Blender developers have implemented runtime evaluation and socket and node value inspection in the compositor, along with fixes for Copy-Paste and improvements in asset list generation. In Cycles, the texture limit simplification option has been restored, and blur passes for reflections, depth, and albedo have been added, in addition to updating OSL GPU services to version 1.15, according to the meeting on May 18, 2026.
New debugging tools in the compositor and optical passes in Cycles 🛠️
Runtime evaluation allows users to identify bottlenecks in real-time within the compositor, while socket and node inspection makes it easier to track specific values without manual exporting. Copy-Paste fixes eliminate bugs when duplicating complex configurations, and asset list generation is optimized for large libraries. In Cycles, the new blur passes for reflections, depth, and albedo expand control over the final composition, and the update to OSL 1.15 improves compatibility with recent hardware.
The compositor now tells you how long it takes to make coffee ☕
Finally, Blender implements a timer in the compositor so you know exactly how much time you waste adjusting nodes that you later delete. Socket inspection will let you see values you already knew were wrong, but now with forensic evidence. And best of all: they've fixed Copy-Paste, just when you had already memorized the key combination to do it manually. The blur passes in Cycles promise to make your renders look blurry in a professional way, not just because you forgot the camera.