What's New in Nuke, Nuke Studio, and Hiero 15.2

Multishot

  • We have developed a native variable-enabled workflow that supports Multishot compositing, adding ways to make workflows more efficient, reliable and scalable.

    Note:  See Working with Variables.

    Graph Scope Variables

    • Graph Scope Variables (GSVs) are the backbone that enables a native Multishot compositing workflow in Nuke. GSVs allow you to define, store and access the data required for multiple contexts or scopes in a single Nuke script.

      The workflow, however, becomes more powerful when combined with Group nodes. A Group node defines the “Scope” part of the Graph Scope Variables feature and introduces the ability to inherit and override variables.

    Note:  See Using Variables in a Multishot Context.

    Variable Nodes

    • We have added a new VariableSwitch node, to allow users to switch between different shots or scopes using variables. The new VariableSwitch node works similarly to the Switch node but enables you to create “split and join” workflows based on the variables set for your Multishot workflow.

      Note:  See VariableSwitch Node in a Multishot Context, VariableSwitch.

    • We have also added a new VariableGroup node, to allow users to define variables or scopes. This works similarly to the regular Group node, but for every new VariableGroup created, a corresponding VariableGroup item is created in the Variables tab in the Project Settings. Inside the VariableGroup node, the Variables tab contains a single GsvKnob, which allows the user to create, edit and remove variables and variable sets.

      • Note:  See Using the VariableGroup Node, VariableGroup.

    Variables Panel

    • To easily interact with the available Variables in a script, we have added a Variables Panel.

      To be able to switch between the different values, first set the Variables you wish to expose in the Variables tab in the Project Settings. Once the visibility is On (eye icon in the Variables tab) the Variable will appear in the Variable Panel.

      • Note:  See Configuring Visibility with the Variables Panel.

    GSV in LiveGroups

    • LiveGroups now allow the user to define local variables on the LiveGroup itself, much like the VariableGroup. On publish these variables are written into the LiveGroup .nk script and will be loaded as local variables for LiveGroup instances which use that same .nk script.

      • Note:  See Using Variables with LiveGroups.

    GSV Command Line Render

    • We have extended the command line interface to include support for specifying Graph Scope Variables so that scripts can be rendered using the correct shot context as shown below:

      ./Nuke16.0 --var <variable1>:<value1> -F <framerange> -X Write1 <path_to_your_nuke_script>

      If you wish to specify multiple Variables, you can do this using a “,” separated list as shown below:

      ./Nuke16.0 --var <variable1>:<value1>,<variable2>:<value2> -F <framerange> -X Write1 <path_to_your_nuke_script>

      As a sequence example you could use variables like the one below in your Write nodes:

      /project/%{seq}/%{shot}_key.####.exr

      And render using the next command line:

      ./Nuke16.0 --var seq:seq030,shot:Sh100 -F 1101-1105 -X Write1 <path_to_your_nuke_script>

      • Note:  See Specifying Variables for Command Line Render.

    GroupView

    • The new Group View feature gives artists a convenient way to see inside and edit the contents of multiple Group nodes, without having to jump to different tabs, making it faster and easier to adjust your comp in multiple different groups at the same time.
      Group nodes are also an integral part of the new multishot and Graph Scope Variables feature, providing a way to organise and manage multiple scopes, so being able to see inside those Groups from the main DAG is really useful in those workflows.

      • Note:  See Viewing Grouped Nodes with Group View.

    Link Nodes

    • We've introduced a brand new type of node: Link Nodes. Link nodes allow you to make a linked copy of a node, and have changes updated in both nodes, whilst optionally being able to override any of the knobs. UI indications show which knobs are overridden from the original node, and there's a link arrow between the nodes to show the original node and the new linked nodes.

      • Note:  See Using Link Nodes.

Roto Performance

  • We have made significant improvements to Roto's performance, targeting specific key workflow pain points: Caching, Playback, Interactivity, and Motion Blur.

Quick Export

  • A new way to perform compressed video file exports of sequences in Nuke Studio and Hiero.

    Based on Nuke Studios real time playback engine, the new render engine enables you to perform accelerated exports to ProRes, DNxHD, DNxHR, as well as H264 movies with an average 12 fold increase in performance relative to the existing export mechanism. This means you are likely to see multi-real time performance in most cases, depending on your source and destination formats.

    • Note:  See Exporting Sequences with Quick Export.