What is Griptape? AI orchestration in VFX

August 13, 2026

2 min read

AI is already helping to shape the future of VFX thanks to machine learning-powered tools like CopyCat and SmartRoto in Nuke, but what comes next? And how can studios keep pace with the speed of AI innovation? The answer is AI orchestration.

What is AI orchestration?

AI orchestration means connecting multiple AI models into repeatable workflows for faster and more consistent results within a single, unified system.

Along with smoother workflow management, AI orchestration means more efficiency, along with scalability, so that studios can support growing teams and increasingly complex projects. Griptape is the platform in which you can orchestrate AI models and agents in VFX.

What is Griptape?

Griptape is an AI workflow orchestration platform that enables VFX and animation studios to operate multiple AI models and agents within secure, professional workflows. Some features can be used in your work across other Foundry tools, such as Nuke with more integration coming soon. As an example, you can build workflows within Griptape that can be deployed as Nuke Gizmos, while you can also experiment with AI-assisted Nuke compositing for matte painting. With Mari, Griptape can be used to generate tileable textures and multi-channel maps, while in Katana, you can generate CEL Expressions instantly with Griptape.

Griptape allows for controlled access to rapidly evolving AI models, as well as balancing innovation with the strict security and traceability needs of major production environments.

Why use Griptape?

As a robust AI workflow orchestration platform, Griptape helps VFX and animation studios to adopt and integrate AI into their workflows. Griptape enables studios to evolve their pipelines to meet the changing needs of their clients, without compromising on creativity.

Griptape enables you to use proven workflows within existing pipelines, or customize and build your own with Python. It also provides full versioning and control for reliability and consistency.

What’s more, Griptape features a node-based UI that will be familiar to Nuke users, making integration and adoption as smooth as possible.

What makes Griptape different?

Unlike many free AI tools, Griptape is built specifically for the needs of studios and artists, for use across in-production projects. From enhanced levels of control and licensing deployment, to repeatable workflows across teams and projects, as well as familiar artist interfaces, and the ability to build custom workflows, Griptape makes it easy for teams across studios to optimise their workflows within a secure pipeline, without compromising on creativity.

What is Griptape Enterprise?

Griptape Enterprise is a tier of the Griptape platform, designed to meet the stringent control and security needs of high-end media production.

This Griptape update, which brings studio-controlled licensing and expanded project management features, enables studio pipeline supervisors to curate and assign exactly which models artists use, on an individual, or project basis. This means they can ensure that every workflow is fully vetted and compliant.

Studios have the option of running Griptape Enterprise within on-premises or private cloud infrastructure. This ensures the security of sensitive IP thanks to a range of uniquely strong control features, built for the needs of studios.

How much is Griptape?

Griptape Non-commercial is free to use and gives single users access for testing or non-commercial use. It features cloud-based licensing, and model credit is available on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Griptape Professional is priced at $40 per month or $400 per year for each user and offers commercial access for small teams, for up to three users. It includes 1,000 credits per month, the ability to Bring Your Own API keys for third-party models, plus cloud-based licensing.

Griptape Enterprise is available with a custom contract. Offering studio-level scalability with unlimited users, Griptape Enterprise features cloud-based or on-prem licensing, advanced user and permissions controls, and licenses for professional file formats. As well as the ability to Bring Your Own API keys, there’s a premium support and onboarding program, and additional model credit is available pay-as-you-go.

Watch our What is Griptape video: