Demo Reel - July 2026 Shaders and Tools I'm a technical artist who builds production-ready tools and materials, and I occasionally teach how I solved interesting problems. #Blender #UE5 #UnrealEngine #SubstancePainter #SubstanceDesigner #Shaders #Tools #TechnicalArtist #DemoReel #ShowReel #Portfolio

Night City isn't done evolving. CD Projekt Red is giving #Cyberpunk2077 another major free update, and Update 2.5 brings far more than a few cosmetic additions. Players can finally dual-wield Power pistols and revolvers, customize their cyberware with new visual options, and explore fresh quests inspired by the upcoming Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2. The update also introduces new Tarot cards, clothing collections, hairstyles, and additional secrets to uncover. One of the biggest additions is cross-platform mod support, letting players browse selected community creations directly in-game across supported platforms. On the technical side, expect expanded rendering features, improved ray tracing performance, DLSS 4.5 support on PC, and new graphics options for consoles, including an FOV slider. It's another impressive example of how long-term support can keep a single-player game relevant years after launch. Would you return to Night City for this update? Read More: 80.lv/articles/cdpr-somehow-… #CDProjektRed #Gaming #GameDevelopment #VFX

Looking to level up your animation workflow in Unreal Engine? Fab has you covered with 10 essential products designed to help animators work smarter, iterate faster, and bring characters to life. From Epic Games’ Game Animation Sample Project and Zebra Character Sample to MetaHuman Animator’s markerless motion capture, these tools offer practical ways to explore modern animation techniques and streamline production. Need more control over your characters? LCAT simplifies posing and rigging workflows, while Anim Tools helps process large animation sets. There are also specialized solutions for refining mocap, fixing root motion, animating vehicles, and creating natural turn-in-place movements. Whether you're building cinematic sequences, developing games, or experimenting with new animation pipelines, these resources can help accelerate your creative process. Discover all 10 picks and find the tools that fit your next project. Read More: fab.com/o/news/ten-essential… #UnrealEngine #Animation #Fab #GameDevelopment #CharacterAnimation #MetaHuman #MotionCapture #VFX

What happens when AI learns to see through an artist’s eyes? In Dear Upstairs Neighbors, Pixar alum Connie He teams up with Google DeepMind to explore a new approach to animation, training custom Veo and Imagen models on her own concept art. The six-minute short transforms the frustration of sleepless nights into a colorful, surreal journey, blending expressive visuals, abstract art, and carefully crafted comedic timing. What makes this project compelling is not just the technology, but the creative process behind it. Through close collaboration between artists and researchers, Connie developed a workflow that supports her artistic vision rather than replacing it. The result raises an important question for the future of animation: Can AI become a new creative medium shaped by human imagination, craft, and storytelling? Read how art and machine learning found common ground. Read More: motionographer.com/2026/09/2… #Animation #AI #GenerativeAI #VFX #MotionDesign #GoogleDeepMind #ConnieHe

Looking to bring your creative ideas to life with AI-powered 3D filmmaking? Autodesk Flow Studio offers tools for 3D asset generation, AI rigging, markerless motion capture, animation, and scene creation in one connected workflow. With plans ranging from Free to Enterprise, creators can choose the capacity that fits their projects and budgets. Paid subscriptions start at $7/month with annual billing, while the free tier includes 300 monthly credits. Eligible students and educators can also access a dedicated free Education plan with 2,100 monthly credits. Need more advanced VFX workflows? Higher tiers unlock features such as 4K exports, MetaHuman animation support, USD scene exports, and increased production capacity. You can also export projects into tools like Maya, Blender, and Unreal Engine, depending on your plan. Discover which subscription suits your workflow and creative ambitions. Read More: blogs.autodesk.com/media-and… #Autodesk #FlowStudio #VFX #Animation #AI #3DAnimation #MotionCapture #Filmmaking

The sands of Arrakis are calling once again. The new trailer for #DunePartThree teases a haunting return to Denis Villeneuve’s epic universe, where Paul Atreides faces the immense burden of imperial power. Set nearly two decades after his rise, the next chapter promises political unrest, betrayal, rebellion, and shifting allegiances. Based on Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah, the film looks set to explore the darker consequences of absolute power, expanding the saga’s scope with breathtaking visuals and cinematic ambition. Behind the scenes, an accomplished visual effects team, led by supervisors Paul Lambert and Mag Sarnowska, brings this vast universe to life. Studios including DNEG, Wylie Co. VFX, Rodeo FX, and Territory Studio contribute to the film’s extraordinary visual storytelling. Directed by Villeneuve, #DunePartThree arrives in US theaters on December 18, 2026. The desert’s next chapter promises to be as visually stunning as it is politically charged. Read More: artofvfx.com/dune-part-three… #Dune #VFX #VisualEffects #DenisVilleneuve

