rental services, providing access to high-performance machines for tasks like simulations, scene setups, or AI-driven workflows. This flexibility ensures that you have the tools you need at every step of the creative process.Support for a wide range of softwareAnother key benefit of Forrender is the variety of software we support, from industry-standard tools like 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, Maya, Blender, Houdini and After Effects, to specialized software such as Lumion, Terragen, KeyShot, RendeMan, and Nuke. No matter what software you prefer, Forrenders render farm can handle it with ease, providing the performance and compatibility you need for any project.Special offers from ForrenderWe are also pleased to offer:Special conditions for educationFor educational institutions and students, we provide discounted rates to ensure affordable access to professional rendering tools.Special conditions for 3D schools3D schools can benefit from tailored packages that fit their specific needs and budget.A special promotion for CG Channel readersAs a limited-time promotion, all CG Channel readers signing up with Forrender will receive twice as many render points as they decide to refill. For example, if you add 50 Render Points to your balance, a further 50 Render Points will be added for free. To claim the offer, you need to sign up online and enter the word cgchannel in the Invite Code field. If you have already registered, please contact your manager and highlight the fact that you found us on CG Channel. The promotion is valid until June 2025.Supporting UkraineAt Forrender, we believe in giving back. As part of our commitment, we are proud to announce that 5% of all of our profits from rendering will go to support Ukraine. By working with us, you not only get exceptional rendering services but also contribute to a meaningful cause.We are working with Kolo, the charity fund organized by the Ukrainian tech community. They help defenders on the front line gain a technological advantage, using donations to fund equipment based on the ROI principle, maximizing lives saved. Check out their initiatives here.Conclusion: AI is evolving, but render farms are still essentialAI is transforming 3D modeling and rendering, making workflows faster and more efficient. However, while AI offers exciting new capabilities, it cannot replace the raw computational power that render farms provide especially for large, complex projects that require high-resolution outputs and detailed scene management.At Forrender, we offer a cloud-based render farm service designed to complement these AI-driven workflows, ensuring that your creative vision can be brought to life with precision and efficiency. From automated submissions to hands-on support and compatibility with a wide range of software, we help artists navigate the challenges of modern rendering, combining the best of AI and traditional computational power.Ready to elevate your workflow? Visit Forrender today to see how we can support your next big project, ensuring high-quality results without breaking the bank.Visit the Forrender online render farmSign up to Forrender(See the story above for details of the special introductory discount)Related Topics # Advertorial # animation # architectural visualization # Forrender # game development # online render farm # online rendering # sponsored # vfx # visual effects Latest NewsAssetify 2 converts Blender animations to game-ready formatsAsset baking and export add-on can now convert Geometry Nodes to shape keys for export to game engines in glTF or Alembic format.Tuesday, February 18th, 2025Is AI replacing render farms?[Sponsored] Online render farm Forrender argues that traditional workflows provide control and scalability that new AI tools cannot.Tuesday, February 18th, 20255 key features in Blender 4.4Check out the key changes due in the next version of the open-source 3D app, including important updates to animation and viewport rendering.Monday, February 17th, 2025SuperSplat 2.0 lets you create flythroughs of 3D Gaussian SplatsFree, open-source online tool for viewing and editing 3DGS data can now add camera animations to existing scans.Monday, February 17th, 2025KeenTools releases KeenTools 2025.1 for Blender and NukeCheck out the changes to tracking plugins FaceTracker and GeoTracker, including new wireframe rendering and start frame selection options.Friday, February 14th, 2025Maxon releases Red Giant 2025.3 and Universe 2025.2Check out the new features in the suite of motion graphics and VFX plugins and the online library of effects and transitions.Thursday, February 13th, 2025More NewsMaxon releases Redshift 2025.3Chaos releases Vantage 2.7Adobe launches the Firefly Video Model in public betaWacom launches redesigned Intuos Pro pen tabletsFree add-on Paint System 'turns Blender into Photoshop'Free tools: Render Manager and Light Editor for BlenderRichard Rosenman releases IK Studio for After EffectsTopaz Labs releases Gigapixel 8.2See CG benchmarks for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUsChaos releases Beta 2 of the new V-Ray for BlenderReview: Huion Kamvas 22 Plus pen displayCETA Software launches Artist AccessOlder Posts

Tuesday, February 18th, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerAssetify 2 converts Blender animations to game-ready formatshtml PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"3D artist Nino (aka defoq) has released Assetify 2, the new version of his time-saving Blender add-on for converting assets into game-ready formats.The update makes it possible to bake and export animations as well as static assets, including the option to convert Geometry Nodes-based animations and cloth simulations to shape keys.Automate the processing of Blender assets for use in games and real-time applicationsReleased last year, Assetify streamlines the process of converting Blender assets into formats suitable for use in real-time applications, including games, AR and web apps.It automates the process of unwrapping and packing UVs on Blender models, and baking PBR textures from them, with export presets for both Unreal Engine and Unity.The add-on can bake textures from Geometry Nodes set-ups, and integrates with Mossify, Ninos procedural moss-generation add-on for Blender.Processed assets can be exported in standard 3D formats: FBX, OBJ, glTF/GLB and STL.Now supports animation, including Geometry Nodes setupsAssetify 2 adds support for animation, making it possible to process keyframe and shape key (blendshape) animations, and physics and particle simulations.Highlights include the option to convert Geometry Nodes-based animations and cloth simulations to shape keys, for export in file formats including glTF and Alembic.The add-on can also now bake PBR texture sequences from animations.Price and system requirementsAssetify 2 is compatible with Blender 4.0+. An individual license costs $34.99; studio licenses cost between $69.99 and $199.99.Read more about Assetify 2 on the add-ons Gumroad pageHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsAssetify 2 converts Blender animations to game-ready formatsAsset baking and export add-on can now convert Geometry Nodes to shape keys for export to game engines in glTF or Alembic format.Tuesday, February 18th, 2025Is AI replacing render farms?[Sponsored] Online render farm Forrender argues that traditional workflows provide control and scalability that new AI tools cannot.Tuesday, February 18th, 20255 key features in Blender 4.4Check out the key changes due in the next version of the open-source 3D app, including important updates to animation and viewport rendering.Monday, February 17th, 2025SuperSplat 2.0 lets you create flythroughs of 3D Gaussian SplatsFree, open-source online tool for viewing and editing 3DGS data can now add camera animations to existing scans.Monday, February 17th, 2025KeenTools releases KeenTools 2025.1 for Blender and NukeCheck out the changes to tracking plugins FaceTracker and GeoTracker, including new wireframe rendering and start frame selection options.Friday, February 14th, 2025Maxon releases Red Giant 2025.3 and Universe 2025.2Check out the new features in the suite of motion graphics and VFX plugins and the online library of effects and transitions.Thursday, February 13th, 2025More NewsMaxon releases Redshift 2025.3Chaos releases Vantage 2.7Adobe launches the Firefly Video Model in public betaWacom launches redesigned Intuos Pro pen tabletsFree add-on Paint System 'turns Blender into Photoshop'Free tools: Render Manager and Light Editor for BlenderRichard Rosenman releases IK Studio for After EffectsTopaz Labs releases Gigapixel 8.2See CG benchmarks for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUsChaos releases Beta 2 of the new V-Ray for BlenderReview: Huion Kamvas 22 Plus pen displayCETA Software launches Artist AccessOlder Posts

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"PlayCanvas developer Will Eastcott has released SuperSplat 2.0, the latest version of his free browser-based tool for loading, visualizing and editing 3D Gaussian Splats.The update adds new controls to the timeline editor, making it possible to create flythroughs of 3D scans in 3DGS format, and to publish them to a new SuperSplat gallery website.View and edit 3DGS data for free in a standard web browserFirst released last year, SuperSplat makes it possible to import and edit 3D scans captured as 3D Gaussian Splats (3DGS) in a standard web browser.Users can import data in PLY format, and hide, remove or re-orient individual splats, or select and crop out larger parts of the scan using volume selection tools.You can read more about how it works in our story on the SuperSpat 1.0.SuperSplat 2.0: create camera flythroughs and share them in the new SuperSplat gallerySuperSplat 2.0 builds on the new animation timeline added in SuperSplat 1.13 earlier this year for playing back 4D Gaussian Splats (4DGS) time sequences of 3DGS scans in PLY format.The latest update makes it possible to add animations to static scans, with new timeline controls enabling users to record and export camera flythroughs.Scenes can now be published to a new SuperSplat gallery website, where they can be viewed on desktop monitors, or using virtual reality or augmented reality headsets.Licensing and system requirementsSuperSplat can be used for free in a web browser. It should work with current desktop browsers. The source code is available under an open-source MIT license.Use the free online SuperSplat 3D Gaussian Splat editorRead more about SuperSplat in the projects GitHub repositoryHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.

Monday, February 17th, 2025Posted by Jim Thacker5 key features in Blender 4.4html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"The splash screen artwork for Blender 4.4: a still from Oscar-nominated animated feature FlowThe Blender Foundation has released the first beta builds of Blender 4.4, the next version of the open-source 3D software for VFX, animation, game development and visualization.Compared to its predecessors, its a workflow-and-bugfix-focused release, with no new features of the scale of Eevee Next in Blender 4.2 or Grease Pencil 3 in Blender 4.3.However, there are significant changes, so below, weve picked out five, from the way animation works to a major rewrite of the compositor and yes, the bugfixes themselves.At the end of the story, you can find a summary of whats new in other key toolsets, including sculpting, Geometry Nodes, the Cycles and Eevee renderers, and the Video Sequencer.Well update this story once Blender 4.4 is officially released in March, but no major new features should be added between now and the stable release.Blender 4.4 changes the structure of the Action data-blocks used to store animation data. The Action above has two Slots, one for the Camera Object and one for the Camera Data.1. Animation: slotted Actions simplify animation workflowMany of the key changes in Blender 4.4 are under the hood. One of the most significant is that the structure of Actions the data-blocks used to store animation data has changed.Actions now have Slots, making it possible for a single Action to store multiple kinds of data.As a result, a single Action can store more complex animation: for example, an object that changes color as it moves can be represented using separate slots for its position and material.The change should simplify workflow when animating cameras, as shown in the image above, and materials, where the material and its shader node tree can have separate slots.It is also now possible to merge the animations of multiple objects into one Action, or split slots of one Action into many, increasing flexibility.Changing the way that Blender stores animation data was one of the first major proposals for the Animation 2025 Project, the ongoing overhaul of Blenders character rigging and animation tools, although the original idea was to replace Actions with a new Animation data-block type.The change introduces a new Python API, and is not fully backwards-compatible, although existing .blend files should be updated automatically on import.Although the new Vulkan backend, used for real-time rendering, remains an experimental feature in Blender 4.4, its performance relative to the default OpenGL backend has improved.2. Viewport rendering: a big update to the new Vulkan backendThe Vulkan backend introduced in Blender 4.1 for rendering the UI and viewport gets a big update in performance, stability and compatibility.Startup times, from loading a scene to the final viewport appearing on screen, are now around 5x faster than the OpenGL backend for a cold start, and 2x faster for a warm start.Vulkan is also now used to display the rendered output of Cycles, Blenders production renderer although not to run Cycles, which is still described in the online documentation as not viable.The Vulkan backend is supported on relatively old GPUs: NVIDIAs 10-year-old GeForce GTX 900 Series and AMDs eight-year-old Radeon 400 Series are supported on Windows and Linux.However, it remains an experimental feature: it lacks support for key features like OpenXR and OpenSubdiv, and animation performance still needs to be improved.The CPU Compositor has been rewritten in Blender 4.4, improving the performance of key nodes, and revamping the Glare node used to add glows and lens flares to images.3. Compositing: faster CPU compositing and a revamped Glare nodeAnother under-the-hood change in Blender 4.4 is that the CPU compositor the original compositor, not the new Viewport Compositor introduced in Blender 3.5 has been rewritten.The work was done in preparation for future development, but it does bring significant speed improvements: key nodes, including blur, filter and mask nodes, are now 2-10x faster.The Glare node, used to add lens flares and glows to images, has also been made more usable: VFX artist Rob Dickinson has a good overview of the changes on his Decoded YouTube channel.Blender 4.4 updates key libraries, including OpenColorIO, OpenEXR and OpenVDB, to match the new CY2025 specification for the VFX Reference Platform.4. Pipeline integration: CY2025 support for VFX Reference PlatformFor visual effects and animation studios, another key feature of Blender 4.4 is that it has been updated to match the CY2025 specification for the VFX Reference Platform.Overseen by the Visual Effects Society, the annually updated spec is intended to ensure that tools used in VFX production pipelines all use the same versions of key software libraries.The Blender Foundation had previously considered moving away from the platform, but reversed the decision in 2022, with full compliance returning in Blender 4.0.A key focus during the development of Blender 4.4 has simply been to fix bugs, with more than 500 reported issues fixed during January 2025 alone.5. And bugfixes: lots and lots of bugfixesHowever, a key objective Blender 4.4 was simply to fix bugs, not to introduce major new toolsets so much so that weve chosen the bugfixes as one of our five key changes.According to a recent post on the Blender Developer blog, more than 500 reported issues were fixed during January alone, as part of the Winter of Quality initiative.The part of the software to get the most fixes was Grease Pencil, Blenders 2D animation and storyboarding toolset, following its major overhaul in Blender 4.3.The user interface, viewport and Geometry Nodes framework also each got over 70 fixes.Changes to Blenders other key toolsets in Blender 4.4 include an update to the OptiX denoiser used in the Cycles render engine, improving consistency of denoising on NVIDIA GPUs.Other changes: whats new in the other key toolsets?Blenders user interface gets a lot of small improvements in Blender 4.4, including updates to UI fonts, tooltips, common UI panels and dialogs, and the Status Bar, which now shows warnings for more common issues, like negative scale values on objects.The 3D modeling toolset gets improvements to topology, including options to select all three- and five-pole vertices in a mesh, and to join tris to quads in a way that favors an even quad grid.In the sculpting toolset, the existing Flatten, Fill and Scrape brush types have been consolidated into a single new brush type, the Plane brush.The Geometry Nodes and physics framework gets new Collection and Object input nodes, although most of the changes are workflow improvements.In the character rigging toolset, membership of bone collections is now mirrored when symmetrizing an armature.For character animation, the Pose Library can now export pose assets as external libraries, making them easier to reuse between projects.Cycles, Blenders main production renderer, has been updated to use a newer version of NVIDIAs OptiX denoiser, resulting in more consistent denoising for users with older GPU drivers.The Grease Pencil 2D animation toolset has been updated to restore features removed by the major overhaul it received in Blender 4.3. The Video Sequencer gets workflow improvements, particularly to text strips, but the key change is probably support for the industry-standard H.265/HEVC video codec.In addition, the sequencer now supports 10- and 12-bits-per-channel video formats there is currently no handling of HDR video, but proxies for HDR image strips should now work properly and videos rendered from Blender now explicitly use BT.709 color space used for HDTV.Other pipeline integration changes include support for the AAC audio format, and updates to USD workflows, including better export of animated volumes and instanced non-mesh objects like point clouds and curves, and support for displacement in UsdPreviewSurface.System requirementsBlender 4.4 is currently in beta, with the stable release due in March 2025. Blender is compatible with Windows 8.1+, macOS 11.2+ and glibc 2.28+ Linux.Read a longer list of new features in the Blender 4.4 release notesDownload daily beta builds of Blender 4.4Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest News5 key features in Blender 4.4Check out the key changes due in the next version of the open-source 3D app, including important updates to animation and viewport rendering.Monday, February 17th, 2025SuperSplat 2.0 lets you create flythroughs of 3D Gaussian SplatsFree, open-source online tool for viewing and editing 3DGS data can now add camera animations to existing scans.Monday, February 17th, 2025KeenTools releases KeenTools 2025.1 for Blender and NukeCheck out the changes to tracking plugins FaceTracker and GeoTracker, including new wireframe rendering and start frame selection options.Friday, February 14th, 2025Maxon releases Red Giant 2025.3 and Universe 2025.2Check out the new features in the suite of motion graphics and VFX plugins and the online library of effects and transitions.Thursday, February 13th, 2025Maxon releases Redshift 2025.3Renderer gets better multiscattering in volumes, USD procedural support in Maya, and initial support for GeForce 50 Series GPUs.Thursday, February 13th, 2025Chaos releases Vantage 2.7Real-time ray tracing renderer for exploring large V-Ray scenes gets OCIO color management, DLSS 4, and new lens distortion system.Thursday, February 13th, 2025More NewsAdobe launches the Firefly Video Model in public betaWacom launches redesigned Intuos Pro pen tabletsFree add-on Paint System 'turns Blender into Photoshop'Free tools: Render Manager and Light Editor for BlenderRichard Rosenman releases IK Studio for After EffectsTopaz Labs releases Gigapixel 8.2See CG benchmarks for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUsChaos releases Beta 2 of the new V-Ray for BlenderReview: Huion Kamvas 22 Plus pen displayCETA Software launches Artist AccessTutorials: Creating a Character for Games - Vol. 1 and Vol. 2LightWave Digital previews LightWave 2025Older Posts

