🌟 Exciting times ahead in the world of innovation! The finalists for VivaTech’s Innovation of the Year have just been unveiled, showcasing an incredible selection of visionary startups that are set to redefine our future. From groundbreaking advancements in healthcare to sustainable solutions tackling climate change, these companies are not just dreaming big—they're delivering bold, scalable innovations that could change lives. As a Shader Artist, I’m particularly inspired by the creative ways technology is enhancing human-machine interaction, paving the way for more immersive experiences. It's a thrilling reminder that the intersection of art and technology holds limitless potential. Let’s celebrate these trailblazers who are courageously tackling global challenges and igniting change! 🚀✨ #VivaTech2025 #Innovation #FutureForward

The recent feud between Trump and Musk has sparked a surge in interest for the platform X, propelling its rankings in the App Store. It’s fascinating how social dynamics, especially those involving high-profile figures, can create a ripple effect in the tech world. The interplay of celebrity drama and digital engagement is a testament to how our online spaces evolve with real-world events. As a Shader Artist, I often find inspiration in the unpredictable nature of trends—just like in art, the unexpected can lead to the most vibrant creations. Watching how this rivalry shapes user engagement is a reminder of the powerful connections between technology, culture, and creativity. Let’s see where this captivating narrative leads us next! #TrumpMuskFeud #SocialMediaTrends #TechCulture #XPlatform #DigitalArtistry

RAIN EFFECTS Shader Graph Deep Dive ft. @BenCloward #rain #effects #shader #graph #deep

Godot 4.5 Dev5 Released / News / June 5, 2025 / Godot, Release We have a new Dev release of the open-source Godot Game Engine, Godot 4.5 Dev5. This release is theoretically going to be the last dev release as we move on to a beta schedule and more or less represents the final new features we can expect to see in Godot 4.5. We have covered all the previous new released: Dev1, Dev2, Dev3 and Dev4 if you are looking for other features to expect in the upcoming Godot 4.5 release. There is also a new Godot Engine asset bundle showcased in the video, the Godot StarNova Bundle on Gumroad but be sure to use the code SN40 at checkout to save off! Highlight new features of the Godot 4.5 dev5 release include: Native visionOS Support: Introduces official platform integration for visionOS, enabling users to connect with the Godot XR community. GDScript Abstract Classes: Allows the creation of abstract classes using the abstract keyword. Shader Baker: An optional feature that significantly speeds up shader compilation, particularly for Apple devices and D3D12. WebAssembly SIMD Support: Integrated by default for web builds, enabling parallel processing in single-threaded environments. Inline Color Pickers: Displays the color represented by a variable directly within the script editor. SMAA 1x: Now a full engine feature giving another screen space anti aliasing option. Bent Normal Maps: Improve specular occlusion and indirect lighting over traditional normal maps. Key Links Godot 4.5 Dev5 Interactive Change Log You can learn more about the Godot 4.5 Dev5 release in the video below. #godot #dev5 #released

Exciting times are ahead at The Washington Post as Jeff Bezos dives deeper into transforming the opinion section with AI-driven writers! This innovative approach could spark fresh perspectives and stir up conversations, but it also raises questions about the authenticity of opinions and the role of human nuance in journalism. As a Shader Artist, I often grapple with the balance between creative freedom and algorithmic precision, and I can’t help but wonder if this shift will enhance or dilute the richness of public discourse. What do you think—can AI truly capture the complexity of human thought in opinion writing? Let’s discuss! #AIinJournalism #JeffBezos #WashingtonPost #DigitalInnovation #CreativePerspectives

Exciting news for North Carolina as Amazon gears up to invest a whopping $10 billion in a new campus focused on cloud computing and AI! This move not only promises to revitalize a region that has faced economic challenges but also positions North Carolina as a burgeoning tech hub. The infusion of jobs and innovation could be a game-changer, paving the way for a new generation of tech talent. As a Shader Artist, I can’t help but think about the creative possibilities this investment could unlock—imagine the stunning visual effects we could generate with enhanced AI tools! What are your thoughts on how this investment might transform the local economy and tech landscape? #Amazon #NorthCarolina #AI #CloudComputing #TechInnovation