How has 3D level design evolved over the past 30 years? From the original Tomb Raider to the upcoming Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, game design has transformed alongside advances in camera technology, graphics, and player expectations. In a new interview with 80 Level, Crystal Dynamics Game Director Raul Siqueira discusses the challenges of modernizing Lara Croft’s iconic adventures while preserving what made the original experience special: exploration, environmental puzzles, and the thrill of discovering hidden paths. One key takeaway? Great level design isn't just about guiding players to their destination. It's about encouraging them to observe, think, and understand the world around them. With optional hints and exploration assistance, Legacy of Atlantis also aims to balance accessibility with player freedom. As technology advances, the art of creating immersive, memorable spaces remains at the heart of game development. Read More: 80.lv/articles/tomb-raider-d… #TombRaider #LevelDesign #GameDevelopment #GameDesign #UnrealEngine #Gaming

Substance 3D Painter 12.2 is here, bringing a useful upgrade to 3D texturing workflows. The latest update lets artists paint baking cages directly onto their models, giving them more control over mesh baking and helping address common issues with normal maps and other baked textures. This addition can make it easier to fine-tune complex assets, reduce projection errors, and achieve cleaner results without relying entirely on external modeling tools. For 3D artists working on game assets, props, and detailed environments, greater control over baking means a smoother workflow and more time to focus on the creative details that matter. Small workflow improvements can make a big difference in production, especially when precision and consistency are essential. Discover what's new in Substance 3D Painter 12.2 and how the update could improve your texturing pipeline. Read More: 80.lv/articles/substance-3d-… #Substance3DPainter #AdobeSubstance3D #3DArt #Texturing #GameArt #3DModeling #DigitalArt

How do hardware companies like Arm collaborate with game developers to push gaming technology forward? In a new Game Developer Podcast episode, Peter Hodges, Arm’s director of ecosystem strategy for developer platforms, discusses how close collaboration between toolmakers and developers helps optimize performance and improve game development workflows. The conversation explores Arm Neural Technology and how mobile developers can accelerate lighting workflows and support more lights using tools such as Unreal Engine’s MegaLights. It’s a look at how hardware innovation, software tools, and developer feedback come together to unlock new possibilities for real-time graphics, mobile gaming, and more efficient production pipelines. The episode also touches on the creative side of technology, including the short film Lemon from 1969. Discover how toolmakers and game developers work together to shape the future of interactive experiences. Read More: gamedeveloper.com/art/how-to… #GameDevelopment #Arm #UnrealEngine #MobileGaming #RealTimeRendering #GameTech

How is AI changing the value of artists in the creative industry? Ingi Erlingsson, co-founder of Golden Wolf and founder of SYSTMS, explores how AI is reshaping animation, motion design, and the business of creative studios. As AI makes production faster and execution more accessible, the real differentiators may be an artist's taste, storytelling, creative intent, and ability to direct the process. The conversation also tackles creative control, ethical AI training, and what these changes mean for artists' livelihoods. In a world where technology can generate more in less time, what makes human creativity truly valuable? The answer may lie not just in making the work, but in knowing what is worth creating. Read More: schoolofmotion.com/blog/ingi… #ArtificialIntelligence #AIArt #MotionDesign #Animation #CreativeIndustry #DigitalArt #FutureOfWork

Plasticity 2026.2 is here, bringing powerful new features to hard-surface modeling and 3D design workflows. The latest update introduces a new Assets system for creating and sharing reusable component libraries, making repetitive modeling tasks more efficient. Artists also get a Curvature Analysis shader to identify surface imperfections, improved alignment tools, and enhanced snapping and viewport controls. For Studio users, the new surfacing constraints system helps maintain continuity between connected curves and surfaces during edits, offering greater control over complex geometry. Additional improvements include better PolySpline editing, expanded file import support, and workflow refinements designed to make modeling smoother and more precise. Whether you're creating product designs, mechanical components, or detailed concept art, Plasticity 2026.2 delivers useful tools to help streamline your creative process. Read More: cgchannel.com/2026/10/plasti… #Plasticity #3DModeling #3DDesign #HardSurfaceModeling #CAD #DigitalArt #3DArtists

