02.07.2026

Boris FX Buys iZotope

RX and Ozone get a new roof at Boris FX, while licenses and support stay active. Post now has more audio in the tool shed.

2 minute read

A computer screen displays a 3D visualization of particles interacting within a colorful grid. The vibrant particles are arranged in dynamic patterns, transitioning through shades of blue, green, and pink. A node graph on the left shows options for 'Fade' and 'Rotate,' enhancing the visual complexity.

VectorayGen Goes Free Again

JangaFX has brought VectorayGen back as a free tool for authoring vector fields for real-time VFX and GPU-particle workflows.

02.07.2026

A detailed 3D model of a dinosaur skull is displayed, showcasing the intricate texture of its bones and the jagged edges of its formidable teeth. The model is set against a stark black background, enhancing the ancient, fossilized appearance and providing a stark contrast.

Ancient Relics, Modern Splats

Ten free splats bring statues, ruins and dinosaur skulls into Octane and After Effects, complete with captured texture and scene lighting. Or, whatever you use Splats for.

02.07.2026

A close-up view of a pastel turquoise bicycle, showcasing its sleek rear gears and silver spokes gleaming against a dark background. The bike's design features a curved frame and orange safety reflector, highlighting a harmonious blend of modern style and functional engineering.

Houdini Rigging: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Start Loving APEX

For anyone tired of character setups held together by hope, version notes and one dangerous checkbox, Houdini 21 promises a paradigm shift. By decoupling mesh, rig logic, animation and execution through KineFX and APEX, SideFX is taking…

01.07.2026

An overhead view of a digital storyboard featuring various graphic elements. Two blue chairs are depicted facing each other, connected by an arrow labeled 'Shot 48.2.' A stylized camera setup is shown on a wheeled platform, with a pink arrow pointing to it. Lush bushes frame the scene.

Cadrage Directors Viewfinder NO AI

Cadrage Studio sits in creative pre-production for directors and DPs, between script breakdown, previs and location prep. It extends the workflow of Cadrage, the director’s viewfinder app, from framing into shot planning. Early access for…

01.07.2026

A vivid promotional banner for Fusion Studio 20 featuring bold, 3D text that says "FUSION" in shiny gold. The background showcases a dramatic, fiery explosion, surrounded by interconnected topics like "multi-layer workflows" and "deep image compositing," emphasizing its advanced features. — Advertisement

A dark-themed, modern user interface featuring various function tiles. Each tile displays text with descriptions, labeled distinctly for tasks like 'Copy Marks', 'Deadline', and 'Update LUT'. The sleek layout emphasizes functionality with a polished, minimalist design, surrounded by subtle gradients.

FilmLight fl-enhance: Baselight Tools Escape Into Python

FilmLight’s fl-enhance repository brings Baselight and Daylight scripts, shaders and FLAPI tools to GitHub, including LUT wrapping, ACES EXR transcoding and colour utilities.

A well-organized workspace features a towering stack of white boxes adorned with graphic icons, displaying creative symbols like a sun and a rocket. Behind, a pegboard holds colorful swatches and fabric samples, while neatly arranged patterned storage boxes in rich hues sit atop a glossy red tiled surface, evoking a vibrant and modern atmosphere.

Adobe Sampler 6.0 Adds OpenPBR

Substance 3D Sampler 6.0 adds OpenPBR defaults, preset material templates, USD material export and updated HP Z Captis capture tools.

A compact Blackmagic Design device with a sleek, matte black finish, featuring multiple input/output ports, including USB-C and HDMI. The textured surface enhances grip, while streamlined lines exude a modern aesthetic. Indicators light up, showcasing functionality.

ProDock-ing an iPhone

The iPhone 17 is the first smartphone ever to support external synchronisation, and Blackmagic (BM for short) offers the ProDock to connect it to a professional environment. What are its possibilities and limits?

A close-up view of a stylus hovering above a tablet screen displaying a cartoonish landscape. The screen features soft, illustrated hills in earthy tones, while a sleek black panel below showcases various app controls and vibrant color options. Natural light reflects off the tablet's surface, enhancing the design's modern aesthetic.

Callipeg Studio Heads to Desktop

Callipeg goes desktop with macOS and Windows builds, familiar 2D tools, beta caveats and a price that avoids subscription bingo.

A sleek black speaker design featuring three textured knobs and a round speaker grille at the bottom. Surrounding it is a detailed blueprint showing various components and shapes, highlighting creative possibilities and technical design elements in a cool-toned, modern aesthetic.

Substance 3D Painter 12.1 bakes smarter

Painter 12.1 targets baking pain with skew maps, auto rebake, OpenPBR defaults and cleaner hard-surface UVs for asset teams.

