Foundry’s Nuke 16.0 is a big deal for compositing. It brings some really useful tools for the CGI and Visual Effects artists, especially when they are dealing with complex sequences. These new features of Nuke focuses on making VFX workflows faster and more flexible, which is great for handling big visual effects projects.
Foundry regularly takes feedback from small and big studios and uses it enhance Nuke software. Such streamlined system make collaboration smoother and give artists the strong tools they need to handle tough sequences in big movies, TV shows, and immersive media.
Let’s breakdown the major updates one by one.
1. Multishot compositing made easy
One of the coolest features in Nuke 16.0 is its variable-enabled multishot workflow. This means artists can now manage many shots at once in a single script. They use ‘Graph Scope Variables (GSVs)‘ to define parameters like camera angles or lighting across multiple shots. It’s really helpful for projects where consistency is key, like in big franchises or web series episodic content. VariableGroup and VariableSwitch nodes enable dynamic ‘split-and-join’ workflows, where adjustments to one variable automatically works for all linked shots. It significantly reducing repetitive tasks.
The introduction of a dedicated Variables Panel further simplifies variable management. Thus, providing a centralized interface to override parameters per shot or sequence. As per estimate, it can increase the workflow of repetitious tasks up to 30-40%.
For example, if you’re working on a series with many episodes, you can easily keep the same look and feel across all of them. This saves a lot of time because you don’t have to do the same adjustments over and over again for each shot. Early users have seen a big reduction in the time it takes to finish complex sequences.
In a nut shell, it is a bigger and better version of LUTs (Look Up Tables).
2. Speeding up the review and approval pipeline
Nuke 16.0 also makes reviewing and approving shots much faster. The Contact Sheet view in HieroPlayer gives you a quick look at all shots in a sequence. You can easily scroll through thumbnails and mark any issues without having to switch between different views. Plus, with multi-channel soft effects in Nuke Studio, you can apply temporary color grades or depth-of-field adjustments right during reviews. This ensures that feedback is clear and actionable.
The Sync Review tool is another great feature. It lets teams work together in real-time, even if they are in different locations. It makes remote work easy and hassle free. Artists can annotate frames, draw over shots, and sync feedback instantly.
For delivery, the Quick Export system automates rendering and format conversions, which saves a lot of time when generating client-reviewed cuts. You get multiple formats and codecs to play with. So, you can do render for various mediums. Overall, these are beneficial for streaming series like Loki, Stranger Things, WandaVision and more.
3. Enhanced artist tools
New features of Nuke 16 also includes some big upgrades to core artist tools. The Roto Node now handles large projects much better, thanks to optimized caching and GPU-accelerated motion blur rendering. This means artists working on complex animations or environmental masks can enjoy smoother playback and faster shape adjustments, even in high resolutions like 8K. This is a great ease.
Linked Nodes are another useful feature. They let artists propagate changes across multiple instances without having to manage redundant node trees. This keeps the script clean and easy to read for teams.
4. BlinkScript and USD 3D system
BlinkScript, which is used for custom script development, has also been updated. It now includes syntax highlighting, a debugger, and auto-complete shortcuts. These changes make it easier for artists to create their own effects, like procedural textures or AI-assisted denoising tools.
USD stands for Universal Scene Description.
The USD-based 3D system, which is still in beta, is getting closer to full release. It offers tighter integration with industry-standard pipelines. New nodes like GeoConstrain and ScanlineRender2 give artists more control over USD assets, while a revamped UI simplifies snap alignment and primitive transformations. This system is going to be really helpful for studios that use USD in their pipeline and workflow, especially those working with big companies like Pixar or Disney.
Details of Nuke 16.0 breakdown online YouTube event
Date: 16th April, Wednesday, 2025
Time: 9.30 to 11.30 pm IST (Please convert in to your time zone)
Live link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKRDBl94ke0
Trainers from Foundry Nuke team:
- Juan Salazar, Director of Product (Compositing and Finishing)
- Will Harris, Senior Product Manager (Nuke Timeline Tools)
- Chris Wetherly, Senior Product Manager (Nuke)
- Anais Torreblanca, Product Manager (Nuke)
- Chloe Broadbent, Product Manager (Compositing and Finishing)
- Ale Esquerro, Product Manager (Nuke)
Feel free to ask them your other technical questions, apart from the new features of Nuke 16.