The main new feature in Mari 7.1 is the 2D Paint mode, which enables users to create or edit 2D images without needing to open external software like Photoshop. Suggested uses include cloning defects in source images and creating custom labels or grunge maps. This mode integrates with Mari's core 3D painting toolkit, including the paint buffer, node graph, and layer stack. Accessible via a new 2D panel adjacent to the orthographic view, it allows seamless switching between 3D and 2D workflows.
Users can export node graphs in the 2D mode to disk in the new .mrimg format. Additionally, a new Image Write node has been introduced for use in 2D mode, equivalent to the existing Bake Point node for 3D workflows. This node enables 2D images to be loaded into the image manager and updated automatically upon reloading.
Other key changes in Mari 7.1 include the introduction of a new Switch node. This feature allows artists to create multiple texture variations—such as clean and dirty states—by selecting which parts of the node graph to display and toggling between them via a UI switch.
The update also brings workflow enhancements to the node graph, such as the ability to click anywhere on a backdrop node to select all nodes contained within that area. Additionally, users can now save parts of a node graph as a reusable asset, bundling the network and any source images into a single node package. Other improvements include the option to select frequently used colors from a swatch palette when creating new paint nodes, with users also being able to add custom swatches.
Additionally, the existing custom procedural system in Mari has been renamed to Smart Masks, “to help users better visualize how they might want to use procedural groups in their projects.” This terminology aligns with that used in Adobe's 3D painting software, Substance 3D Painter. The update also introduces a Grunge Shelf with pre-made smart masks designed by Stuart Ainslie, a lead texture artist at Digital Domain.
Although Mari 7.1 adheres to the CY2023 specification for the VFX Reference Platform, remaining two versions behind the latest specification, several third-party libraries have been updated. A full list of these updates can be found here.
Mari 7.1 is compatible with Windows 10 and later, as well as Rocky Linux/RHEL 9. The software is available only via subscription. Individual subscriptions are priced at $86 per month or $689 per year, while team subscriptions cost $1,169 annually.