This is a very general question and I'm just loking for opinions. My current version of Vue is Vue Infinite 2016. Since Vue switched to an annual licence model, I've dropped out of the upgrade cycle since it looked expensive and I wasn't initially convinced there was anything I was that bothered about in the newer versions anyway. To be honest, Infinite was an overspend even in 2016 as I'm only a hobbiest and I've never really been bothered about software interoperabilty with other packages (apart from Poser). I also get the feeling that a lot of the development focus since 2016 has been with users of Maya, Lighwave etc... in mind and not so much on the core functionality. So I've been quite happy with sticking with 2016, however, I noticed today that a black Friday deal cuts the cost of the annual licence a lot and the Creators edition is now priced at the kind of mark that makes me consider it again.

What I'd like to know is:-

(a) What are the goodies I've missed in core functionality (ignoring all the interop stuff, apart from Poser)? Is there anything there that is sexy enough to sell it to me?

(b) Can the creators edition it be run side by side with 2016? (I suspect it probably can, and I'm wary of abandoning 2016)

(c) Any other thoughts you have on the annual licencing model.

I'm hovering on the edge of this decision so interested to know what people think... 

I am exactly in the same situation, still using version 2016  of Vue infinitewith importimg from Poser and DAZStudio

Each time i receive an email with special price  (this week black friday) i hesitate One year ago i have installing a trial  and see yhat the difference for my experience was not enough

I'm not sure about running the old Vue 2016 and the latest subscription Vue side-by-side. It's a key un-answered question, that will be holding back many old users from even trying the trial for the subscription version. The FAQ has no answer.

The basic questions to ask yourself, assuming you're on Windows, are:

Q. Do I rely on many key Python 2 scripts in Vue? 

A: If yes, then stick with Subscription R4 and Python 2 (but you will loose .TER import). However, note there is "no Python scripting" for the new Creator subscription edition.

Q: Am I a movie studio guy who exports all the time to other software and renderers? 

A: Then get the latest Subscription R6.

Q: Do I know and use Substance / displacement a lot in Vue? 

A: If yes, then get the latest Subscription R6.

Q: Am I a big cloud-builder and fiddler, and also happy to wait ages for a render with a big fancy cloud-scape? 

A: If yes, you want the subscription Vue. If you just slap some clouds photo-stock onto the render in Photoshop and hit the blend-modes and the Soft Eraser, then no.

++

Ok, that said, here is my skim of the changelogs:-

February 2021 (subscription R6, current)

* Better compatibility with Cinema 4D, Maya, Lightwave, Arnold, Redshift and V-Ray, V-Ray Next renderers.

* Various improved export options.

* Export to USD and its variants, with Ominiverse profile.

* "The PathTracer now supports NPR" (sketchy rendering, lineart etc).

* SVG support for splines import.

* "Many content browsers now support multi-selection to load objects, plants, rocks, metaclouds, cloud layers".

* "Fixed DEM import dialog" (again).

August 2020 (R6 hotfix)

* "Massively reduced the memory usage during render, for EcoSystems using SolidGrowth species".

* Various Mac fixes.

June 2020 (subscription R5)

* "Displacement has been improved dramatically and offers three new subdivision strategies".

* "Avoid losing displacement whenever one adds a material layer".

* Better support for Substance materials.

* "Improved mesh smoothing algorithm performance (up to 4x faster), which also benefits to displacement mapping".

* "Optimized displacement mapping preparation when there is no subdivision (4.5 x faster)".

* Integrated de-noisers.

* "Path Tracer now supports semi-transparent and semi-reflective materials".

* "Further optimized rendering of billboards with the Path Tracer (patched for full CPU implementation)"

* "EcoSystems can now be hidden - set displayed instances to 0 in the VUE options (can be helpful in large scenes)".

* Reworked godray atmosphere scenes.

* "Terragen terrain file support is back".

* "Allow loading non-geo-located pictures as heightmap-based terrains".

* "Import real-world terrain texture data from two remote imagery servers: aerial data" (very low def outside the USA).

* Much wider support for various .TIF and .TIFF formats.

* Allow sharing the same PlantCatalog folder for both VUE and PlantFactory.

* Improved Python documentation.

* "Removed Python 2.7 ... in favor of Python 3.8" (presumably many old Python 2 scripts now no longer work from this version onward, then).

December 2019 (R4)

* "Automatically retrieve real world terrain data as heightmap or procedural terrains", into Vue.

* Importing a DEM file now offers the choice between creating a Procedural Terrain or a Heightfield.

* Cloud morphing introduced.

* Allow drag & drop from Atmosphere browser, and to the Vue scene from Windows.

* Reworked and optimized FBX import.

* Fixed transparency handing with MakeHuman figure imports.

* Supports latest MacOS at that time (Catalina).

August/September 2019 (R3 and 3.1)

* "Dropped support for the Terragen (*.TER) heightmap format" (was re-introduced in R5).

* Fixed broken Python function AddTerrainFromMap.

* "IceRings and Rainbow effects work in photometric mode".

* "Improved quality of OpenGL preview of atmosphere".

* "Created a button to hide downloadable content".

April 2019 (R2)

* "SkinVue fixed and added to VUE". (Important for Poser scene imports with prominent figures).

* EcoPainter now also has the ability to load native objects.

* Added the ability to copy/paste images in the material and function editors (from the popup menu).

* Fixed DEM import dialog.

February 2019 (1.0 06378)

* Fixed integrations with C4D, Lightwave, Maya etc.

* General post-release bugfixes.

December 2018 (Subscription 1.0)

* Standard metalness/roughness PBR and Substance support

* New way of making clouds (turn any 3D mesh into a volumetric cloud).

* UI redesign.

It appears no-one has tinkered with or removed the long-standing Poser scene import support.

No mention of big render-speed boosts, in any changelog.

Full technical notes are at: https://info.e-onsoftware.com/release-notes

martial implies (see above) that he has tried the Trial while still running the old 2016 version, and the Trial did not uninstall his 2016. I'd still want firmer confirmation of that, though, before trying the Trial and risking my Vue 2016.

Many thanks for these responses and the detailed information. Very helpful, especially the point about Python. I do use the SkinVue scripting utility and if there is no python 3 upgrade for that then I wouldn't want to move to a version that didn't support that. in terms of the other highlighted items, I've dabbled with displacement and might do so more if it has been improved. Can't say it's a wow factor improvement but, yes, it is interesting to me and counts as a mild plus. Ditto cloud improvements. I like playing with the clouds in Vue, so definitely some stuff that appeals to me in that list but whether it is worth the cost (and the risk of losing other things I am likely to use/need more) is still hard to say. I'll keep thinking!

Just noticed the "SkinVue fixed and added to VUE" in that list but it is before the python upgrade. I wonder if that means, because it has been incorporated into Vue it will be supported in python 3? However, I've also just noticed your important comment:- "However, note there is "no Python scripting" for the new Creator subscription edition." which suggests it won't work in Creator. That's a bit of a deal breaker for me as I'd say about 1 in 4 of my renders in Vue probably make use of SkinVue. At the moment I'm inclining towards passing on the upgrade. Can't really afford the next level up of licencing that would support python scripting.

All good points, thanks DMFW. So key questions for hobbyists are: 

1. Was SkinVue updated for Python 3 and the latest Vue, if it's now an integrated part of Vue?

2. Does the 'Creator' version somehow support SkinVue, even if it lacks the ability to load third-party Python scripts?