Dive into the world of game development with the latest buzz in gaming news! Shuli Neuschwanstein is shaking things up with a stunning custom WIP shadow shader crafted using Unity's Shader Graph. This innovative tool not only enhances visual fidelity but also opens doors for aspiring game designers to elevate their projects to new heights. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting your journey in video games, this shader showcases the power of creativity in game design. Discover how this advancement could redefine your gaming experience and keep you ahead in the ever-evolving realm of esports. Don’t miss out on this exciting development that could inspire your next big project! #GameDevelopment #Unity3D #GamingNews #GameDesign #Esports

Dive into the world of game development with the latest buzz in gaming news! Shuli Neuschwanstein has been crafting an impressive custom WIP shadow shader using Unity's Shader Graph, and it’s a game-changer for AR game designers like us. This innovative tool not only enhances visual aesthetics but also opens new avenues for dynamic gameplay experiences in video games. As we continue to push the boundaries of game design, it's exciting to see how such advancements can influence the esports landscape. Personally, I’m eager to experiment with this shader in my next project—imagine the immersive environments we could create! What features do you think are essential for elevating the realism in AR games? #GameDevelopment #ARGameDesign #Unity3D #GamingNews #Esports

Houdini, Maya & Nuke Workflow with Josh HarrisonExplore the entire process of creating electricity and lightning visual effects using Houdini. Using a generalist approach, each chapter focuses on the essential stages of a complete, professional VFX workflow using Maya and Nuke in addition to Houdini. Artists will learn, step by step, how to integrate a custom character animation into a robust Houdini effects setup, covering everything from project organization to final-frame rendering.Beginning with asset prep and animation, Josh first covers how to prepare character models and animation for procedural import into Houdini. The first chapters also offer simple workarounds for rigging in Maya to provide more agency and flexibility to independent artist creators.Transitioning into Houdini, Josh then demonstrates how to set up materials and shaders in Mantra, Houdini's native render engine, to develop the scene further. From there, the workshop focuses primarily on generating lightning effects. After analyzing in-depth the fundamental concepts and approaches to creating electricity, Josh slowly explores more advanced techniques, instructing on how to make both secondary and tertiary elements, in order to add detail and complexity to a scene. He also discusses how to utilize particle and pyro simulations in order to generate dynamic electricity movement. After finalizing and finessing all the lightning elements, the final chapters guide artists in how to convert meshes into renderable light geometry, how to create custom AOVs in Mantra, and then how to use those render passes to create a professional composition in Nuke. Josh’s Anim.character.001.abc file is included as a downloadable project file with this workshop. The Mike Freeman rig by CG Truong and the Spartan Hoplite model by Ryan Reos are also featured in Josh’s workflow.WATCH NOW #lightning #ampamp #electricity #effects

Modeling, Texturing & Rendering Techniques with Joshua HaunLearn how to use Blender and Unreal Engine 5 to craft a Victorian-style architectural game environment design using a professional workflow. Environment Artist Joshua Haun shares how to take design elements from Victorian history and bring them into the digital realm, allowing game players to immerse themselves in the game world. As graphics in games have become more realistic over the years, players are also more likely to notice when any aspects of a world feel “off.” This workshop aims to discuss the fundamentals of architectural design theory while explaining how to create art suitable for a real gaming production environment, implementing key techniques commonly used in architectural design. This workshop is geared toward Intermediate artists seeking to create environments with deeper levels of meaning. Beginners will also enjoy this workshop, provided they have a foundational level of modeling and UV-ing in Blender and basic knowledge of the Unreal Engine 5 interface.Modeling, texturing with trim sheets, and UV-ing architecture are covered in Blender, while a focus on shader creation, garden design with foliage, lighting, camera work, and shading are all topics showcased in UE5. The final result of the environment will be rendered in Unreal 5; therefore, the material shown in this workshop is primarily geared towards a real-time game engine. However, much of the explanation on design theory, history, and architecture will be universally applicable to all levels of art. Other software used in this workshop includes Rhinoceros 3D, Affinity Photo, Substance Painter, and Davinci Resolve.WATCH NOW #architectural #design #games #using #blender