Entagma has released a tutorial explaining how to create a phyllotactic distribution operator with VEX in Houdini. But instead of just implementing the flat disc he also builds a more complex version that creates the phyllotactic pattern on a surface of revolution. Watch in on YouTube. 

Weta Digital has release a breakdown reel for its work on Black Widow including the mountain range and gulag environment, as well as the avalanche effects. Watch it on YouTube. 

Jamie Cardoso has published a short tutorial explaining how to use the VrayNormals render element in photoshop to add additional lighting effects to a scene. Watch it on YouTube. 

KeenTools has released a new upgrade with several improvements and three new nodes that bring blendshapes to Nuke. Using these nodes it’s possible to create new geometry out of objects with similar topology and then animate it, without switching to another software. (more...)

Digital Domain has released a VFX breakdown reel for its work on Marvel's Black Widow. Watch it on YouTube. 

Animal Logic has released a free abandoned workshop scene in USD format that aims to replicate real-world production and pipeline concepts for use in education, training, and demonstration by students, studios, and vendors. Find out more on Animal Logic's website. 

Serif has announced the release of Affinity 1.10, including Photo, Designer and Publisher.  (more...)