Chaos has made V-Ray available as a fully integrated renderer for Blender, marking its re-entry into the open-source 3D software. This release gives Blender users access V-Ray’s rendering capabilities directly within their existing workflows, without relying on third-party bridges or exports. (more...)

Chaos has introduced stylized rendering and AI tools to Corona 13. (more...)

Topaz Labs has released Bloom, a new AI-powered web application for upscaling creative digital images. Designed for use with AI-generated visuals and CG artwork, Bloom supports PNG and JPG formats and offers upscaling of up to 8x, incorporating generative detail enhancement using custom diffusion models. (more...)

Autodesk has announced MotionMaker, a new AI-based animation tool for Maya. This system allows animators to direct character movement using a minimal number of keyframes or a simple motion path. Integrated into Maya’s animation editor toolset, MotionMaker features a dedicated editor interface where users can manage characters, direct motion, and control related functions. (more...)

ITOOSOFT has released RailClone 7, an update to its procedural modeling plugin for 3ds Max. The new version introduces several spline tools, new libraries, and many workflow improvements. (more...)

Autodesk has released the 3ds Max 2026.1 update, introducing new and improved modifiers amongst the changes. (more...)

Pivot Studio has released version 1.4 of Pattern Engine, its procedural pattern generation software. The update introduces new features for working with custom shapes, compound patterns, and layout precision, while maintaining the tool’s original focus on flexibility and control in pattern design. (more...)

Cebas Visual Technology has updated thinkingParticles, its procedural visual effects plugin for 3ds Max. Version 7.4 brings full compatibility with 3ds Max 2026 and introduces a major expansion of the ME‑L scripting language with over 160 new functions.

The updated ME‑L system provides programmatic control over individual mesh components such as vertices, faces, normals, and elements. It supports advanced modeling operations including edge subdivision and dynamic remeshing. The scripting syntax has been designed to be accessible to artists without requiring in-depth programming experience.

New features in this release include the SimpleDeform node's expanded functionality with pose matching controls, allowing particle meshes to maintain or revert to their original poses after deformation. A new moisture-based activation feature, “Wakeup Sel,” has been added to the MPM-Sand system, enabling particles to activate in response to moisture levels. The new SplineForce node introduces spline-driven force fields that can guide particle motion along predefined paths.

The update also includes an Explosion System consisting of special-purpose nodes aimed at creating explosion effects with a streamlined setup process and customizable control. The SPH 7.3 fluid solver has been revised to improve responsiveness and performance in pressure-related calculations. ME‑L now supports custom markers for debugging within 3ds Max, with options for text, lines, points, and color displays.

For more information, visit Cebas Visual Technology's website.