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Autodesk has released Arnold 7.3.0, Arnold 7.3.1, and MotionBuilder 2025, featuring improved noise distributions at low sample counts, extended MaterialX support, and a new USD plug-in for MotionBuilder.
Image Credits: Autodesk, Arnold
Followed by the release of Maya and 3ds Max 2025, Autodesk has presented a new version of Arnold in the form of two simultaneous updates, and a fresh release of MotionBuilder 2025, the biggest update for its 3D character animation software in quite some time.
MotionBuilder 2025 finally introduces USD support with a new plug-in, empowering animators to load a USD stage into the viewport and animate in context without having to import large scenes. Scripters can also interact with the stage via Python.
Image Credits: Autodesk, MotionBuilder
- You are now able to load an OpenUSD stage and display it, together with the MotionBuilder data
- Basic manipulation of the Stage Node is now available
- MotionBuilder supports and displays both textures and lights from USD data
- The OpenUSD API is available for accessing the stage objects through scripting
Alongside the added support of the USD plug-in, MotionBuilder 2025 also features various improvements to streamline workflows. For example, it's now possible to lock a Global/Take Time Mark on the timeline:
To do this, you can either double-click on the time mark which will open up the time mark dialog, or use the timeline contextual menu. When the time mark is locked, a new icon will show on the right side of the time mark.
Other improvements include new shortcut keys, a reworked method of editing multiple selected clips in Loop mode within the Story Tool, and new and updated Python sample scripts.
Image Credits: Autodesk, Arnold
As for Arnold, the biggest update is the support of dithered samples in progressive and adaptive rendering, bringing improved noise distributions at low AA sample counts. The image above showcases the rendering result with Arnold 7.3 compared to earlier versions.
Now, Arnold can render MaterialX node graphs by mixing Arnold nodes with MaterialX standard library nodes and features accurate light group AOVs with emissive surfaces in a "default" light group output only. Arnold 7.3 also breaks backward compatibility, meaning that shaders, procedurals, and other plug-ins compiled against older versions of Arnold will need to be updated and recompiled.
To that, Arnold 7.3.1 adds the updated OIDN denoiser which has "10% better performance on CPU, includes some critical bug fixes, and handles high-frequency details better", and the option to run NVIDIA's OptiX denoiser on low-resolution AA passes (renders with AA < 0), resulting in higher quality feedback as shown below:
Other changes include various USD enhancements, improved OCIO support, and API support for the viewport display of procedural curves.
Image Credits: Autodesk, Arnold
Check out the full list of new features in Arnold and MotionBuilder 2025 here and here. Don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our Telegram channel and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.