End of Year Thank You

The State of Play

Let's be honest - 2025 has been wild. The 3D industry is experiencing seismic shifts thanks to AI, and it's fundamentally challenging what it means to be a 3D artist. 

Didn't we all get into this creative industry so we could say "I made that"? If you had a talent as a youngster, being praised for being good at drawing or making things - that's a great feeling. And it doesn't disappear in adulthood. It's part of you.

AI allows us to express our vision, and as long as we have a vision and an eye that can tell the difference between good and bad, we still have a place. But this is fundamentally challenging to the idea of what an artist is. It's uncomfortable, especially if you're further into your career.

Right now, it feels like the Wild West. Artists are scrambling to adapt, while demand for imagery keeps growing - but paradoxically, each image feels more disposable than ever. 

I'm writing this from the point of view of having been a 3D artist myself, and yes, the future is full of opportunity too - for some, but maybe not all of us. Some artists are busier than ever, and some have had their worst year ever.

We're In This Together

Whether you're building the tools or using them, we're all navigating the same storm. The changes affecting you affect us too. We'll do our best to support you through whatever 2026 brings.

We're Listening - Really Listening

2025 has been our most customer-focused year yet. We've spent more time than ever engaging with you, understanding your workflows, and hearing what you need.

The result? We now have the longest roadmap and feature backlog in our history. We've never lacked ideas or innovation - but now we're prioritizing based on what actually matters to you.

Your Feedback: HDR Light Studio as Your Competitive Edge

Here's what's kept us going: hearing from artists who tell us that in these uncertain times, HDR Light Studio has become more valuable than ever. It helps you power through lighting setups, maintain quality, and stay competitive when everything else feels chaotic. That feedback means the world to us.

What's Coming in 2026

We're doubling down on engagement. Our focus is on bringing features that genuinely make a difference to your daily work - even if that means a collection of small tweaks that add up to something significant. Sometimes it's the little annoyances in software that slow you down the most. We want to fix those.

Got feedback or feature requests? Reach out to Paul Denhard. He'll set up a meeting so we can chat and understand your needs properly.

Thank You

To everyone who supported HDR Light Studio in 2025:

• Those working with Sarah Bacon on customer stories
• Those meeting with Paul Denhard and me to discuss workflows and features
• Our partners supporting plugin integrations
• Every customer who bought a license
• Our resellers around the world

Thank you!

Here's to 2026 - we're excited to work with you all.

Best regards,

Mark Segasby
Co-founder - Lightmap