Friday, February 14th, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerKeenTools releases KeenTools 2025.1 for Blender and Nukehtml PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"KeenTools has released KeenTools 2025.1, the latest version of its suite of plugins for Blender and Nuke.Facial tracking plugin FaceTracker and 3D object tracking plugin GeoTracker both get workflow updates, including a new wireframe render option to help preview tracks.FaceTracker and GeoTracker: wireframe rendering and Start frame selectionKeenTools 2025.1 is primarily a workflow update to KeenTools tracking plugins, with both FaceTracker and GeoTracker getting a new wireframe render option.It makes it possible to render a wireframe view of the tracked geometry the plugins generate, either in isolation, or overlaid on the source footage to help when previewing a track.The plugins also get a Start frame selector for clips and Sequence Masks, providing a quick way to reposition footage and masks in the timeline.All of the KeenTools plugins, including 3D head generator FaceBuilder, get support for the Blender 4.4 and Nuke 15.2 betas, with support for the Nuke 16.0 beta to come.Price and system requirementsThe KeenTools plugins are compatible with Blender 2.80+ and Nuke 12.2v4+. GeoTracker is also available for After Effects 17.0+.The software is available rental-only, with each individual plugin costing $18/month or $179/year for individuals, or $499/year for studios.Read a full list of new features in KeenTools 2025.1Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsKeenTools releases KeenTools 2025.1 for Blender and NukeCheck out the changes to tracking plugins FaceTracker and GeoTracker, including new wireframe rendering and start frame selection options.Friday, February 14th, 2025Maxon releases Red Giant 2025.3 and Universe 2025.2Check out the new features in the suite of motion graphics and VFX plugins and the online library of effects and transitions.Thursday, February 13th, 2025Maxon releases Redshift 2025.3Renderer gets better multiscattering in volumes, USD procedural support in Maya, and initial support for GeForce 50 Series GPUs.Thursday, February 13th, 2025Chaos releases Vantage 2.7Real-time ray tracing renderer for exploring large V-Ray scenes gets OCIO color management, DLSS 4, and new lens distortion system.Thursday, February 13th, 2025Adobe launches the Firefly Video Model in public betaNew generative AI model let users create video, animation and even stock FX clips from text prompts and images. Read our FAQs about it.Wednesday, February 12th, 2025Wacom launches redesigned Intuos Pro pen tabletsPopular pro graphics tablets get their first updates in eight years. See the specs and prices for the 2025 Intuos Pro Small, Medium & Large.Wednesday, February 12th, 2025More NewsFree add-on Paint System 'turns Blender into Photoshop'Free tools: Render Manager and Light Editor for BlenderRichard Rosenman releases IK Studio for After EffectsTopaz Labs releases Gigapixel 8.2See CG benchmarks for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUsChaos releases Beta 2 of the new V-Ray for BlenderReview: Huion Kamvas 22 Plus pen displayCETA Software launches Artist AccessTutorials: Creating a Character for Games - Vol. 1 and Vol. 2LightWave Digital previews LightWave 2025Check out the new features in the ForestPack 9.1 updatesSee five great VFX breakdowns from the 2025 V-Ray showreelOlder Posts

Thursday, February 13th, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerMaxon releases Redshift 2025.3html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Redshift 2025.3 reworks the renderers handling of Area lights, making it possible for the light they emit to be visible through transmissive objects without the light itself being visible.Maxon has released Redshift 2025.3, the latest version of the GPU renderer for 3ds Max, Blender, Cinema 4D, Houdini, Katana and Maya.The update reworks Redshifts handling of Area and Dome lights, improves multiscattering in volumes, and adds support for the USD procedural in Maya as well as Houdini and Katana.Area and Dome lights are now less dependent on camera visibilityRedshift 2025.3 reworks the renderers handling of Area and Dome lights, making their contribution to a scene less dependent on their visibility to the render camera.Lights can now be visible in a scene, but not themselves cast shadows; or be invisible in a scene, but still be seen through transparent materials, as in the image above.The new Extinction Falloff parameter improves multiscattering in volumes like clouds, making it possible to generate more realistic renders without an attendant performance hit.Better multiscattering in volumesThe update also improves multiscattering in volumes, with both the Standard Volume and classic Volume shader getting a new Extinction Falloff parameter.It reduces scattering and transmittance with successive bounces of volume rays, making it possible to simulate hundreds of bounces without the usual performance penalty.The Standard Volume also now has a single Displacement input, making it possible to apply volume displacement to the volume and emission channels simultaneously.Updates to the USD proceduralIn addition, the Redshift USD procedural is now supported in Maya as well as Houdini and Katana, making it possible to load and render USD files using the RS Proxy.The USD assets are then only loaded at render time, resulting in a lighter primary scene file.The USD Procedural also now supports UsdPreviewSurface materials, and denoising and post effects.Experimental support for NVIDIAs new GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUsThe update also introduces experimental support for the GeForce RTX 50 Series, NVIDIAs new consumer GPUs based on its Blackwell architecture, now becoming commercially available.For Mac users, Redshifts Alembic procedural is now supported on Apple Silicon processors.Price and system requirementsRedshift 2025.3 is compatible with Windows 10+, glibc 2.28+ Linux and macOS 13.3+.The renderers integration plugins are compatible with 3ds Max 2018+, Blender 3.1+, Cinema 4D R25+, Houdini 18.5+, Katana 4.5+ and Maya 2018+ (Maya 2022+ on Linux).The software is rental-only, with subscriptions costing $46/month or $264/year. Read a full list of changes in Redshift 2025.3 on the Redshift forum(Login required)Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsMaxon releases Red Giant 2025.3 and Universe 2025.2Check out the new features in the suite of motion graphics and VFX plugins and the online library of effects and transitions.Thursday, February 13th, 2025Maxon releases Redshift 2025.3Renderer gets better multiscattering in volumes, USD procedural support in Maya, and initial support for GeForce 50 Series GPUs.Thursday, February 13th, 2025Chaos releases Vantage 2.7Real-time ray tracing renderer for exploring large V-Ray scenes gets OCIO color management, DLSS 4, and new lens distortion system.Thursday, February 13th, 2025Adobe launches the Firefly Video Model in public betaNew generative AI model let users create video, animation and even stock FX clips from text prompts and images. Read our FAQs about it.Wednesday, February 12th, 2025Wacom launches redesigned Intuos Pro pen tabletsPopular pro graphics tablets get their first updates in eight years. See the specs and prices for the 2025 Intuos Pro Small, Medium & Large.Wednesday, February 12th, 2025Free add-on Paint System 'turns Blender into Photoshop'Updated for version 1.2: Intuitive layer-based texture painting add-on for Blender now supports shader layers and texture baking.Wednesday, February 12th, 2025More NewsFree tools: Render Manager and Light Editor for BlenderRichard Rosenman releases IK Studio for After EffectsTopaz Labs releases Gigapixel 8.2See CG benchmarks for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUsChaos releases Beta 2 of the new V-Ray for BlenderReview: Huion Kamvas 22 Plus pen displayCETA Software launches Artist AccessTutorials: Creating a Character for Games - Vol. 1 and Vol. 2LightWave Digital previews LightWave 2025Check out the new features in the ForestPack 9.1 updatesSee five great VFX breakdowns from the 2025 V-Ray showreelHow Vine FX created a parasitic underwater forest for The RigOlder Posts

Thursday, February 13th, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerMaxon releases Red Giant 2025.3 and Universe 2025.2html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Maxon has released Red Giant 2025.3 and Universe 2025.2, the latest updates to its suite of effects plugins for compositing and editing apps and its online library of effects and transitions.The updates add new scaling features to After Effects template engine Maxon Studio and integrate it more directly with Red Giant and Universes other After Effects tools.Red Giant users also get better integration between 3D particle toolsets Form and Particular.Red Giant 2025.3: updates to Maxon Studio and ParticularThe Red Giant 2025.3 focuses mainly on Maxon Studio, Maxons new tool for creating motion graphics in After Effects by customizing readymade Capsules.The update adds new scaling options, making it possible to apply a Capsule at its original size, or to scale it to the width of a composition, its height, or both.Subscribers also get 200 new Capsules with 9:16 aspect ratios for use on social media.Maxon has now added a Maxon Studio Open button to all of its other After Effects plugins, making it possible to launch Studio from within the Magic Bullet, Trapcode and VFX tools.The new Apply Form Defaults button in Particular sets up the 3D particle toolset to create Form-style particle grids as well as its more traditional organic particle effects.The update also improves interoperability between Particular and Form, Red Giants 3D particle toolsets, with a new button to apply Form default settings within Particular.Universe 2025.2: better integration with Maxon Studio and bugfixesUniverse 2025.2 is a much smaller update, adding the Maxon Studio Open button to all of the Universe tools in After Effects.Price and system requirementsRed Giant is compatible with After Effects 2024+ on Windows 10+ and macOS 12.0+. Some individual tools are compatible with other host applications, including DaVinci Resolve.Complete Red Giant subscriptions, which include Universe, cost $85/month or $639/year. Individual Universe subscriptions cost $32/month or $214/year.Read more about the Red Giant plugins on Maxons websiteHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsMaxon releases Red Giant 2025.3 and Universe 2025.2Check out the new features in the suite of motion graphics and VFX plugins and the online library of effects and transitions.Thursday, February 13th, 2025Maxon releases Redshift 2025.3Renderer gets better multiscattering in volumes, USD procedural support in Maya, and initial support for GeForce 50 Series GPUs.Thursday, February 13th, 2025Chaos releases Vantage 2.7Real-time ray tracing renderer for exploring large V-Ray scenes gets OCIO color management, DLSS 4, and new lens distortion system.Thursday, February 13th, 2025Adobe launches the Firefly Video Model in public betaNew generative AI model let users create video, animation and even stock FX clips from text prompts and images. Read our FAQs about it.Wednesday, February 12th, 2025Wacom launches redesigned Intuos Pro pen tabletsPopular pro graphics tablets get their first updates in eight years. See the specs and prices for the 2025 Intuos Pro Small, Medium & Large.Wednesday, February 12th, 2025Free add-on Paint System 'turns Blender into Photoshop'Updated for version 1.2: Intuitive layer-based texture painting add-on for Blender now supports shader layers and texture baking.Wednesday, February 12th, 2025More NewsFree tools: Render Manager and Light Editor for BlenderRichard Rosenman releases IK Studio for After EffectsTopaz Labs releases Gigapixel 8.2See CG benchmarks for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUsChaos releases Beta 2 of the new V-Ray for BlenderReview: Huion Kamvas 22 Plus pen displayCETA Software launches Artist AccessTutorials: Creating a Character for Games - Vol. 1 and Vol. 2LightWave Digital previews LightWave 2025Check out the new features in the ForestPack 9.1 updatesSee five great VFX breakdowns from the 2025 V-Ray showreelHow Vine FX created a parasitic underwater forest for The RigOlder Posts

