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3D animation and rendering tool gets new modelling, deformation and task-automation features. $199 add-on NPR Kit 2 included for free.

Material-authoring software gets USD import and export, new nodes to create and render 3D textures.

Scene layout and rendering app gets new Project materials panel, real-time environment shadows.

'Really real-time' renderer gets new non-photorealistic rendering toolset, SSGI and multi-materials.

Set of After Effects motion graphics plugins now runs on M1 Macs. Particular gets intial support for Layer Maps.

Online library of effects for editing and compositing apps gets Box Bokeh, ChromaTown and Sketchify tools, plus new Stretch transition.

Suite of After Effects plugins for common visual effects tasks gets new physically based lens flare generation tool Real Lens Flares.

Maxon's colour correction tools for After Effects and Premiere Pro gets initial OCIO support, two new tools for creating light hazes in Looks.

Get the free library of 3D parts like screws, buttons and pipes for kitbashing mechanical models.

Free update to the modelling and retopology toolset reworks the user interface for use with pen devices.

Major update to the GPU renderer adds support for CPU and hybrid rendering. Support for AMD GPUs on Windows and Linux to come.

Check out the new AI-based and AR features in the iPad edition of the architectural sketching app.

Major compatibility-breaking update to the remote shot review tool adds layers system and support for OCIO 2 and OTIO.

No changes to the digital sculpting and painting app beyond a new Linux installer, but the price of annual subscriptions is up again.

Check out the workflow improvements in the new version of the character animation software.

Get free FX elements simulated in EmberGen in CC0 format, including this seamlessly loopable tornado.

New Gnomon Workshop video reveals how to learn from method actors to improve your animation.

Physics-based animation software gets Constraints system for weapons, plus new Node Editor and Python API for technical artists.

Compositing and editorial tools get support for NDI, OpenTimelineIO and new machine learning features.

See the month's best real-time 3D models, from cute creatures to downloadable cars and trains.