This week, we cover DaVinci Resolve 21 Beta 4’s new Fusion tools, Frame.io’s streamlined SDKs, and the impressive VFX behind Ted Season 2. Plus, check out the HOVERAir AQUA drone and Boris FX’s AI tools now!
DaVinci Resolve 21 Beta 4
Last week Blackmagic dropped DaVinci Resolve 21 beta 4. Before you update, hear me out. If you open a project in this beta (21.0b4), you can’t open it in 20.3.2 again. Please back up your project library first to stay safe.
Fusion fans get a win with keyframe editor support for motion paths and other modifiers.. It makes animating much smoother on the edit page. They also polished the AI tools. Blemish removal and CineFocus look better and more natural now. It’s a solid stability boost.
This update fixes highlight issues for Canon and Fuji cameras too. Plus, you get support for Insta360 and newer Final Cut files. It feels faster and more reliable, but remember to save your work before you switch!
New Tools for Frame.io Developers
Frame.io just made it much easier for developers to build custom tools. They updated the Python and TypeScript SDKs. Now, things like uploading massive files or logging in don’t require writing custom code from scratch.
This is great for teams using automation for ingest. You can now upload large media with just two lines of code. It handles messy networks and retries for you, which saves a ton of time on the technical side.
Soft Fur and Pure Chaos Ted Season 2
Framestore just shared a look at their work on Ted Season 2. Their teams in Melbourne and Mumbai really nailed it. Seeing how they blend a foul-mouthed teddy bear into real scenes is always a treat.
New Tools: The HOVERAir AQUA
The HOVERAir AQUA is finally shipping globally. This little drone is a big deal for anyone filming near the water. It’s fully waterproof and even floats if it lands in the lake or ocean.
It handles high winds and flies fast. You don’t need a remote because it follows you using smart tracking. This is perfect for solo creators doing water sports like kayaking or surfing.
The specs are impressive for the size. It shoots 4K at 100 frames per second. That high frame rate is a dream for us in post. It makes creating smooth slow-motion in Resolve a breeze.
Staying Sharp with New VFX Tools
I love staying on top of the latest industry tools/updates. Boris FX just released a tour of Silhouette 2026, and it’s packed with massive updates for roto and tracking.
The video shows off new AI-powered tracking that doesn’t get lost when objects move off-screen. They also have a way to paint in low-res and apply it to 4K files later. It’s a huge time-saver for any cleanup work.
You should definitely give this a watch. It’s not just about flashy effects; it’s about making the hardest parts of VFX much easier. I really hope we see some of this in Fusion soon. A one-button click to unwrap surfaces would be a massive help for workflows. Keeping an eye on these updates helps us see exactly where the industry is headed.
Keep creating, stay curious, and never stop pushing your creative boundaries!
Stay creative,
Justin R.