Thursday, February 13th, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerChaos releases Vantage 2.7html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Chaos has updated Vantage, its real-time ray tracing renderer, intended for exploring large V-Ray scenes in architectural visualization and visual effects projects.Vantage 2.7 adds OCIO color management, new lens distortion and vignetting effects, and support for a wider range of V-Rays scattering features.A GPU-accelerated ray tracer for exploring large production scenes in real timeFirst released in 2020, Vantage is a hardware-accelerated ray tracing renderer intended for exploring large V-Ray production scenes in near-real time. The initial release was targeted at visualization, but in 2023 Chaos added support for rendering deforming meshes, like animated characters, and began pitching Vantage at VFX work.Vantage 2.7: support for more native V-Ray scattering features and the VRayDirt textureVantage 2.7 adds support for more of V-Rays native features, particularly from Chaos Scatter, its object scattering system.The renderer now supports scatter distribution maps, introduced last year in V-Ray 7, and scatter surface color from .vrscene files.Vantage also now supports V-Rays VRayDirt texture map, described on Chaoss blog as a highly requested change.The Sun and Sky system has been updated to the PRG Clear Sky model introduced in V-Ray 7, which generates more realistic results at sunrise and sunset.New lens distortion, vignetting and Blur/Sharpen effectsVantage 2.7 also introduces a new lens distortion system, with users able to mimic distortions created by real-world camera lenses using ST maps, as in many compositing and camera tracking apps.The renderer also now supports vignetting both camera vignetting and optical vignetting and gets new Blur/Sharpen controls in the Color Corrections tab for post effects.Support for OCIO and DLSS 4Other key changes include support for VFX color management standard OCIO (OpenColorIO).DLSS, NVIDIAs AI-based image reconstruction system, first integrated into Vantage in 2023, has been updated to DLSS 4, the current generation of the technology.According to Chaos, the change improve[s] temporal stability to minimize artifacts like ghosting and flickering during real-time rendering.The update also adds support for video encoding on AMD and Intel GPUs, and the option to export 16-bit as well as 8-bit PNG files, although they remain standard dynamic range images.Price and system requirementsChaos Vantage is compatible with Windows 10+ and DXR-compatible AMD, Intel or NVIDIA GPUs. The software is rental-only, with subscriptions costing $108.90/month or $658.80/year.Read an overview of the new features in Vantage 2.7 on Chaoss blogRead a full list of new features in Vantage 2.7 in the online documentationHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsMaxon releases Redshift 2025.3Renderer gets better multiscattering in volumes, USD procedural support in Maya, and initial support for GeForce 50 Series GPUs.Thursday, February 13th, 2025Chaos releases Vantage 2.7Real-time ray tracing renderer for exploring large V-Ray scenes gets OCIO color management, DLSS 4, and new lens distortion system.Thursday, February 13th, 2025Adobe launches the Firefly Video Model in public betaNew generative AI model let users create video, animation and even stock FX clips from text prompts and images. Read our FAQs about it.Wednesday, February 12th, 2025Wacom launches redesigned Intuos Pro pen tabletsPopular pro graphics tablets get their first updates in eight years. See the specs and prices for the 2025 Intuos Pro Small, Medium & Large.Wednesday, February 12th, 2025Free add-on Paint System 'turns Blender into Photoshop'Updated for version 1.2: Intuitive layer-based texture painting add-on for Blender now supports shader layers and texture baking.Wednesday, February 12th, 2025Free tools: Render Manager and Light Editor for BlenderVFX artist Robert Rioux's handy add-ons streamline the process of managing lights and render layers within complex production scenes.Tuesday, February 11th, 2025More NewsRichard Rosenman releases IK Studio for After EffectsTopaz Labs releases Gigapixel 8.2See CG benchmarks for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUsChaos releases Beta 2 of the new V-Ray for BlenderReview: Huion Kamvas 22 Plus pen displayCETA Software launches Artist AccessTutorials: Creating a Character for Games - Vol. 1 and Vol. 2LightWave Digital previews LightWave 2025Check out the new features in the ForestPack 9.1 updatesSee five great VFX breakdowns from the 2025 V-Ray showreelHow Vine FX created a parasitic underwater forest for The RigBoris FX releases Optics 2025Older Posts

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Originally posted on 11 September 2024, and updated with details of the public beta.Adobe has rolled out the Firefly Video Model, a new AI model that will bring generative AI to the companys video production tools like Premiere Pro, and potentially After Effects.Its capabilities include generating additional audio or video frames from an existing video clip, and generating new video clips from reference images or text prompts.Below, weve compiled our FAQs on the Firefly Video Model, which is now available in public beta on the Firefly web app, and in beta builds of Premiere Pro.What can Fireflys generative AI models currently do?Released last year, Firefly is a suite of generative AI art tools available both as a web application and integrated into Adobe Creative Cloud tools.The underlying AI models were initially geared towards generating still images, and are now integrated into applications including Photoshop and the Substance 3D tools.What are the key features of the Firefly Video Model?The new Firefly Video Model extends those capabilities to moving images, synthesising new video footage from a range of sources in a similar way to platforms like Runway.According to Adobe, its capabilities include Generative Extend, which extends existing video clips, generating new frames at the start or end, or generating extra audio room tone.Image to Video generates clips based on reference stills, or even concept illustrations.Text to Video generates video from text prompts, with the additional option to specify camera properties like camera position, zoom extent and common camera motion types.What kinds of video and animation can the Firefly Video Model generate?Although the Firefly Video Model can generate 2D and 3D animation Adobes initial blog post showed examples of generated footage resembling 3D, hand-drawn and stop-motion animation its main initial use case is more naturalistic video.According to Adobe, it excels at generating videos of the natural world like landscapes, plants or animals.However, the firm also cites a range of other possible uses, including creating FX elements like fire, smoke and dust that could be composited into VFX or motion graphics projects.How good is the Firefly Video Model?Although the Firefly Video Model could potentially generate entire video sequences, current generative video tools struggle to maintain temporal and stylistic consistency in their output.Adobes blog post suggests that its initial use will be to generate supplementary material for projects shot conventionally essentially, generating AI stock footage citing use cases like generating B-roll and missing establishing shots.What user controls does the Firefly Video Model provide?As well as the source image and/or text prompt it supports up to 1,000 characters of text the implementation of the Video Model in the Firefly web app includes built-in controls.Users can select the aspect ratio of the video generated (currently only 16:9 or 9:16), and choose from a range of presets for shot size (ranging from extreme close up to extreme long shots), camera angle (including aerial shots), and camera moves (including handheld shots).What are the limitations of the Firefly Video Model?In the initial public beta, generated clips are limited to 5 seconds in length and 1080p resolution.https://www.cgchannel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/240911_AdobeFireflyVideoModel_GenerativeAI_PremierePro.mp4The Firefly Video Models Generative Extend feature in use in a Premiere Pro project.Which Adobe applications will the Firefly Video Model be integrated in?Although the Firefly tools are available online, Adobe is also increasingly integrating them into its Creative Cloud apps.So far, the only one in which the Firefly Video Model will definitely be included is video editing software Premiere Pro, beta builds of which now include Generative Extend.However, Adobes initial blog post also namechecked compositing app After Effects. The firm has previously shown tech previews of generative AI tools suitable for After Effects.What data is the Firefly Video AI model trained on?Adobe describes the Firefly Video AI model as commercially safe and is only trained on content we have permission to use.Earlier in 2024, the firm updated its Terms of Use to explicitly rule out the use of users content aside from that uploaded to stock content marketplace Adobe Stock to train AI models, following a widely publicised artist backlash.How much does it cost to use the Firefly Video AI model?As with many of the other Firefly services, pricing for the Firefly Video Model is credit-based.Adobe has introduced new pricing to coincide with the public beta. Generating video initially uses 20 credits per second of footage, set to rise to 100 credits per second.The new $9.99/month Firefly Standard plans provide 2,000 video credits per month; $29.99/month Firefly Pro plans provide 7,000 credits per month. Credits are also included as part of Creative Cloud subscriptions.When will the Firefly Video Model become available?The Firefly Video Model is now available via the Firefly web app. Text to Video and Image to Video are both in beta.Read more about the Firefly Video model on Adobes blogVisit Adobes Firefly web app(Includes Text to Video and Image to Video)Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Wacom has updated its Intuos Pro range of pen displays: the first update to the popular line of professional graphics tablets for eight years.The update introduces a larger 16:9 active drawing area, improves ergonomics of the on-board ExpressKeys and touch dials, and upgrades the bundled stylus to Wacoms Pro Pen 3.Prices remain unchanged at $249.95 for an Intuos Pro Small, $379.95 for an Intuos Pro Medium and $499.95 for an Intuos Pro Large.Wacom Intuos Pro graphics tablets(2017 and 2025 models)Intuos Pro Small(2017)Intuos Pro Small(2025)Intuos Pro Medium(2017)Intuos Pro Medium(2025)Intuos Pro Large(2017)Intuos Pro Large(2025)Size10.6 x 6.7 x 0.3 in(269 x 170 x 8 mm)8.5 x 6.4 x <0.3 in(215 x 163 x <7mm)13.2 x 8.5 x 0.3 in(338 x 219 x 8 mm)11.5 x 8.1 x <0.3 in(291 x 206 x <7 mm)16.8 x 11.2 x 0.3 in(430 x 287 x 8 mm)14.8 x 10.0 x <0.3 in(377 x 253 x <7 mm)Active area6.2 x 3.9 in(160 x 100 mm)7.4 x 4.1 in (187 x 105 mm)8.7 x 5.8 in(224 x 148 mm)10.4 x 5.8 in(263 x 148 mm)12.1 x 8.4 in(311 x 216 mm)13.7 x 7.7 in (349 x 195 mm)Weight1.0 lbs (0.45 kg)0.53 lbs (0.24 kg)1.5 lbs (0.7 kg)0.91 lbs (0.41 kg)2.9 lbs (1.3 kg)1.46 lbs (0.66 kg)StylusPro Pen 2Pro Pen 3Pro Pen 2Pro Pen 3Pro Pen 2Pro Pen 3Presssure levels8,1928,1928,1928,1928,1928,192Tilt recognition606060606060Resolution5,080 lpi5,080 lpi5,080 lpi5,080 lpi5,080 lpi5,080 lpiExpressKeys65810810Touch rings/dials1 x ring1 x dial1 x ring2 x dials1 x ring2 x dialsMulti-touchYesYesYesYesYesYesRelease date201720252017202520172025Recommended price$249.95$249.95$379.95$379.95$499.95$499.95Smaller, lighter and more accurate than their 2017 counterpartsThe Intuos Pro pen tablets are aimed at a wide range of professional graphics workflows: Wacom namechecks illustrators, video editors, animators, motion graphics and 3D artists.According to Wacom, todays update the first since 2017 addresses common user requests about the design of the tablets, and is focused on improving accuracy of workflow.The 2025 models are thinner and lighter than their 2017 counterparts, with the new designs reducing desktop footprint while increasing the size of the active drawing area.The drawing area is now standardized to a 16:9 aspect ratio, and the report rate the number of times per second the pens position is detected has been increased from 200 pps to 300 pps.The update also moves the on-board controls the ExpressKeys and dials from the side of the tablet to the top, and replaces the old iPod-style touch ring with a new raised dial.Wacom told us that the change is intended to reduce accidental key presses, and to improve precision when using the dial, which now clicks audibly into position as it rotates.Battery lifespan has also been improved: from 12 to 16 hours, according to Wacoms own figures.Now come with the Pro Pen 3The pens bundled with tablets have also been upgraded, from the Pro Pen 2 to the Pro Pen 3.Both support 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and a +/- 60 tilt angle, but the Pro Pen 3 is designed to be more customizable, with the user able to change the grip, button layout and weight distribution by swapping modular parts bundled with the Intuos Pros in and out.The tablets are also compatible with third-party pens, including models from Staedtler, Lamy and Pilot.Still no official Linux driver, although third-party drivers are availableFor 3D artists working on Linux workstations, the new Intuos Pros officially only support Windows and macOS.Wacom does contribute to the Linux Wacom Project, but there is still no official Linux driver for its products.No price changes from the 2017 modelsUnlike some of its other recent product updates, Wacom has not raised the prices for the new Intuos Pros, which remain identical to the 2017 models.However, those prices are higher than those for the equivalent pen tablets from manufacturers like Xencelabs, which Wacom attributes to the quality of its products, and the cost of R&D.Price and system requirementsIntuos Pro pen tablets are compatible with Windows 10+ and macOS 13.0+. The Intuos Pro Small costs $249.95, the Intuos Pro Medium costs $379.95, and the Intuos Pro Large costs $499.95.Read more about the 2025 Intuos Pro pen tablets on Wacoms websiteHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Originally posted on 6 January 2025. Scroll down for details of the Paint System 1.2.1 update.Artist and tools developer Tawan Sunflower has released Paint System, a free add-on that turn[s] Blender into Photoshop.The tool implements Photoshop-style layer painting in the open-source 3D software, enabling users to create non-photorealistic textures by painting directly onto 3D objects.A promising free add-on for painting non-photorealistic textures in BlenderTawan Sunflower describes Paint System as a simple but flexible painting system for non-photo-realistic-rendering in Blender in the video above, he describes it as inspired by the painterly look of Netflix animated series Arcane.It enables users to paint directly onto the surface of 3D geometry, using a range of preset brushes: the add-on supports the brushes included in Blenders Essentials asset library.Painting is layer-based, supporting layer opacity, layer clipping, and as of Paint System 1.1.6, the latest release Adjustment Layers.Supports a range of blending modes, including Erase Alpha for erasing parts of a modelPaint System also supports Photoshop-style layer blending modes, including Hue, Saturation, Value, Multiply, Divide, Lighten and Darken: the full list is shown in this part of the demo video.However, one of the most eye-catching is Erase Alpha, which renders that part of the layer transparent, making it possible to erase parts of the object by painting over it, as shown above.Can also be used to paint other material channels, including normal mapsWeve covered other free Blender add-ons for layer-based texture painting on CG Channel before, including HAS Paint Layers and Ucupaint.Paint Systems selling point looks to be its ease of use: it has a simple, intuitive UI, and is designed to avoid users having to manipulate Blenders Shader Nodes.However, artists willing to dive into the node graph can generate an even wider range of results.By adjusting the connections between the node group Paint System creates the rest of a material network, users can paint texture channels other than surface color, including the normal map.Updated 12 February 2025: Tawan Sunflower has released Paint System 1.2.1.Its a sizeable update, adding shader layers, and the option to bake layered textures for export.Other features added in recent updates include automatic UV unwrapping, for texturing assets without UV maps, and the option to lock layer settings.Price and system requirementsPaint System is compatible with Blender 4.1+. Its a free download. The source code is available under a GPL v3 license.If you want to support Tawan Sunflowers work, you can back him on Patreon.Download free Blender non-photorealistic painting add-on Paint SystemHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.