A weathered stone wall looms in the background, textured with rough surfaces and moss patches. Suspended in the air, translucent cubes showcase vibrant greenery, contrasting sharply with the ancient dark brick. The ethereal connection between nature and history creates a surreal atmosphere.

RealityScan 2.2 Widens GPU Support

RealityScan 2.2 widens accelerated reconstruction, adds mixed GPU use, 360 camera workflow notes and scan-life fixes.

Adobe buys Topaz Labs

Adobe plans to acquire Topaz Labs, bringing AI upscale, denoise, restore and local model tech closer to Firefly and Creative Cloud.

A woman elegantly dances amidst a dreamy landscape, her flowing burnt orange gown billowing gracefully around her. Delicate layers of sheer fabric in soft shades of pink and lavender drape around her, contrasting with wispy clouds in the background, illuminated by soft golden light.

Optics 2026.5 gets more photo hosts

Optics 2026.5 plugs into three more photo hosts and adds analog burns, face masks, particles and a Victorian pet preset pack.

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Recent Articles for Subscribers

A professional monitor displaying a vibrant explosion of colorful splashes, featuring shades of blue, pink, yellow, and red against a dark background. The monitor has a sleek design with control buttons along the bottom.

7 minute read

Asus ProArt 16 USV: A Laptop-Sized Production Monitor

The ASUS ProArt PA16USV LED-Monitor, a 15.6-inch 4K HDR portable display that incorporates a 12G-SDI marks a significant pivot for ASUS into hardware that explicitly targets on-set workflows and DIT (digital imaging technician) monitoring tasks…

A close-up of a fluffy, light-colored cat with a predominantly cream fur coat featuring soft brown patches. Its large, expressive eyes gaze curiously to the side, framed by delicate whiskers and gentle ear fur, against a smooth, dark gray background that enhances its detailed texture and three-dimensional form.

18 minute read

Here comes Houdini 22

2 hours and 18 minutes. That is almost exactly the runtime of the first Matrix film, and exactly the duration of the Houdini 22 release keynote. So yes, this promises a rather chunky package of new features and improvements.

A compact, rectangular micro converter in a sleek gray finish, labeled 'BiDirectional SDI/HDMI 12G'. It features two coaxial SDI ports and two HDMI ports, arranged for easy connectivity. The minimalist design reflects modern technology, blending functionality with a professional aesthetic.

3 minute read

The Right Colours Without a Computer

SpyderPro exports a 33-point correction LUT, but you want one compact converter to apply it between SDI gear and an HDMI display.

An illuminated concert hall with soft purple lighting casting a warm glow over an empty orchestra. Rows of wooden chairs face the stage, while the dramatic folded ceiling design reflects the artistic ambiance. The scene captures a serene yet expectant atmosphere.

28 minute read

Splat happens: Volinga 3DGS workflow for Unreal

Volinga turns photo sets into Gaussian splats for Unreal, with local processing, PLY and NVOL export, cleanup tools, and relighting support. But what does that actually mean? Let's ask some questions!

A sleek, modern monitor displaying vibrant, swirling abstract shapes in blue, pink, and purple hues sits prominently in a minimalist, industrial-style setting. A smooth, curved staircase spirals elegantly in the background, enhancing the contemporary atmosphere.

8 minute read

Asus ProArt PA27UCGE: A 4K Monitor That Mostly Refuses to Be Annoying

The Asus ProArt PA27UCGE is a 27-inch 4K 10-bit IPS monitor with hardware calibration, , USB-C with 96 W Power Delivery, HDR10, 160 Hz refresh rate and a monitor hood. It is not a Class A reference monitor, but for general production work, it is…

A procession of figures draped in dark, flowing garments walks solemnly across a misty landscape, their faces obscured. One figure holds a flag with stark black and white stripes, while another carries a mysterious object. The ethereal, muted backdrop enhances the scene's haunting atmosphere.

10 minute read

Chrysalis

Robin Lochmann built Chrysalis solo on the visual side, rendered on two GPUs, and went straight online, hitting 100k YouTube views in two weeks.

4 minute read

Lux Aeterna rebuilds ancient humans

LiDAR caves, rigged skeletons, photogrammetry casts, and millimetre checks against research. Historical VFX gets very literal.

A black grand piano floats above a colorful mound of cardboard boxes, with scattered musical notes drifting down like confetti. The background features a soft, glowing light that enhances the surreal atmosphere, creating a whimsical and artistic scene.

8 minute read

Das szenische Portal RT: When the Stage Starts Listening to the Music

Das szenische Portal RT combines Unreal Engine, live cameras, audio triggers and virtual scene control into a hybrid stage environment for live events. But how?

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A close-up of a stylized, detailed ape-like face with intricate textures reflecting the light, accentuating the realistic features. The background is dark, enhancing the vivid details of the skin and fur. Bold white text announces "GRAND LAUNCH" and highlights "iClone PERSONAL Free for All Users!" in a vibrant green font.

