AutoDesk Released Flame 2026. Should You Upgrade?
Autodesk has released its annual upgrade to Flame, its compositing, finishing and effects software. As with previous releases, there are some new features, some discontinued features, and some improvements to existing ones.
Here’s a quick rundown:
New Type Tool: Autodesk has replaced its Text tool with a Type tool for on-screen text and titles, offering better integration with Batch, Batch FX and Timeline. Other new features include a revamped font workflow, improved kerning, and a redesigned Font widget.
OpenColorIO (OCIO) for Color Management: Autodesk has replaced the SynColor system with support for the open-source OpenColorIO color management framework. OCIO supports scene-referred and display-referred workflows as well as integration with Maya, 3ds Max, RV, VRED, After Effects, Blender and others. OCIO is backwards compatible, albeit with limited functionality.
AI-Based Video Upscaling: Flame 2026’s new machine learning upscaling system allows for increased resolution via Media Export, Resize & Crop, and Write File nodes. The new feature can double, triple, or quadruple the resolution of clips. Two caveats are that it is limited to Rocky Linux distros, and can only work with clips with a resolution of 1920x1080 or lower when using GPU processing.
Goodbye to Lustre: Autodesk has phased out Lustre, its color grading tool, after its 2025 version.
Flame 2026, Flare 2026 and Flame Assist 2026 is available for rental only at $640/month, or $5045/year and is only available on systems running Rocky Linux 8.10/9.3/9.5 and macOS 13.0+.
Should you upgrade?
As with any major update, especially to a flagship application, our advice is to wait until compatibility with your company’s existing software and workflow has been fully tested and confirmed. Autodesk has a good history of providing user-requested enhancements with each new version, but any company that relies on the Flame family of applications for mission-critical projects runs the risk of disruption by upgrading too soon.
Wondering when to upgrade? Not sure about some of the new features? Nodal can help! Contact us today.