Tuesday, February 11th, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerRichard Rosenman releases IK Studio for After Effectshtml PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Tools developer Richard Rosenman has released IK Studio 1.0, a new IK solver for After Effects.The blazing fast native plugin generates a characters joint angles using inverse kinematics, speeding up character animation workflows.A fast IK Solver for After Effects, specialized on rigging arms and legsIK Studio generates joint angles using inverse kinematics, enabling an animator to pose a characters limbs by moving their hands and feet, rather than posing each joint individually.Although it can be used as a more general-purpose IK solver, its specifically designed for arms and legs, with presets for clothing styles and limb end caps.Users can also customize the proportions of the limbs and their curvature, making it possible to create rubber hose-style animation.Although other After Effects character rigging toolkits both free tools like Duik and commercial tools like Limber include IK capabilities, Rosenman cites IK Studios performance.As a fully multithreaded native After Effects plugin, IK Studio is described as blazing fast; and is compatible with After Effects Multi-Frame Rendering system.We dont often cover 2D animation, but you can find more details on IK Studio via the link at the foot of the story, and more details on Richard Rosenmans other After Effects plugins here.Price and system requirementsIK Studio 1.0 is compatible with After Effects CS6+ on Windows 7+ only. It costs $49.99. Find more details on IK Studio for After Effects on the product websiteHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsFree tools: Render Manager and Light Editor for BlenderVFX artist Robert Rioux's handy add-ons streamline the process of managing lights and render layers within complex production scenes.Tuesday, February 11th, 2025Richard Rosenman releases IK Studio for After EffectsNew native After Effects plugin provides a fast, efficient way to create IK rigs for arms and legs for character animation.Tuesday, February 11th, 2025Topaz Labs releases Gigapixel 8.2Updated: AI app for upresing photos and 3D renders gets generative AI-based upscaling model; option to batch process images in the cloud.Monday, February 10th, 2025See CG benchmarks for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUsDiscover how NVIDIA's Blackwell GPUs performed in CG software like 3ds Max, Arnold, Blender, Maya, UE5 and V-Ray in our early tests. Friday, February 7th, 2025Chaos releases Beta 2 of the new V-Ray for BlenderUpdated: New free public beta build of the long-awaited Blender integration for V-Ray based on the V-Ray 7 core is now availableFriday, February 7th, 2025Review: Huion Kamvas 22 Plus pen displayThe Kamvas 22 Plus is an affordable pen display for beginners and pro artists on a budget. See how it handled 3D as well as 2D workflows.Thursday, February 6th, 2025More NewsCETA Software launches Artist AccessTutorials: Creating a Character for Games - Vol. 1 and Vol. 2LightWave Digital previews LightWave 2025Check out the new features in the ForestPack 9.1 updatesSee five great VFX breakdowns from the 2025 V-Ray showreelHow Vine FX created a parasitic underwater forest for The RigBoris FX releases Optics 2025Thinkinetic releases Pulldownit 6 for MayaAdobe launches unmetered access to Substance 3D AssetsAdobe releases Photoshop 26.3Check out free Android and iOS 3D scanning app RealityScan 1.6Free tool: Animation Render Time Estimator for BlenderOlder Posts

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"VFX artist Robert Rioux has released two free add-ons for managing complex Blender scenes.Render Manager provides a dedicated UI for managing render layers and render passes, and exporting them in a format suitable for use in compositing apps like Nuke and DaVinci Resolve.Light Editor provides a spreadsheet-based UI for managing the lights in a scene.Render Manager: manage complex render setups for export to apps like NukeRender Manager follows the approach used by the in-house tools at VFX studio Real by Fake, where Rioux was previously a CG Supervisor.It streamlines work in complex scenes by providing a single unified interface for managing render layers, from which you can create, delete or reorder layers.Separate sections of the interface control which Collections or render passes contribute to each layer, with the option to copy and paste sets of passes between layers.Render Manager also streamlines the process of exporting render layers from Blender in a form that can be used in compositing applications like Nuke and DaVinci Resolve.It outputs separate 16-bit color and 32-bit data passes for each layer the latter includes Cryptomatte data for each render layer, alongside an overall precomp.There are also options to convert Blenders Z-up axis orientation to the Y-up orientation used in Nuke; and to combine the individual components of glossy, diffuse and transmission passes.Light Editor: quickly toggle or isolate lights within complex lighting setupsLight Editor provides a spreadsheet-style interface for managing the lights in a scene.Its simpler than the spreadsheet views available in software like Houdini, but works for toggling or isolating individual lights or Collections, with the option to filter by name or light type.System requirementsRobert Riouxs Blender add-ons are available under a GPL v3 license.Download Robert Riouxs free Blender add-ons from GitHubHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.

Monday, February 10th, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerTopaz Labs releases Gigapixel 8.2html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Gigapixel 8s new Redefine model uses generative AI to fill in missing details in images.Originally posted on 28 October 2024. Scroll down for details of the Gigapixel 8.2 update.Topaz Labs has released Gigapixel 8, the latest major version of its AI-trained software for up-resing photos or rendered images without softening them or introducing noise.Version 8.0 adds a new generative AI-based Redefine model for sharpening and stylizing images, and updates the softwares Face Recovery model.It is also now possible to process images in the cloud, as well as on your local machine, with cloud processing charged on a credit basis.Machine-learning-trained tool enlarges images without sacrificing detailGigapixel is designed to enlarge digital images while preserving their sharpness, using machine learning techniques to fill in the missing details.Its algorithms are trained using a data set of millions of images, with Topaz Labs claiming that it can enlarge images up to 16x before image quality starts to drop visibly.Although its marketed primarily at photographers, it can also be used on rendered imagery, and has had a dedicated AI mode for CG images since version 5.3.As well as upscaling low-res renders to generate high-res images more quickly, users can remove noise from renders by upscaling them, then reducing them to their original size.Text prompts can be used to guide the output of Gigapixels new generative AI-based Redefine model, particularly when using it at high Creativity settings.Gigapixel 8.0: new generative AI-based Redefine modelTopaz Labs describes Gigapixel 8.0 as the first upscaler using generative AI models to create high-quality photorealistic results.The softwares new Redefine model uses generative AI to fill in missing detail when upscaling images to very high resolutions, or repairing damaged images.It is also surprisingly good at denoising and sharpening in some scenarios.The model comes with a Creativity setting, which determines to what extent the image is stylized: low values result in realistic sharpening, while higher values produce progressively more and more stylized results.For high Creativity settings, users can also enter text prompts to guide the content of the AI details generated, in a similar way to a conventional generative AI tool.The Redefine model currently runs on the GPU, and there are some known issues with AMD GPUs and on macOS: you can find more details in the release notes.Updates to Face RecoveryGigapixels existing Face Recovery model has been updated, with the Gen 2 model improving performance when upscaling faces seen in profile.Gen 2 also results in cleaner teeth and eyeglasses, and performs better when recovering obscure faces with little-to-no facial attributes.Option to render images in the cloud, as well as on a local machineThe other major change in Gigapixel 8 is the option to process images in the cloud as well as on your local machine.Cloud rendering is available when using the generative AI models: both Redefine and Recover, which was introduced in Gigapixel 7.1 for upscaling very low-res images.The service is priced on a credit basis, with cost depending on image size outputting larger images costs more and the AI model used.https://www.cgchannel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/250210_Gigapixel82_tw.mp4Updated 10 February 2025: Topaz Labs has released Gigapixel 8.2.The update adds the option to upscale images based on their longest side, making it possible to batch process images with varying aspect ratios.It is also now possible to batch upload and batch process images in the cloud, as shown above.Topaz Labs has also improved performance of the generative AI-based Redefine model, particularly on macOS, although Mac users are still reporting issues in the release thread.The previous update, Gigapixel 8.1, added the option to order physical prints of images from within Gigapixel, via a partnership with photo printing firm WhiteWall. Price and system requirementsGigapixel is available as a standalone application for Windows 10+ and macOS 11.0+; and as a plugin for Photoshop and Lightroom Classic. The software is OpenGL-based, and supports AMD, Apple Silicon, Intel and NVIDIA GPUs.New licences of the standard edition cost $99. The new Gigapixel Pro edition for studios is subscription only and costs $499/year.Cloud render credits cost $5 for 20 credits. Credit subscriptions start at $9.99/month for 80 credits per month.Read a full list of new features in Gigapixel 8.0 to 8.2 in the online release notesHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsTopaz Labs releases Gigapixel 8.2Updated: AI app for upresing photos and 3D renders gets generative AI-based upscaling model; option to batch process images in the cloud.Monday, February 10th, 2025See CG benchmarks for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUsDiscover how NVIDIA's Blackwell GPUs performed in CG software like 3ds Max, Arnold, Blender, Maya, UE5 and V-Ray in our early tests. Friday, February 7th, 2025Chaos releases Beta 2 of the new V-Ray for BlenderUpdated: New free public beta build of the long-awaited Blender integration for V-Ray based on the V-Ray 7 core is now availableFriday, February 7th, 2025Review: Huion Kamvas 22 Plus pen displayThe Kamvas 22 Plus is an affordable pen display for beginners and pro artists on a budget. See how it handled 3D as well as 2D workflows.Thursday, February 6th, 2025CETA Software launches Artist AccessCheck out the new time-tracking and forecasting tools in iCFM, CETA's cloud-based production management platform for VFX.Wednesday, February 5th, 2025Tutorials: Creating a Character for Games - Vol. 1 and Vol. 2Master industry-standard workflows for sculpting and texturing AAA game characters with The Gnomon Workshop's two-part tutorial series.Tuesday, February 4th, 2025More NewsLightWave Digital previews LightWave 2025Check out the new features in the ForestPack 9.1 updatesSee five great VFX breakdowns from the 2025 V-Ray showreelHow Vine FX created a parasitic underwater forest for The RigBoris FX releases Optics 2025Thinkinetic releases Pulldownit 6 for MayaAdobe launches unmetered access to Substance 3D AssetsAdobe releases Photoshop 26.3Check out free Android and iOS 3D scanning app RealityScan 1.6Free tool: Animation Render Time Estimator for BlenderChaos releases V-Ray 7 for HoudiniChaos releases V-Ray 7 for MayaOlder Posts