Reallusion Unlocks Limitless Creation: iClone Personal Debuts Alongside AI Studio Official Launch

iClone Personal replaces the trial with free access, AI Studio goes public, and 500 AI Points sweeten the 3D-to-AI rabbit hole.

On the left, a vibrant orange and blue fish glides gracefully through a coral reef, its scales glinting in dappled sunlight. To the right, an array of delicate roses in soft pastel hues is arranged artfully, with tiny white daisies nestled among the blooms, adding charm and freshness.

Arnold 7.5.2 Adds Gaussian Splats

Arnold 7.5.2 renders Gaussian Splats, adds relighting, NPR nodes and Flow Render tweaks. Nice, but test before splats bite.

A vibrant collage of various artworks celebrating a milestone, featuring contrasting images and colors arranged in a dynamic grid. Bold white text stating "40TH ANNIVERSARY" stands prominently in the center, highlighting this significant occasion with excitement.

Maxon turns 40, subs get lighter

Maxon celebrates 40 years with 40% off first-year annual subscriptions. Great for carts, less great for anyone remembering Amiga disks.

A digital video editing interface displaying a rich forest scene featuring ambush redcoats in action. Subtitles overlay the image, showing timestamps and editing notes. The layout showcases various editing tools and a timeline, encapsulating a dynamic editing environment.

DaCaPo Opens DCP Authoring Beta

DaCaPo bundles DCP authoring, OV/VF versioning, subtitles, KDMs and verification into a desktop tool for cinema delivery. Give the Beta a Spin!

A vibrant animated film set featuring playful blue characters. A whimsical green screen serves as the backdrop, while a quirky camera setup and a classic director's chair labeled "DIRECTOR" add to the charm. A wind machine and colorful building blocks enhance the creative atmosphere.

Godot 4.7 turns up HDR

Godot 4.7 goes practical: HDR output, rectangular lights, mobile builds, XR work and editor polish. Less fireworks, more knobs.

A sophisticated digital interface showcases a spacious, dimly lit studio. The expansive floor, reflecting soft light, complements the grid of overhead lights casting geometric shadows. A sleek control panel, featuring dials and a vibrant color wheel, hints at elaborate lighting options, enhancing the creative atmosphere.

Arri LUKA lights Unreal previs

ARRI LUKA puts virtual fixtures, camera logic and Lumen rendering inside Unreal Engine. Previs gets less guessy.

The image features a grid of eight scenes showcasing diverse individuals using markerless motion capture technology. The top row displays a man in a checked shirt speaking animatedly indoors, a woman in an orange top moving outdoors, and a man in a black shirt gesturing intently indoors. The bottom row presents digital avatars reflecting the poses of the individuals above, demonstrating lifelike movement and detail in their textured clothing, set against neutral backgrounds.

MetaHuman gets markerless mocap

Free markerless body capture lands for MetaHumans, using standard video, local processing, and Unreal Engine 5.8.

A man with a torch illuminates a rugged cave, casting flickering shadows on the textured rock walls. The warm glow of the flame contrasts with the cool, dark cavern surroundings, creating a mysterious ambiance as he explores the rugged terrain, clad in dark clothing.

Beeble Canvas gets a Topaz split

Canvas now compares Topaz upscales in-node, adds 30 plus generation models, Markdown notes, magnetic snap, and describer updates.

A man with short hair sits with hands clasped, smiling confidently next to a collage of images showcasing fire, landscapes, spherical objects, textures, and a house model. The background features the text'das element Asset Library Software'. — Advertisement

QC Kitchen Brings Broadcast QC Online

Upload a master, choose a QC menu, get a report and a bill. QC Kitchen targets UK broadcast checks without booking a post house.

A close-up of elegant chess pieces crafted from pale materials, set against a softly illuminated backdrop. The warm, glowing circles of light create a dreamy atmosphere, while the blurred focus enhances the sense of depth and intrigue in this exquisite game.

Fridays for Fusion: ZDefocus Adds a More Practical Z-Depth Blur

Millolab’s ml_ZDefocus macro processes normalized Z-buffers, visualises the focus region and reduces edge artefacts in Fusion.

Dimly lit nightclub with a tall curved LED screen, stone arches, and candlelit tables along a balcony.

Unreal Engine 5.8 Tidies Up

Unreal Engine 5.8 brings production-ready rendering, virtual production and simulation tools, alongside experimental systems for digital crowds, terrain and character animation.

SMPTE Opens Its Standards Library

SMPTE has opened its complete standards catalogue, giving engineers and developers free access to current and future documents.

EDIUS 11.50 Patches Exports Faster

EDIUS 11.50 repairs parts of finished exports, transcribes locally and adds practical timeline tweaks. The new crossgrade even lowers the entry price.