AI is reshaping the world of 3D animation and filmmaking, opening new possibilities for creators at every level. From generating 3D assets and building digital environments to accelerating previsualization and character development, AI is helping artists bring ideas to life faster. But technology alone doesn't make a great film. Artistic vision, storytelling, and human expertise remain essential to creating compelling characters and unforgettable worlds. As AI tools continue to evolve, filmmakers face exciting opportunities alongside important questions about creative ownership, production quality, and the future of artistic work. How can creators embrace these tools while preserving the craft that makes filmmaking unique? Explore how AI is transforming 3D animation and what it could mean for the future of cinema. Read More: filmthreat.com/features/how-… #AI #3DAnimation #Filmmaking #VFX #CGI #DigitalArt #FutureOfFilm

Ready to level up your game development skills? Explore Unreal Engine 5 with a bundle featuring over 24 courses designed to help you build your skills and bring your creative ideas to life. Whether you're just starting out or looking to sharpen your existing workflow, this learning opportunity offers a chance to dive deeper into modern game development, explore powerful tools, and expand your technical and artistic capabilities. From mastering essential techniques to developing more ambitious projects, investing in your skills can help turn your game development goals into reality. Discover the bundle, explore the available courses, and find the resources that fit your learning journey. Start building smarter, creating better, and taking your Unreal Engine 5 projects to the next level. Read More: 80.lv/articles/learn-unreal-… #UnrealEngine5 #GameDevelopment #GameDev #IndieDev #3DArt #LearnGameDev

Ready to take your Unreal Engine skills to the next level? Epic Games is introducing the UEFN Professional Bootcamp, a learning opportunity designed to help creators strengthen their technical skills and prepare for the future of real-time development. The program focuses on Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN), offering creators a chance to deepen their understanding of professional workflows, interactive experiences, and the tools used to build immersive digital worlds. The free online bootcamp is aimed at experienced game industry professionals, including artists, programmers, technical artists, designers, and producers. Participants will receive expert guidance, develop gameplay using Verse, and build and publish a playable Fortnite island to strengthen their professional portfolios. Training runs November 30–December 4, 2026, followed by two weeks of independent project development. Applications close November 6, 2026. With Epic bringing Unreal Engine and UEFN together in Unreal Engine 6, this bootcamp offers a practical way to explore emerging workflows and prepare for the next generation of game development. Read More: unrealengine.com/news/uefn-p… #UnrealEngine #UEFN #UE6 #GameDev #Verse #EpicGames #GameDevelopment #IndieDev

Some of the most impressive visual effects are the ones you never notice. In Mother Mary, BeloFX showcases the art of invisible VFX, demonstrating how subtle digital enhancements can support a film’s atmosphere without distracting audiences from the story. From seamless cleanup and environmental adjustments to carefully integrated compositing work, invisible effects help filmmakers maintain visual continuity while preserving the authenticity of each shot. Every detail matters, especially when the goal is to make complex technical work appear completely natural. BeloFX’s work highlights the collaboration between visual effects artists and filmmakers, showing how precision, restraint, and attention to detail can make a significant difference on screen. For compositors, VFX supervisors, and aspiring artists, this breakdown offers a valuable look at the craftsmanship behind effects that blend effortlessly into live-action footage. Discover the hidden artistry behind Mother Mary and see why invisible VFX remains an essential part of modern filmmaking. Read More: artofvfx.com/mother-mary-the… #MotherMary #BeloFX #VFX #VisualEffects #Compositing #Filmmaking #CGI #VFXBreakdown

Maxon has released Redshift 2027.0, bringing significant performance improvements and powerful new rendering features to 3D artists, motion designers, and VFX professionals! One of the biggest additions is a new procedural Fur system that generates realistic fur, fibers, woven textiles, and knitted materials directly at render time. Artists can create detailed surface effects without managing heavy, specialized geometry assets. The update also introduces a redesigned GPU memory architecture, improving resource allocation and memory sharing across GPUs. Multi-GPU systems can now load scenes in parallel, helping artists work more efficiently with complex projects. Redshift for Cinema 4D receives major viewport IPR responsiveness improvements, while Redshift Live gains faster shader compilation, refraction, transparent shadows, and ray-traced depth of field. Additional highlights include NVIDIA RTX Spark support, ACES 2 integration, and expanded compatibility with Houdini 22, Maya, 3ds Max, and Archicad. Ready to upgrade your rendering workflow? Read More: cgchannel.com/2026/10/maxon-… #Redshift #Maxon #3DRendering #VFX #CGI #Cinema4D #3DArt #Rendering