Friday, February 7th, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerChaos releases Beta 2 of the new V-Ray for Blenderhtml PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Originally posted on 25 October, and updated with the link to the latest beta release.The long-awaited new version of V-Ray for Blender is due out in beta this year, developer Chaos has told CG Channel.The updated plugin will have a feature set based on the V-Ray 7 core, and will be available via its own single-product subscription, in addition to standard V-Ray subscriptions.The first update to the V-Ray Blender integration for five yearsV-Ray actually already has an integration for Blender: just not a current one.The old plugin, which exported scenes from Blender to V-Ray Standalone, became an official Chaos product in 2014, but has been in limbo for years.The last new nightly build came out in 2019, and supports Blender 2.79: 19 releases and four entire release series behind Blender 4.3, the current version of the software.Since then, Chaos has periodically hinted that a new version was in development, most strongly in its Chaos Unboxed livestream in February.Includes core features from V-Ray 7The new V-Ray for Blender is a brand new and more conventional integration.Chaos tells us that it is based around V-Ray 7, the latest version of the renderer, currently available for 3ds Max.The initial release will be based around the V-Ray 7 core, but will not have V-Ray 7s complete feature set.In particular, the initial release may not have all of V-Rays scene-building tools, like geometry replication system V-Ray Enmesh.Pitched as an alternative to RenderMan for Blender for VFX and animation workWhile V-Ray has both CPU and GPU render engines, Chaos told us that it expected a key market for the new edition to be studios looking for a CPU-based production renderer.The sector is currently served by Blenders native Cycles renderer, and RenderMan for Blender, the new-ish Blender integration for Pixars heavyweight VFX and animation renderer.Available via a unique single-product subscriptionV-Ray subscriptions currently provide access to all of the current integrations of the software, which include Maya, Houdini, 3ds Max and Cinema 4D.On its release, the new Blender integration will be added to that list.However, it will also be available via its own unique single-product subscription.Chaos told us that Blender would be a first-class citizen in the V-Ray product line, and that the single-product option would include the same additional features as standard subscription plans, such as access to online rendering platform Chaos Cloud.Updated 11 December 2024: Chaos has released the first public beta of the new V-Ray for Blender.Its a free download, but to access it, you will need to register for an account on the Chaos website and fill out a short usage questionnaire.You can find more information about its features in the online documentation, and support for installation issues on Chaoss forum.Updated 7 February 2025: Chaos has released the second public beta of V-Ray for Blender.Beta 2 reworks the V-Ray Proxy node for handling render-time proxy geometry, adding support for Alembic, and adding a Lights list to the LightSelect render channel.There are also bugfixes based on early user feedback.Price, system requirements and release datesThe new V-Ray for Blender is available free in beta, with a stable release due in early 2025.Beta 2 is compatible with Blender 4.2 on Windows 10+ only. It supports GPU rendering with NVIDIA GPUs only.V-Ray is rental-only, with node-locked V-Ray Solo subscriptions priced at $84.90/month or $514.80/year, and V-Ray Premium subscriptions priced at $119.90/month or $718.80/year.Chaos hasnt announced pricing for the new Blender-only subscription plan.Register for the beta of V-Ray for BlenderRead a list of new features in V-Ray for Blender in the online documentationHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsSee CG benchmarks for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUsDiscover how NVIDIA's Blackwell GPUs performed in CG software like 3ds Max, Arnold, Blender, Maya, UE5 and V-Ray in our early tests. Friday, February 7th, 2025Chaos releases Beta 2 of the new V-Ray for BlenderUpdated: New free public beta build of the long-awaited Blender integration for V-Ray based on the V-Ray 7 core is now availableFriday, February 7th, 2025Review: Huion Kamvas 22 Plus pen displayThe Kamvas 22 Plus is an affordable pen display for beginners and pro artists on a budget. See how it handled 3D as well as 2D workflows.Thursday, February 6th, 2025CETA Software launches Artist AccessCheck out the new time-tracking and forecasting tools in iCFM, CETA's cloud-based production management platform for VFX.Wednesday, February 5th, 2025Tutorials: Creating a Character for Games - Vol. 1 and Vol. 2Master industry-standard workflows for sculpting and texturing AAA game characters with The Gnomon Workshop's two-part tutorial series.Tuesday, February 4th, 2025LightWave Digital previews LightWave 2025Check out the new features due in the 3D software, including the RIPD real-time preview, a new cel shader, and updates to character rigging.Tuesday, February 4th, 2025More NewsCheck out the new features in the ForestPack 9.1 updatesSee five great VFX breakdowns from the 2025 V-Ray showreelHow Vine FX created a parasitic underwater forest for The RigBoris FX releases Optics 2025Thinkinetic releases Pulldownit 6 for MayaAdobe launches unmetered access to Substance 3D AssetsAdobe releases Photoshop 26.3Check out free Android and iOS 3D scanning app RealityScan 1.6Free tool: Animation Render Time Estimator for BlenderChaos releases V-Ray 7 for HoudiniChaos releases V-Ray 7 for MayaAdobe releases Substance 3D Modeler 1.19Older Posts

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"The first NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs are now available. Ahead of a longer review, CG Channels hardware expert Jason Lewis sets out his early benchmark test results for the GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 in CG apps including 3ds Max, Blender, Maya and Unreal Engine.Last week saw the launch of the GeForce RTX 5090 and GeForce RTX 5080, the first cards from the GeForce RTX 50 Series, NVIDIAs new consumer GPUs based on its Blackwell architecture.Since then, there have been quite a few online reviews of the new GPUs, most focused on gaming, and a few on AI workloads. But how do they perform in DCC and graphics workflows?Well, I have also begun testing the GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 with a handful of popular DCC applications, and have some quick-and-dirty early test results that I can share with you here.Technical specificationsI tested the new GPUs against the equivalent cards from the Ada-generation GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs, the GeForce RTX 4090 and GeForce RTX 4080 Super.Heres how the GeForce RTX 5090 and GeForce RTX 5080 stack up on paper against their previous-gen counterparts.NVIDIAs GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs and previous-gen counterpartsRTX 5090RTX 4090RTX 5080RTX 4080SuperArchitectureBlackwellAda LovelaceBlackwellAda LovelaceCUDA cores21,76016,38410,75210.240Tensor cores*680512336320RT cores*1701288480Base clock (GHz)2.012.232.302.29Boost clock (GHz)2.412.522.622.55Compute performanceFP32 (Tflops)*104.882.656.352.2GPU memory32 GB GDDR724GBGDDR6X16 GB GDDR716GBGDDR6XTGP575W450W360W320WRelease date2025202220252024MSRP at launch$1,999$1,599$999$999*Data taken from third-party websites.Testing processFor my early tests, I used the same test rig and benchmark scenes as my most recent group test of GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs, updated to the current versions of the software.Before we get to the actual test results, I want to reiterate something that many of you will already know: that hardware development almost always outpaces software development. Professional graphics applications evolve quite slowly in comparison to games and other consumer applications, and it takes some time for CG software to reach the level of optimization that really allows it to take advantage of new GPU architectures.Benchmarks and performance in DCC applicationsAs you can see, the early test results are all over the place. In some tests, the GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 are significantly faster than their previous-generation counterparts, but in some they are only slightly faster, and in a few, they are actually slower.So what does this mean? Most other early reviewers have concluded that both NVIDIAs GPU drivers and the software they are used with require updates before we can assess the true performance of the new GPUs, and I believe that were in the same boat.I will be doing much more extensive testing of these new GPUs in the coming weeks, then providing a comprehensive review, and I hope to have a clearer picture by then.Early availabilityOne last thing I want to talk about is the current availability of the GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080. Many reviewers, myself included, believe that last week was really a paper launch for the GPUs, since there is currently very little availability in retail channels.Some retailers estimate that it could take several months for supply to catch up with demand, and while gamers are understandably upset about this, its much less of an issue for CG artists.By the time the new GPUs are back in full supply, the drivers should have matured, and graphics software should be able to take better advantage of their potential.Many DCC software developers release major new versions of their software in mid-spring, so it will be interesting to see how those new versions fare with the Blackwell GPUs.Find specifications for the GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs on NVIDIAs websiteHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.

Thursday, February 6th, 2025Article by Cirstyn Bech-YagherReview: Huion Kamvas 22 Plus pen displayhtml PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Huions Kamvas 22 Plus is an affordable pen display for beginners and pro artists on a budget. CG artist Cirstyn Bech-Yagher checks out how it performs with 3D as well as 2D applications.As a longtime user of Wacom and Xencelabs hardware, I was new to Huion, a Shenzhen, China-based company specializing in input devices like pen tablets, pen displays, and pen computers. So, being in the market for a new pen display, I was eager to take one of Huions latest offerings, the Kamvas 22 Plus, for a spin.Huions tagline for the 22-inch display is Simple, but powerful. Its a phrase that always makes me sceptical, as it tends to be marketing-speak for almost no features, but plenty of hassle. Fortunately, that proved not to be the case, although I cant say that it was all plain sailing.Bundled content and priceThe Kamvas 22 Plus is a laminated display with a reported 140% sRGB color gamut, and ships with an adjustable stand, a hex key, a battery-free pen (Huions PW517), a generous ten pen nibs and a nib removal ring, a pen holder, a three-in-one cable, a USB-C to USB-C cable for mobile compatibility, plus a power adapter, artist glove, cleaning cloth, and a quick-start guide. If you are new to pen displays, a laminated display has its screen layers fused together without an air gap. This eliminates parallax, the small gap between where the pen touches the screen and where the cursor appears. No parallax means greater precision, especially on detailed or color-critical artwork. Additionally, the laminated display improves clarity by reducing light refraction, and the anti-glare etched glass provides a smooth, paper-like texture.The Kamvas 22 Plus normally sells for $549 $100 more than the standard Kamvas 22, which ships with almost the same content but has an anti-glare screen with a 120% sRGB color gamut, and does not come with a mobile USB cable. The Kamvas 22 Plus ships with Huions PW517 pen, nibs, cables, and stand.First impressions and setupUnboxing and initial assembly were pretty straightforward: get everything out of the box, attach the display stand to the screen, and plug it in. This was fast and easy.However, the rest of the setup process highlighted the things I did not like about the display. The Kamvas 22 Plus comes with a three-in-one cable, connecting the display to a power outlet, a HDMI port, and a USB port for the pen. While this reduces the number of loose cables, tying everything into a single proprietary cable makes replacements harder to get hold of. Worse for me was the driver install. Huion specifically tells you to turn off your security settings during the process: something that used to be common for troubleshooting, but which feels outdated and potentially risky here. Getting the drivers signed and whitelisted could help avoid this issue and improve the overall user experience. The biggest hassle was a series of unexpected driver conflicts. It was a real pain to use the Kamvas 22 Plus with my SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro headset: every time I rebooted, I had to manually reassign the headset to default, then tinker to make it work. The display also had a tendency to knock out the headset when I used the two together. Deleting the Huion driver or removing it from the boot sequence fixed the issues, but it needed to be removed entirely if disabled, it reactivates itself on reboot. These arent critical issues, but they reduce quality of life, and I had similar issues with other peripherals.Although primarily marketed at 2D artists, the Kamvas 22 Plus can also be used with 3D software: I tested it with Marvelous Designer, ZBrush and TopoGun.The penEven though the Kamvas 22 Plus is primarily marketed at 2D applications on Huions website, I figured it wouldnt hurt to take it for a spin in a few 3D staples, designing a set of clothing in Marvelous Designer, tweaking and retopologizing it in ZBrush, before moving on to Substance 3D Painter for texturing, and Photoshop for a little simple photomanipulation.The PW517 pen is a two-button battery-free pen that supports the unofficial industry standard of 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and 60 of tilt. Compared to Xencelabs and Wacom pens, its very light, but it feels good: for me, it could compete with the Cintiq 22s Pro Pen 2, or the Xencelabs Medium tablets slim pen. I especially enjoyed using it in Painter and Photoshop. However, while you cant fault a two-button pen for not having three buttons, the lack of further customization options feels like a missed opportunity for Huion to cater to a broader audience.The Kamvas 22 Plus was at its best in 2D apps like Photoshop and Clip Studio Paint.The screenThe Kamvas 22 Pluss desktop stand can be adjusted between 20 to 80 for a good working position, and the screen itself is big, smooth, and very comfortable to work on. For those wanting a grittier feel, Huion also sells felt nibs for the PW517 pen in its online store. Colour-wise, the screen has vibrant colours and minimal glare. However, if your work is colour-critical, its worth checking out this video by Teoh on Tech, where he compares the advertised sRGB gamut to measurements made using a SpyderPro monitor calibrator.For most intended users, this wont be an issue, but for workflows that require exact color matching, such as digital painting or color grading, its something to keep in mind.That said, the screen performs very well overall for its price point and resolution, and can be a versatile addition to your desktop. Ive used it as a tertiary screen for mine, and it handled tasks from gaming to acting as a dedicated PureRef screen without a hitch.Being used to displays with keypads, I did miss being able to use those on the Kamvas 22 Plus. Luckily, I found a workaround: even though Huion offers its own keydial in its online store, I tested the Kamvas 22 Plus with my Xencelabs Quick Keys dial, and they worked well together. The Kamvas 22 Plus was also easy to use in Substance 3D Painter, although with its 1,920 x 1,080 display resolution, it was a pain dragging dialogs across screens. Overall impressionsOverall, I enjoyed using the Kamvas 22 Plus. Its very what you see is what you get, but what you get is fair. That said, theres room for improvement. If Huion wishes to expand its user base among 3D artists, it wouldnt be a bad start to offer a bundle that includes their dialpad and a three-button pen, like its newer PW600L, in future releases. The driver could also use a significant update to align with modern security practices and generally play nicer with other peripherals. But all in all, the Kamvas 22 Plus is a solid choice for its price, especially for beginners exploring display tablets for the first time, or pros on a budget.About the author: Cirstyn Bech-Yagher is a long-time CG artist with experience ranging from Rizom-Lab to AMD and Future Publishing. She is currently freelancing for old and new clients. Follow Cirstyn on Bluesky.Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Related Topics # Clip Studio Paint # color gamut # driver # Huion # Kamvas 22 # Kamvas 22 Plus # Marvelous Designer # pen display # Photoshop # Pro Pen 2 # PW517 # resolution # Review # specifications # Substance 3D Painter # test # Thin Pen # TopoGun # Wacom # Xencelabs # ZBrush

