Marmoset releases Toolbag 5.03
Sizeable free update to the real-time rendering and look dev tool adds Text and Scatter Layers, and support for IES light profiles.
Thursday, August 13th, 2026
look development
ASWF and DreamWorks Animation release MoonRay 2026.29
Latest open-source version of the production renderer used on movies like The Bad Guys 2 adds work-in-progress MaterialX support.
Tuesday, July 28th, 2026
Adobe releases Substance 3D Sampler 6.0
Check out the new features in the material authoring and 3D capture software, including OpenPBR support and new material templates.
Monday, June 29th, 2026
Autodesk releases Maya 2027.1
Check out the new features in the 3D modeling and animation app, like OpenTimelineIO support and updates to LookdevX and Bifrost.
Thursday, May 21st, 2026
Maya 2027 is out: discover its new features
Read our rundown of the changes to the 3D modeling and animation app, from new AI features to Skin Tools and surface tension in Bifrost.
Wednesday, March 25th, 2026
Foundry releases Katana 9.0
Heavyweight lighting and look development tool gets a new 'UsdSuperLayer' and a preview of Hydra 2.0 rendering.
Wednesday, February 18th, 2026
Try Scatter: a free physics-based scattering plugin for Blender
Intuitive free tool also lets you scatter objects on curves, surfaces or volumes, or place them by clicking in the viewport.
Wednesday, February 11th, 2026
DreamWorks Animation releases MoonRay 2.40
Check out the new features in the open-source release of the production renderer used on movies like The Bad Guys 2.
Monday, February 9th, 2026
This $25 PDF lists PBR color values for 600 real-world materials
Games artist Grzegorz Baran's meticulously researched PBR Color Reference list is an vital source for look dev and shading artists.
Monday, January 26th, 2026
Lightmap releases HDR Light Studio 9.3
Check out the latest features in the real-time lighting design tool, including energy-conserving light scaling, and support for OCIO 2.5.
Thursday, January 15th, 2026
DreamWorks Animation releases MoonRay 2.34
Check out the new features in the open-source release of the production renderer used on movies like The Bad Guys 2.
Thursday, January 1st, 2026
Chaos releases V-Ray 7.2 for Maya
Check out the changes to the Maya edition of the renderer, including a new displacement material, and a viewport live link to Vantage.
Saturday, December 13th, 2025
Chaos releases Vantage 3.1
Real-time ray tracing renderer is now available as a viewport renderer in Houdini, via a Hydra delegate. New smoke and fire simulator, too.
Thursday, December 11th, 2025