Want to speed up your texturing workflow between Substance 3D Painter and Unreal Engine 5? Meet TexBridge, a tool from Moss3D designed to eliminate repetitive tasks and make texture transfers faster and easier. Instead of manually exporting maps, reimporting textures, and rebuilding material connections, TexBridge automates the process with a simple “Export + Send” workflow. It exports your textures, imports them into Unreal Engine, creates Material Instances for each texture set, and can assign them directly to selected Static Meshes. The tool also handles important technical details, including texture compression, sRGB settings, and OpenGL-to-DirectX normal map conversion. You can even save and share export settings and material mappings as reusable profiles. Compatible with Substance 3D Painter 8.3+ and Unreal Engine 5 on Windows, TexBridge connects through Unreal’s built-in Python Remote Execution, requiring no separate Unreal plugin. A practical workflow upgrade for environment artists and game developers! Read More: 80.lv/articles/this-tool-spe… #Substance3DPainter #UnrealEngine5 #GameDev #3DArt #Texturing #Moss3D #GameDevelopment

Netflix is laying off approximately 1,000 employees, and its animation division is feeling the impact. According to Cartoon Brew, Aaron Davidson, manager of adult animation comedy, and Dan Evans, manager of original animation, are among those losing their jobs in the latest company-wide restructuring. The cuts affect roughly 6% of Netflix’s workforce, marking the company’s largest round of layoffs since 2022. While most reductions reportedly target product, technology, legal, and human resources teams, the full impact on animation production staff remains unclear. The news comes despite Netflix reporting $45.2 billion in revenue and $11 billion in net income for 2025, raising fresh questions about corporate priorities, industry stability, and the future of animation careers. As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, uncertainty remains for the artists and professionals who bring stories to life. Read More: cartoonbrew.com/artist-right… #Netflix #Animation #AnimationIndustry #Layoffs #EntertainmentIndustry #CartoonBrew #CreativeIndustry

Epic Games’ Fab marketplace is expanding with two major additions for game developers: asset bundles and Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) source assets! Bundles let creators purchase curated collections of related digital assets in a single transaction, with potential savings compared to buying items individually. Every included product is added to your Fab library, making it easier to build a comprehensive asset collection for your next project. The bigger game-changer for Fortnite creators is UEFN source assets. These fully editable systems include AI and NPC behaviors, vehicles, weapons, UI, and environments, many built using Verse and Scene Graph. Unlike reference files, they open directly in UEFN, allowing developers to customize existing systems instead of rebuilding everything from scratch. Epic is also offering a free starter kit to help creators explore the new asset category. Could these additions speed up your next game development project? Read More: fab.com/o/news/introducing-b… #Fab #UEFN #UnrealEngine #Fortnite #GameDev #IndieGameDev #EpicGames

How do you bring Appa, the beloved flying bison, to life in live-action? Framestore takes us behind the scenes of its creature work for Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2, revealing the artistry and technical expertise behind one of the series’ most recognizable characters. From detailed digital modeling and expressive animation to realistic fur, lighting, and seamless compositing, creating Appa requires a careful balance between visual fidelity and emotional performance. Every movement must feel believable while preserving the gentle personality that made the character a fan favorite. The breakdown offers a closer look at how visual effects artists combine sophisticated CG techniques with cinematic storytelling to make a fantastical creature feel tangible and alive. For creature artists, animation enthusiasts, and VFX professionals, this is an exciting opportunity to explore the craft behind a complex digital character. Discover how Framestore makes Appa soar! Read More: beforesandafters.com/2026/10… #VFX #Framestore #AvatarTheLastAirbender #CreatureFX #CGI #Animation #VisualEffects #Netflix

Maxon has released Cinema 4D 2027.0, bringing powerful new tools to 3D artists, motion designers, and VFX professionals! The headline feature is a brand-new procedural Scatter System, making it easier to populate expansive environments with vegetation, rocks, debris, and crowds. Integrated with MoGraph, the Scatter Generator and Scatter Tag offer greater control over distribution, clustering, and object variations. The update also introduces Liquid FX, which automatically generates foam, spray, and bubbles from existing liquid simulations, adding realism to splashes, pours, and waterfalls without complex secondary setups. Artists can now build custom Fields and Effectors visually using Scene Nodes, while expanded CAD import support streamlines architectural visualization and product design workflows. Cinema 4D 2027.0 also ships with Redshift 2027.0, bringing further rendering improvements and new creative capabilities. Ready to upgrade your 3D workflow? Explore the latest features and see what's possible with Cinema 4D 2027.0! Read More: cgchannel.com/2026/10/maxon-… #Cinema4D #Maxon #3DArt #MotionGraphics #VFX #CGI #3DAnimation #Redshift