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.

Corona 12 Update 1

Corona Renderer 12 Update 1 is here, packed with features to improve collaboration and rendering workflows. Notable updates include Live Link to Chaos Vantage, Chaos Cloud Collaboration, enhanced caustics with volumetric support, auto exposure adjustments, and faster test rendering with image upscaling.

Key Features:

Vantage Live Link: Interactive rendering alternative for seamless viewport previews.
Chaos Cloud Collaboration: Share images directly from the VFB with markup tools for efficient client communication.
Enhanced Caustics: Improved visuals and control for surface and volumetric caustics.
Auto Exposure & White Balance: Dynamic adjustments for better lighting accuracy.
Image Upscaling: Accelerate test renders by up to 4x.

📹 Watch the video: Corona 12, update 1 | New features walkthrough

If you're a 3d artist and not on Coffee Hour you are doing yourself a disservice

This week’s Coffee Hour brought some of the best insights yet for 3D artists, tackling portfolio strategies, payment practices, AI tools, and rendering techniques. If you missed it, the replay is available in the Classroom tab.

Key Highlights:

Portfolio vs. Client Work: Learn Martin Crehan’s "3 Fs" (Fame, Fortune, Fun) framework to balance creative and practical projects.
Secure Payment Strategies: Ensure upfront payments and protect your work with watermarked drafts.
AI in 3D: Discover tools like Meshy to speed up asset creation.
Motion Blur & Rendering: Tips for realistic motion blur and why Corona is a go-to for architectural rendering.
Workflow Tools: Explore free Photoshop alternatives like Photopea and must-have plugins for better productivity.

Thanks to @Vanja Milojevic @Amit Gedia @Rafael Artigas @Richie Little @Thomas Verdon @Cary N and @Martin Crehan for sharing your valuable insights.

⌚ Watch the replay for all the actionable insights and tools shared!

P.S 🙁 There will be no Coffee Hour next week.

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Creating Procedural Vines in 3ds Max

Paul Neale’s latest tutorial demonstrates how to create procedural vines that dynamically grow and conform to objects, offering a detailed, no-plugins-needed method for generating natural, flowing vegetation.

Learn more: 3ds Max Procedural Vines