Blackmagic Design has released a free version of compositing, visual effects and motion graphics toolset Fusion.

The announcement comes just two months after Blackmagic acquired Eyeon, the developer of the software.

Blackmagic said the free-to-download Fusion 7 includes “almost all” of the features found in the Studio version of the software, apart from plugins, multi user, multi-processing and stereoscopic functionality.

“Visual effects software has been expensive for way too long and it’s time that this changed,” said Blackmagic chief executive Grant Petty.

“Consumers are screaming for more exciting movies and television programmes and so we need to do everything we can to help our customers create stunning visual effects.

“Now, with the free version of Fusion, everyone from individual artists to the biggest studios can create Hollywood-calibre visual effects and motion graphics.

“When combined with DaVinci Resolve Lite, customers can get the world’s most advanced tools for editing, grading, 3D compositing, visual effects and motion graphics, all absolutely free.”

Blackmagic released a free “Lite” version of grading software DaVinci Resolve in 2011.

Fusion 7 Studio, which includes support for third-party OpenFX plugins, unlimited distributed network rendering, and the Generation collaboration tool for working on larger projects is priced at $995 (£625).

The Studio version of the software also includes optical flow image analysis tools for stereoscopic 3D work, retiming and stabilisation.

Prior to Blackmagic’s acquisition of Eyeon, Generation was priced at $995 while a single render node cost $495.

Fusion 7 is available for download from the Blackmagic website, while Fusion 7 Studio will be sold via resellers.

Existing Fusion 7 customers, and customers on a current Fusion support plan, can upgrade to Fusion Studio for free.