Welcome back to 3D News, the newsletter for digital artists. Every week, I handpick the best links to ensure you stay ahead in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

OpenAI's Sora: Now Available

Sora, OpenAI's video generation model, has launched as a standalone product. Users can now create videos in up to 1080p resolution and 20 seconds in length, utilising advanced features such as storyboard tools and the ability to remix and blend assets. However, due to European regulations, Sora is currently unavailable in Europe. I would love to see what you create if you have access.

Find out more: sora.com

The State of 3D Tools in ArchViz: Key Trends and Insights

Rebus shared a comprehensive review of 3D modeling, rendering, and post-production tools, highlighting the evolving preferences of the ArchViz community. 3ds Max, Corona Renderer, and Photoshop remain the dominant tools, while newcomers like Blender and Luminar are gaining traction. GPU rendering shows growth but hasn’t entirely displaced CPU-based methods, and Photoshop continues to lead in post-production, despite growing competition from alternatives like Affinity Photo and DaVinci Resolve.

Key Takeaways:

3D Modeling: 3ds Max leads with 59% usage, followed by SketchUp (13%) and a growing Blender (8%). BIM-focused tools like Revit and Archicad are steady at 4%.
Rendering Engines: Corona Renderer grows to 43%, while V-Ray drops to 26%. GPU-driven engines like Unreal Engine and D5 Render are slowly increasing in adoption.
Post-Production: Photoshop dominates at 68%, but alternatives like Luminar (8%) and Affinity Photo (5%) offer competitive features.