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"CETA Software has launched Artist Access, a new time-tracking solution within iCFM, its production-management platform for VFX, post-production and motion design studios.It enables artists to log their hours online, providing the studio with a real-time overview of the state of a project, and forecasting the cost of the hours remaining.A suite of cloud-based production management tools for VFX and post-production studiosiCFM (CETA Facilities Manager) is a suite of cloud-based production management tools, providing studios with tools for managing the bidding, scheduling, reporting, and billing of jobs.Its users include post-production and VFX companies of a range of sizes, from boutique studios to large firms like Framestore and The Mill.Artist Access: new tools for time tracking and artist contract managementArtist Access is a time-tracking system tailored to sectors where bespoke contracts and dynamic workflows are the norm, including regular, overtime and weekend rates for artists.The Artist Access application itself provides an interface through which artists can manage their schedules and log their hours on jobs, replacing the legacy Artist Portal application.It is coupled with a new Artist Contracts system and updates to existing iCFM workflows.A time-tracking tool for creative teamsIn its news release, CETA Software pitches the key features of the combined updates as:Artist contractsEasily integrate and manage artist contracts, reducing manual input and the potential for errors.Flexible time-trackingAllow artists and freelancers to log their own hours, even to projects they have not been directly assigned to, ensuring accuracy and efficiency. Production can then review these logged hours before they become a true cost.Real-time cost insightsGet up-to-the-minute data on artist hours and associated costs, providing better financial control.Overtime tracking and predictionAccurately track regular and overtime hours, with advanced forecasting tools that predict when an artist is likely to enter overtime, helping you stay ahead of potential budget overruns. Reports show costs, total hours, and overtime hours, providing full visibility to manage labour costs proactively.Accurate hours forecastingPredict and report on lunch breaks, overtime, and total hours worked. See detailed information to keep you on top of utilisation and project costs.Artist Access was initially rolled out to individual clients last year, and now available to all users at no additional cost for an unlimited number of artists.Price and system requirementsiCFM is a browser-based solution. It is priced on enquiry.Read more about the new Artist Access features in the iCFM documentationRead more about iCFMs other features on the CETA Software websiteHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.

Tuesday, February 4th, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerLightWave Digital previews LightWave 2025html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"LightWave Digital has previewed LightWave 2025, the next major version of the 3D animation and rendering software.New features in the release, which is due out later this quarter, include new real-time preview rendering system RIPR, a new cel shading system, and updates to the character rigging toolset.The third major release from LightWaves new ownersLightWave 2025 will be the third major update to the software since late 2023.It follows a three-year hiatus during which development was suspended by previous owner Vizrt, which acquired NewTek, LightWaves long-time developer, in 2019.The softwares current owner, LightWave Digital, is a start-up whose management team comprises people who were closely involved with the software in its NewTek days, including former NewTek staff, plus key add-on developers and LightWave users.LightWave 2025: new procedural modeling, character rigging and rendering featuresLightWave 2025 features new tools for procedural modeling and both preview and final-quality rendering, and updates to the Rhiggit character rigging system added in LightWave 2024.Details can change during feature development, so well update this story once LightWave 2025 is released, but this is the summary that LightWave Digital sent to users last week:RIPRA real-time preview system designed for HDR-illuminated pre-visualisation. Seamlessly switch between VPR, RIPR, and GL previews without breaking your creative flow.Steppit, Handdit & PickkitThree powerful tools integrated into Rhiggit to help you bring characters to life more quickly than ever. Featuring automated walk cycles (with key framing), intuitive hand animation, and a streamlined joint selection system.LW ConstructAn instantaneous generator of stairways, bookshelves and decks with an intuitive user interface. Quickly create indoor or outdoor stairs, change the spindles, adjust the landing size and handrails, all with a click.Cel ShaderA post shading tool (visible in VPR) that offers impressive control over object and surface-based shading for a stunning stylised finish.For more details, you can find a recording of last weeks preview livestream on YouTube and a longer list of features announced during the previews on the LightWave Discord server.Price, system requirements and release dateLightWave 2025 is due out in Q1 2025. It is currently available to pre-order.The current stable release, LightWave 2024.1, is compatible with Windows 10+ and macOS 10.15+ (macOS 11.0+ for Apple Silicon Macs, and macOS 13.3+ to use the Octane renderer).New licenses cost 795 (around $980).Read an overview of the latest features in LightWave on the product website(No details of LightWave 2025 at the time of writing)Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsLightWave Digital previews LightWave 2025Check out the new features due in the 3D software, including the RIPD real-time preview, a new cel shader, and updates to character rigging.Tuesday, February 4th, 2025Check out the new features in the ForestPack 9.1 updatesLatest updates to the 3ds Max scattering plugin add new options to control the form of plants generated by 3D ivy generator ForestIvy.Monday, February 3rd, 2025See five great VFX breakdowns from the 2025 V-Ray showreelSee breakdowns of five key movies, TV series, cinematics and animated shorts created in V-Ray from Chaos's latest showreel.Monday, February 3rd, 2025Tutorial: Creating a Character for Games - Vol. 1Master industry-standard workflows for sculpting AAA game characters with The Gnomon Workshop's detailed new tutorial series.Monday, February 3rd, 2025How Vine FX created a parasitic underwater forest for The RigDiscover how the VFX studio used procedural growth simulation to create the environment for Amazon Prime Video's supernatural thriller.Friday, January 31st, 2025Boris FX releases Optics 2025Photoshop plugin and standalone app for applying cinematic looks to still images gets AI mask generation, Looks and new Particle Brushes.Friday, January 31st, 2025More NewsThinkinetic releases Pulldownit 6 for MayaAdobe launches unmetered access to Substance 3D AssetsAdobe releases Photoshop 26.3Check out free Android and iOS 3D scanning app RealityScan 1.6Free tool: Animation Render Time Estimator for BlenderChaos releases V-Ray 7 for HoudiniChaos releases V-Ray 7 for MayaAdobe releases Substance 3D Modeler 1.19Red9 ProPack gets new tools created for Sonic the Hedgehog 3JangaFX teases IlluGenCheck out the new features due in EmberGen 2.0Tutorial: Creating Runtime Cinematics in Unreal Engine 5Older Posts

Monday, February 3rd, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerSee five great VFX breakdowns from the 2025 V-Ray showreelhtml PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Chaos has released its 2025 V-Ray VFX and Animation Showreel, its round-up of the best new work created with the production renderer for DCC apps including Maya, Houdini and 3ds Max.As weve occasionally done in the past, rather than just picking out personal highlights from the reel, we thought it would be fun to go a step further, and show how the projects were created.Below, weve compiled a run-down of five key projects from the new V-Ray showreel, complete with VFX breakdown videos from the studios that created them.The showreel also features great work from studios like BUCK, Realtime, Scanline VFX and Unit Image you can find a full list here but weve focused here on projects with making-ofs online.MovieTitle: ElevationStudio: Digital DomainPost-apocalyptic thriller Elevation sees survivors confined to isolated mountain enclaves after the terrifying insect-like Reapers emerge from underground and decimate humanity.For the creature design, Digital Domain referenced real-world predators like tigers and Komodo dragons, also creating detailed CG environments, and FX elements like dust and explosions.Read more about Digital Domains work on ElevationBroadcast SeriesTitle: Agatha All AlongStudio: Digital DomainDigital Domain worked on a number of sequences for Agatha All Along, Disney+ and Marvel Televisionss WandaVision spin-off, but one of the most challenging was Agathas death.As her body withers and decays, vegetation engulfs it, fungi gradually giving way to roses.Although the team considered tackling the sequence in 2D, most of the work was CG, giving precise control over every blade of grass, while FX artists added details like falling dirt. Read more about Digital Domains work on Agatha All AlongGame CinematicTitle: Helldivers 2 intro cinematicStudio: Goodbye Kansas StudiosFor the tongue-in cheek intro to third-person shooter Helldivers 2, Goodbye Kansas worked with developer Arrowhead Game Studios to design a cinematic that nodded to American military recruitment ads without tipping over into excessive exaggeration.Unreal Engine was used for pre-production, to establish layouts from storyboards and bring scenes to life during the mocap shoot, with V-Ray used for asset development and final output.Read more about Goodbye Kansas Studios work on the Helldivers 2 cinematicAnimationTitle: Les As de la Jungle (The Jungle Bunch)Studio: TAT productionsTAT productions flagship property, Les As de la Jungle (The Jungle Bunch) has been a hit since 2011, spawning an International Emmy Award-winning series and two full-length features.The video above is an overview of the studios pipeline, but you can find detailed breakdowns on TATs YouTube channel, including one on lighting and rendering in 3ds Max and V-Ray.Read more about TATs animated series and moviesShort FilmTitle: Void of SubstanceStudio: KorbFor in-house CG short Void of Substance, motion design studio Korb created an enigmatic and meticulously rendered meditation on the power of AI without using AI-generated imagery.To create the AI brain, Korb used 3ds Max add-on tyFlow for VDB simulation, and V-Ray for rendering. The video above shows the full short, but you can find a brief making-of here.Read more about Korbs work on Void of Substance on StashHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsCheck out the new features in the ForestPack 9.1 updatesLatest updates to the 3ds Max scattering plugin add new options to control the form of plants generated by 3D ivy generator ForestIvy.Monday, February 3rd, 2025See five great VFX breakdowns from the 2025 V-Ray showreelSee breakdowns of five key movies, TV series, cinematics and animated shorts created in V-Ray from Chaos's latest showreel.Monday, February 3rd, 2025Tutorial: Creating a Character for Games - Vol. 1Master industry-standard workflows for sculpting AAA game characters with The Gnomon Workshop's detailed new tutorial series.Monday, February 3rd, 2025How Vine FX created a parasitic underwater forest for The RigDiscover how the VFX studio used procedural growth simulation to create the environment for Amazon Prime Video's supernatural thriller.Friday, January 31st, 2025Boris FX releases Optics 2025Photoshop plugin and standalone app for applying cinematic looks to still images gets AI mask generation, Looks and new Particle Brushes.Friday, January 31st, 2025Thinkinetic releases Pulldownit 6 for MayaDestruction plugin for games and VFX gets a new Edge Fracture Tool, and improvements to clustering and simulation performance.Thursday, January 30th, 2025More NewsAdobe launches unmetered access to Substance 3D AssetsAdobe releases Photoshop 26.3Check out free Android and iOS 3D scanning app RealityScan 1.6Free tool: Animation Render Time Estimator for BlenderChaos releases V-Ray 7 for HoudiniChaos releases V-Ray 7 for MayaAdobe releases Substance 3D Modeler 1.19Red9 ProPack gets new tools created for Sonic the Hedgehog 3JangaFX teases IlluGenCheck out the new features due in EmberGen 2.0Tutorial: Creating Runtime Cinematics in Unreal Engine 5PhotoLine 25 now reads Cryptomatte dataOlder Posts

