So here’s a comeback story you probably didn’t see coming: DJV 3.0 is out after five whole years.
If you’ve ever worked in VFX or animation and needed a lightweight, open-source image sequence player, DJV was probably one of those tools you heard about but maybe never tried.
Wait… what’s DJV again?
DJV is like RV or OpenRV tools we use to check image sequences, playback shots, do A/B comparisons, check color, etc. It’s a solid, no-nonsense viewer that’s now been rebuilt from the ground up by Darby Johnston (yeah, the ex-Lucasfilm guy), and it actually works really well.
Version 3.0 brings in OpenTimelineIO (OTIO) support, which means you can load timelines built in editorial tools. It also now kinda supports USD
yep, Universal Scene Description files. You can preview them through Hydra, which turns them into image sequences on the fly. It’s labeled experimental for now, but still
pretty cool for a free app.
Why I’m into it
Honestly? It just works. I don’t need licenses or subscriptions, and it plays back hi-res sequences with color accuracy (OCIO is baked in), audio sync, and even A/B comp modes like wipe, overlay, tile, etc. It doesn’t try to do everything, but what it does do, it nails. It feels clean, fast, and simple exactly what you want when you’re mid-review and the client is already asking for version 14.
Why I’m into it
Honestly? It just works. I don’t need licenses or subscriptions, and it plays back hi-res sequences with color accuracy (OCIO is baked in), audio sync, and even A/B comp modes like wipe, overlay, tile, etc.
But yeah, it’s not perfect
USD support is still early, and codec support is a bit limited unless you compile it with full FFmpeg yourself. Also, don’t expect the UI to hold your hand it’s still very utilitarian.
If you’re a total beginner, it might not be the most “friendly” viewer out there. But if you’re in post or animation, you’ll likely appreciate the straightforwardness.
What do you think?
Is there still a place for tools like DJV in the age of cloud dailies and integrated review platforms? Or is this just nostalgia for old-school tools that “just work”? Try it out (it’s free and open-source), and let me know if it earned a spot in your pipeline.
DJV 3.0 download: https://darbyjohnston.github.io/DJV 👈