Monday, February 3rd, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerCheck out the new features in the ForestPack 9.1 updateshtml PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"ForestIvy can now generate 3D ivy along conventional 3ds Max splines: just one of the changes made to ForestPacks accompanying ivy generator plugin in the recent ForestPack 9.1.x updates.Itoosoft has updated Forest Pack, its scattering plugin for 3ds Max.The Forest Pack 9.1 updates add new features to ForestIvy, the new accompanying plugin for generating 3D ivy, including the option to grow ivy without an underlying surface.The ultimate scattering tool for 3ds MaxDescribed by iToo as the ultimate scattering tool for 3ds Max, Forest Pack is designed to distribute objects across a scene: usually plant models, but also rocks, buildings or lights.The scattering process is fully parametric, and object distribution can also be controlled by image maps, splines or painting directly onto terrain geometry.Forest Pack can scatter both static and animated objects, with the option to randomise both texture maps and the time offset of animation cycles, or control them via image maps.Forest Pack 9.1 updates: new features in ForestIvyThe last major update to the software, Forest Pack 9.0, introduced ForestIvy, a new plugin for generating 3D ivy and other climbing plants.Users set the overall form of the ivy using a combination of manual and procedural workflow, drawing it directly onto surfaces, generating it automatically, or blending between the two.Since then, Itoosoft has updated ForestIvy steadily through a series of ForestPack 9.1 updates: the latest listed on the forum is ForestPack 9.1.7.(Full disclosure: it was actually released just before the New Year, but we only spotted it when Itoosoft mentioned it in its email newsletter.)New features include the option to generate ivy along a path, without the need for an underlying 3D surface, as shown in the image above.It is also possible to create or save paths as standard 3ds Max splines.There are also new Surface Offset and Check Ground Hit options, which shift the ivy away from an underlying surface, and flatten it along the ground, even without a ground object in place.ForestIvy is also now compatible with real-time ray tracer Chaos Vantage, and V-Ray 7, the latest version of the production renderer.Pricing and availabilityForest Pack 9.1.7 is compatible with 3ds Max 2019+ running on Windows 10+. You can find a list of compatible render engines here.New perpetual licences cost $275. There is also a free Lite edition. Its feature-limited, but can be used on commercial projects.Read an overview of the new features in ForestIvy on Itoosofts blogRead a full list of new features in Forest Pack 9.1.x on Itoosofts forumHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsCheck out the new features in the ForestPack 9.1 updatesLatest updates to the 3ds Max scattering plugin add new options to control the form of plants generated by 3D ivy generator ForestIvy.Monday, February 3rd, 2025See five great VFX breakdowns from the 2025 V-Ray showreelSee breakdowns of five key movies, TV series, cinematics and animated shorts created in V-Ray from Chaos's latest showreel.Monday, February 3rd, 2025Tutorial: Creating a Character for Games - Vol. 1Master industry-standard workflows for sculpting AAA game characters with The Gnomon Workshop's detailed new tutorial series.Monday, February 3rd, 2025How Vine FX created a parasitic underwater forest for The RigDiscover how the VFX studio used procedural growth simulation to create the environment for Amazon Prime Video's supernatural thriller.Friday, January 31st, 2025Boris FX releases Optics 2025Photoshop plugin and standalone app for applying cinematic looks to still images gets AI mask generation, Looks and new Particle Brushes.Friday, January 31st, 2025Thinkinetic releases Pulldownit 6 for MayaDestruction plugin for games and VFX gets a new Edge Fracture Tool, and improvements to clustering and simulation performance.Thursday, January 30th, 2025More NewsAdobe launches unmetered access to Substance 3D AssetsAdobe releases Photoshop 26.3Check out free Android and iOS 3D scanning app RealityScan 1.6Free tool: Animation Render Time Estimator for BlenderChaos releases V-Ray 7 for HoudiniChaos releases V-Ray 7 for MayaAdobe releases Substance 3D Modeler 1.19Red9 ProPack gets new tools created for Sonic the Hedgehog 3JangaFX teases IlluGenCheck out the new features due in EmberGen 2.0Tutorial: Creating Runtime Cinematics in Unreal Engine 5PhotoLine 25 now reads Cryptomatte dataOlder Posts

Monday, February 3rd, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerTutorial: Creating a Character for Games Vol. 1html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"The Gnomon Workshop has launched Creating a Character for Games, a multi-part tutorial covering the process of sculpting a AAA-quality game character, recorded by Omid Moradi.Volume 1 covers sculpting the characters body and face, and creating 3D clothing, and provides over four and a half hours of video training in ZBrush, Maya and Marvelous Designer.Master industry-standard workflows for sculpting AAA game charactersIn the workshop, which is aimed at mid-level and senior character artists, Moradi sets out industry-standard practices for sculpting a 3D character suitable for use in a videogame.The tutorials explore how to break down complex designs into smaller, manageable parts, and how to prioritize each part of the pipeline successfully.Volume 1: sculpting the face and body, and blocking out clothingIn Volume 1, Moradi demonstrates how to sculpt the characters face and body from scratch, and how to block out the characters costume efficiently to prepare for future work.Moradi also explores how to create realistic materials, including fabric, leather and material, and how to sculpt folds and details on the clothing and armor.The workshop uses a commercial 3D scan of a male human body from 3D Scan Store for the characters hands and feet, and commercial textures from Texturing XYZ for the face.About the artistOmid Moradi is a Lead Character and Creature Artist with over 15 years of experience in the videogame, cinematics and movie industries.Franchises he has worked on include Diablo, Halo, Batman, Transformers, Gears of War, Magic: The Gathering, Hellblade II, Dead Island, Valorant and The Wheel of Time.Pricing and availabilityCreating a Character for Games is available via a subscription to The Gnomon Workshop, which provides access to over 300 tutorials.Subscriptions cost $57/month or $519/year. Free trials are available.Read more about Creating a Character for Games: Vol. 1Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Full disclosure: CG Channel is owned by Gnomon.Latest NewsTutorial: Creating a Character for Games - Vol. 1Master industry-standard workflows for sculpting AAA game characters with The Gnomon Workshop's detailed new tutorial series.Monday, February 3rd, 2025How Vine FX created a parasitic underwater forest for The RigDiscover how the VFX studio used procedural growth simulation to create the environment for Amazon Prime Video's supernatural thriller.Friday, January 31st, 2025Boris FX releases Optics 2025Photoshop plugin and standalone app for applying cinematic looks to still images gets AI mask generation, Looks and new Particle Brushes.Friday, January 31st, 2025Thinkinetic releases Pulldownit 6 for MayaDestruction plugin for games and VFX gets a new Edge Fracture Tool, and improvements to clustering and simulation performance.Thursday, January 30th, 2025Adobe launches unmetered access to Substance 3D AssetsSubstance 3D Texturing and Substance 3D Collection plans now include unlimited access to 19,000+ materials, 3D models and HDRIs.Thursday, January 30th, 2025Adobe releases Photoshop 26.3Check out the new features in the image-editing app, with the Frame Tool getting new shape options and generative AI integration.Thursday, January 30th, 2025More NewsCheck out free Android and iOS 3D scanning app RealityScan 1.6Free tool: Animation Render Time Estimator for BlenderChaos releases V-Ray 7 for HoudiniChaos releases V-Ray 7 for MayaAdobe releases Substance 3D Modeler 1.19Red9 ProPack gets new tools created for Sonic the Hedgehog 3JangaFX teases IlluGenCheck out the new features due in EmberGen 2.0Tutorial: Creating Runtime Cinematics in Unreal Engine 5PhotoLine 25 now reads Cryptomatte dataPolygonflow releases Dash 1.8.5After Effects' latest beta lets you preview HDR compsOlder Posts

Friday, January 31st, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerBoris FX releases Optics 2025html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Boris FX has released Optics 2025, the latest version of its software for applying cinematic effects to still images for retouching, illustration or visualization.The release adds a new AI-based mask-generation system, Particle Brushes for painting effects like fire and water into images, and multi-layer Looks presets.Making VFX-style effects available to Photoshop and Lightroom usersFirst released in 2020, Optics is pitched as providing visual effects for photographers.It is a renamed version of Digital Film Tools DFT, which Boris FX acquired in 2019, expanded with filters from other Boris FX products. Boris FX discontinued DFT itself in 2021.It is available as a standalone application, and a plugin for Photoshop and Lightroom.Optics 2025: new AI tech speeds up mask creationOptics becomes the latest Boris FX application to integrate Mask ML, the AI masking technology recently introduced in roto and tracking tools Silhouette and Mocha Pro.Users click on objects within a photo to have Optics isolate them automatically, creating a mask that can be used to selectively edit that part of the image.Other new features: Particle Brushes and Looks presetsOther new features include a set of Particle Brushes, along the lines of those in tools like Flame Painter or Photoshop plugins like ParticleShop.They can be used to paint effects like fire, water or magical energy directly onto images, and come with over 250 presets.The release also adds a Looks tab within the Filters window providing access to multi-layer filter and mask presets. Users can export Looks and share them with other artists.You can find a list of smaller UI and workflow improvements on Boris FXs blog.Price and system requirementsOptics 2025 is available as a plugin for Photoshop CC+, Photoshop Elements 2018+ and Lightroom Classic, and as a standalone application for Windows 10+ and macOS 12.0+.A new perpetual licence costs $149; rental costs $9/month or $99/year. A single licence provides access to both the plugins and the standalone editions. Read an overview of the new features in Optics 2025 on Boris FXs blogRead a full list of new features in Optics 2025 in the release notesHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsHow Vine FX created a parasitic underwater forest for The RigDiscover how the VFX studio used procedural growth simulation to create the environment for Amazon Prime Video's supernatural thriller.Friday, January 31st, 2025Boris FX releases Optics 2025Photoshop plugin and standalone app for applying cinematic looks to still images gets AI mask generation, Looks and new Particle Brushes.Friday, January 31st, 2025Thinkinetic releases Pulldownit 6 for MayaDestruction plugin for games and VFX gets a new Edge Fracture Tool, and improvements to clustering and simulation performance.Thursday, January 30th, 2025Adobe launches unmetered access to Substance 3D AssetsSubstance 3D Texturing and Substance 3D Collection plans now include unlimited access to 19,000+ materials, 3D models and HDRIs.Thursday, January 30th, 2025Adobe releases Photoshop 26.3Check out the new features in the image-editing app, with the Frame Tool getting new shape options and generative AI integration.Thursday, January 30th, 2025Check out free Android and iOS 3D scanning app RealityScan 1.6Update to Epic Games' free app provides more control over scans, with the option to create 1-million-poly models with 8K textures.Thursday, January 30th, 2025More NewsFree tool: Animation Render Time Estimator for BlenderChaos releases V-Ray 7 for HoudiniChaos releases V-Ray 7 for MayaAdobe releases Substance 3D Modeler 1.19Red9 ProPack gets new tools created for Sonic the Hedgehog 3JangaFX teases IlluGenCheck out the new features due in EmberGen 2.0Tutorial: Creating Runtime Cinematics in Unreal Engine 5PhotoLine 25 now reads Cryptomatte dataPolygonflow releases Dash 1.8.5After Effects' latest beta lets you preview HDR compsNew version of iOS and Android scanning app Kiri EngineOlder Posts

Friday, January 31st, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerHow Vine FX created a parasitic underwater forest for The Rightml PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Vine FX has released its VFX breakdown for Season 2 of Amazon Prime Videos thriller The Rig.The show follows the crew of a North Sea oil rig threatened by The Ancestor, a mysterious ancient microbial life form that has been unleashed from the ocean floor.Creating a fungal underwater forest using procedural growth simulationFor the finale of Season 2, UK visual effects studio Vine FX delivered 115 shots, creating a glowing underwater forest of mycelium, its canopy extending 400 meters above the seabed.Beginning with concept art created by Scott McInnes, Vine FX used simulation techniques to grow the vast structures in an organic way.To create the forest, the studio created several tree designs that could be instanced throughout the scene, explains Vine FX Head of 3D Pedrom Dadgostar.The great thing about procedural growth simulations is that they look different from any angle, so by rotating and placing assets we were able to build a dense forest with no repetitions.The trunks were illuminated internally using mesh lights in Solaris, Houdinis look dev and shot layout environment, which gave them an otherworldly presence.Defining scale with lighting and floating particulatesAs well as the parasitic forest, Vine FX created entire ocean world, augmenting live-action shots with CG and 2D assets to give a sense of being underwater.Light plays a critical role in defining scale, says Dadgostar. We carefully placed floating particulates that helped establish that sense [of scale, falling off] into darkness around the trees.The idea was to envelop the characters in an expansive, claustrophobic world.Vine FXs compositing artists also ensured that the bioluminescent trees integrated seamlessly with the live-action footage, with the light given off reflecting from the characters diving suits.Produced using a new USD studio pipelineFor the show, Vine FX built an entirely new USD pipeline, taking advantage of the flexibility and efficiency of Universal Scene Description in handling multi-shot workflows.The new pipeline enabled Vine FX to create a unified environment that could be reused across shots without extensive re-rendering.Visit Vine FXs websiteHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Related Topics # compositing # Concept Art # growth simulation # Houdini # lighting # making of # OpenUSD # Pedrom Dadgostar # Scott McInnes # shot layout # Solaris # The Rig # Universal Scene Description # USD # vfx # VFX breakdown # Vine FX # visual effects Latest NewsHow Vine FX created a parasitic underwater forest for The RigDiscover how the VFX studio used procedural growth simulation to create the environment for Amazon Prime Video's supernatural thriller.Friday, January 31st, 2025Boris FX releases Optics 2025Photoshop plugin and standalone app for applying cinematic looks to still images gets AI mask generation, Looks and new Particle Brushes.Friday, January 31st, 2025Thinkinetic releases Pulldownit 6 for MayaDestruction plugin for games and VFX gets a new Edge Fracture Tool, and improvements to clustering and simulation performance.Thursday, January 30th, 2025Adobe launches unmetered access to Substance 3D AssetsSubstance 3D Texturing and Substance 3D Collection plans now include unlimited access to 19,000+ materials, 3D models and HDRIs.Thursday, January 30th, 2025Adobe releases Photoshop 26.3Check out the new features in the image-editing app, with the Frame Tool getting new shape options and generative AI integration.Thursday, January 30th, 2025Check out free Android and iOS 3D scanning app RealityScan 1.6Update to Epic Games' free app provides more control over scans, with the option to create 1-million-poly models with 8K textures.Thursday, January 30th, 2025More NewsFree tool: Animation Render Time Estimator for BlenderChaos releases V-Ray 7 for HoudiniChaos releases V-Ray 7 for MayaAdobe releases Substance 3D Modeler 1.19Red9 ProPack gets new tools created for Sonic the Hedgehog 3JangaFX teases IlluGenCheck out the new features due in EmberGen 2.0Tutorial: Creating Runtime Cinematics in Unreal Engine 5PhotoLine 25 now reads Cryptomatte dataPolygonflow releases Dash 1.8.5After Effects' latest beta lets you preview HDR compsNew version of iOS and Android scanning app Kiri EngineOlder Posts

Thursday, January 30th, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerThinkinetic releases Pulldownit 6 for Mayahtml PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Thinkinetic has released Pulldownit 6, the next major version of Pulldownit, its shattering and dynamics plugin for visual effects and game development work.Pulldownit 6 for Maya introduces a new Edge Fracture Tool for interactively shattering geometry, and new options for clustering shattered fragments to control how an object breaks apart.In addition, instanced objects in dynamics simulations are now computed up to 30% faster.At the time of writing, the 3ds Max edition has not been updated, and remains on Pulldownit 5.8.A well-established destruction plugin for 3ds Max and MayaFirst released in 2009, Pulldownit is a destruction plugin for 3ds Max and Maya, with toolsets for pre-fracturing geometry, then simulating how it breaks apart under impact.The software is used in game development, previz and visual effects, on titles including Santa Monica Studios God of War Ragnark, and the Call of Duty and The Last of Us franchises.Pulldownit 6: new interactive Edge Fracture ToolKey features in Pulldownit 6 for Maya include a new Edge Fracture Tool, for shattering the inner borders of existing fragments.It is iterative, making it possible to play the updated simulation immediately, and non-destructive, making it possible to undo operations or recover the original fracture pattern.Shattering: better path-based shattering and material replacementPulldownit 6 also improves path-based shattering, which now generates more rounded fragments, resulting in more realistic dynamics for stone-like materials, as shown above.Auto replace cut material, which assigns a separate material to the inner surfaces of fragments, can now be performed even after baking a simulation, and now supports jaggy fragments.Dynamics: more controllable clustering and better simulation performanceIn the dynamics toolset, the Clusterize parameter, which groups fragments into clusters to guide how an object breaks apart, now generates less blocky-looking results.There are also two new clustering options: Excluded from Cracks Propagation, which forces a cluster to break apart only on direct collision, and Relative to Mass.The Fracture Body also gets a Relative to Mass option to control hardness, which generates more debris in impact areas by making those parts of the object more brittle.Simulation performance has also been improved with instanced shapes now computed up to 30% faster making it possible to simulate thousands of shapes in a few minutes.Pricing and availabilityPulldownit 6 is available for Maya 2020+ on Windows and macOS only. The software is rental-only. Node-locked licences cost 290/year (around $300/year), and floating licences cost 360/year ($375/year).Read an overview of the new features in Pulldownit 6 for Maya on Thinkinetics blogRead a full list of new features in Pulldownit 6 for MayaHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsThinkinetic releases Pulldownit 6 for MayaDestruction plugin for games and VFX gets a new Edge Fracture Tool, and improvements to clustering and simulation performance.Thursday, January 30th, 2025Adobe launches unmetered access to Substance 3D AssetsSubstance 3D Texturing and Substance 3D Collection plans now include 'unlimited access' to 19,000+ materials, 3D models and HDRIs.Thursday, January 30th, 2025Adobe releases Photoshop 26.3Check out the new features in the image-editing app, with the Frame Tool getting new shape options and generative AI integration.Thursday, January 30th, 2025Chaos releases V-Ray 7 for HoudiniCheck out the new features in the renderer, including a new Houdini-specific volume shader and better integration with Solaris.Wednesday, January 29th, 2025Chaos releases V-Ray 7 for MayaCheck out the new features in the VFX renderer, including OpenPBR support and changes to USD support specific to the Maya edition.Wednesday, January 29th, 2025Adobe releases Substance 3D Modeler 1.19Check out the latest features in the VR modeling app, including the new Assets workflow, Shell parameter, and updates to Mesh to Clay.Wednesday, January 29th, 2025More NewsRed9 ProPack gets new tools created for Sonic the Hedgehog 3JangaFX teases IlluGenCheck out the new features due in EmberGen 2.0Tutorial: Creating Runtime Cinematics in Unreal Engine 5PhotoLine 25 now reads Cryptomatte dataPolygonflow releases Dash 1.8.5After Effects' latest beta lets you preview HDR compsNew version of iOS and Android scanning app Kiri EngineRE:Vision Effects launches Twixtor StandaloneSee the new features due in Unreal Engine 5.6 and beyondLeft Angle releases Autograph 2025Check out this GPU-accelerated Houdini Skin Slide DeformerOlder Posts

Check out the new features in the image-editing app, with the Frame Tool getting new shape options and generative AI integration.

Thursday, January 30th, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerAdobe launches unmetered access to Substance 3D Assetshtml PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd": Substance 3D subscribers now get unmetered access to nearly 20,000 professional materials, models & lights from the #Substance3DAssets library! No points, no restrictionsjust everything you need to push your ideas as far as they can go. Learn more: https://t.co/QiBV8RylfG pic.twitter.com/67lN3V28hP Adobe Substance 3D (@Substance3D) January 29, 2025Adobe has changed its subscription plans for its Substance 3D applications, giving all subscribers unmetered access to the online Substance 3D Assets library.Subscribers now have access to over 19,000 materials, 3D models and HDR lights with no points [and] no restrictions, for use in game art, VFX, motion graphics and visualization.What is the Substance 3D Assets library?Allegorithmic, the original developer of the Substance 3D applications, launched Substance Source the precursor of the Substance Assets library in 2016.Originally a collection of parametric materials in in Substance 3Ds SBSAR and SBS formats, it was expanded to include 3D models and HDRIs in 2021.The online library now hosts over 13,000 materials, grouped into Surfaces, Decals and Atlases; over 6,000 3D models in FBX and GLB format; and 99 HDRs in EXR and SBSAR format.The assets are created by professional artists, either manually or based on 3D scans: Allegorithmic used to regularly commission leading artists to contribute to the library.How did artists previously access the library?The library originally operated on a system of download points, with users accumulating download credits as part of subscriptions to the Substance software.After Adobe launched its current Substance 3D subscription plans in 2021, they included a limited number of downloads per month.For individuals, Substance 3D Texturing subscriptions Substance 3D Painter, Substance 3D Designer and Substance 3D Sampler included 30 downloads per month.Substance 3D Collection subscriptions which also include Substance 3D Stager and Substance 3D Modeler included 50 downloads per month.Teams subscriptions included 100 downloads per month.How has access to the Substance 3D Assets library changed?Adobe has now introduced unmetered access to the Substance 3D Assets library, with all subscribers able to download any of the assets without managing points.At the time of writing, Adobe still lists download limits on its website, but Substance 3D Product Director Jrmie Noguer has tweeted that this means unlimited access for all subscribers:Starting today, all #Substance3D subscribers have unlimited access to all 20k+ assets on our #Substance3DAssets platform! No more download limits, no restrictions, for both Collection and Texturing plan users. That also includes students, who get all this content for free! https://t.co/zwfG8cTUEC Jrmie Noguer (@Gahadmor) January 29, 2025Weve contacted Adobe to confirm whether download restrictions have been completely removed, and will update if we hear back.The assets can be downloaded from the Substance 3D Assets web portal, or directly within Substance 3D Painter.Can I download Substance 3D Assets for free without a subscription?For artists with free Adobe accounts, but no active Substance 3D subscription, Adobe makes a selection of the Substance 3D Assets available to download for free.At the time of writing, 175 assets are available free: the selection used to be updated regularly, but this has stopped over the past two years.How much do Substance 3D subscriptions cost?For individuals, Substance 3D Texturing subscriptions cost $19.99/month or $219.88/year; Substance 3D Collection subscriptions cost $49.99/month or $549.88/year.For teams, Substance 3D Collection subscriptions cost $1,199.88/year.Read Adobes blog post announcing unmetered access to the Substance 3D Assets libraryCompare Substance 3D subscription plans onlineHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsAdobe launches unmetered access to Substance 3D AssetsSubstance 3D Texturing and Substance 3D Collection plans now include 'unlimited access' to 19,000+ materials, 3D models and HDRIs.Thursday, January 30th, 2025Adobe releases Photoshop 26.3Check out the new features in the image-editing app, with the Frame Tool getting new shape options and generative AI integration.Thursday, January 30th, 2025Chaos releases V-Ray 7 for HoudiniCheck out the new features in the renderer, including a new Houdini-specific volume shader and better integration with Solaris.Wednesday, January 29th, 2025Chaos releases V-Ray 7 for MayaCheck out the new features in the VFX renderer, including OpenPBR support and changes to USD support specific to the Maya edition.Wednesday, January 29th, 2025Adobe releases Substance 3D Modeler 1.19Check out the latest features in the VR modeling app, including the new Assets workflow, Shell parameter, and updates to Mesh to Clay.Wednesday, January 29th, 2025Red9 ProPack gets new tools created for Sonic the Hedgehog 3Maya animation toolkit for VFX and games gets new tools developed for Red9's character rigging work on the latest Sonic movie.Tuesday, January 28th, 2025More NewsJangaFX teases IlluGenCheck out the new features due in EmberGen 2.0Tutorial: Creating Runtime Cinematics in Unreal Engine 5PhotoLine 25 now reads Cryptomatte dataPolygonflow releases Dash 1.8.5After Effects' latest beta lets you preview HDR compsNew version of iOS and Android scanning app Kiri EngineRE:Vision Effects launches Twixtor StandaloneSee the new features due in Unreal Engine 5.6 and beyondLeft Angle releases Autograph 2025Check out this GPU-accelerated Houdini Skin Slide DeformerCheck out this free 2D Rim Light Tool for NukeOlder Posts

Thursday, January 30th, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerFree tool: Animation Render Time Estimator for Blenderhtml PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Auto-Terrainer developer Samuel Francis has released Animation Render Time Estimator for Blender, a handy free script for predicting the total render times for Blender animations.A simple, handy add-on for estimating render time for animationsBy default, Blender only shows the progress of individual frames being rendered, leaving artists to estimate the total time for an animation to render manually.Animation Render Time Estimator provides a quick solution, displaying an estimated render time and progress bar for an animation being rendered.The estimated time is based on the first few frames of an animation, skipping the first, with users able to choose how often the estimate is updated.As well as being displayed in the Blender UI, the script prints the information to the console.System requirementsAnimation Render Time Estimator for Blender is compatible with Blender 4.2+. Its free.Download the Animation Render Time Estimator for Blender from Gumroad(Enter a figure of $0 to download it for free, or make a voluntary donation)Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsAdobe releases Photoshop 26.3Check out the new features in the image-editing app, with the Frame Tool getting new shape options and generative AI integration.Thursday, January 30th, 2025Chaos releases V-Ray 7 for HoudiniCheck out the new features in the renderer, including a new Houdini-specific volume shader and better integration with Solaris.Wednesday, January 29th, 2025Chaos releases V-Ray 7 for MayaCheck out the new features in the VFX renderer, including OpenPBR support and changes to USD support specific to the Maya edition.Wednesday, January 29th, 2025Adobe releases Substance 3D Modeler 1.19Check out the latest features in the VR modeling app, including the new Assets workflow, Shell parameter, and updates to Mesh to Clay.Wednesday, January 29th, 2025Red9 ProPack gets new tools created for Sonic the Hedgehog 3Maya animation toolkit for VFX and games gets new tools developed for Red9's character rigging work on the latest Sonic movie.Tuesday, January 28th, 2025JangaFX teases IlluGenThe EmberGen dev's new app will be a 'better way to create the majority of assets' for VFX in games. Here's what we know about it so far.Monday, January 27th, 2025More NewsCheck out the new features due in EmberGen 2.0Tutorial: Creating Runtime Cinematics in Unreal Engine 5PhotoLine 25 now reads Cryptomatte dataPolygonflow releases Dash 1.8.5After Effects' latest beta lets you preview HDR compsNew version of iOS and Android scanning app Kiri EngineRE:Vision Effects launches Twixtor StandaloneSee the new features due in Unreal Engine 5.6 and beyondLeft Angle releases Autograph 2025Check out this GPU-accelerated Houdini Skin Slide DeformerCheck out this free 2D Rim Light Tool for NukeCreate motion graphics in Nuke with the new Screen FX pluginOlder Posts