Graphite: when layers and nodes decide to get along
In the world of vector design, Graphite arrives to break the dilemma between "comfortable" and "powerful". This open source editor fuses the traditional layers interface with a procedural nodes engine (Graphene), allowing everything from basic illustration to advanced generative design workflows. The best part? It's completely free 🎨.
"Why choose between layers and nodes when you can have both and switch on the fly?" — Graphite's philosophy.
The best of both worlds
Graphite offers:
- Familiar layers interface for traditional drawing
- Graphene nodes system for advanced procedural control
- Real-time switching between both work modes
Export and compatibility
Perfect for creative pipelines:
- Export to SVG, PNG and JPG
- Editable demos to learn techniques
- Upcoming compatibility with raster and RAW video (in development)
Ambitious roadmap
The team plans to add:
- Native versions for Windows, macOS and Linux
- SDF rendering for scalable graphics
- Live compositing and video editing
Who should try it?
Graphite is ideal for:
- Illustrators who want more control over their vectors
- Procedural designers who miss nodes in their vector workflow
- Technical artists who need to integrate graphics with 3D pipelines
With its Apache 2.0 license and development in Rust/Svelte, Graphite promises to grow as a real alternative to commercial solutions. Will this be the Blender of vector design? Time (and the community) will tell 💻.
Note: If you miss Inkscape's Pen tool, here you can probably recreate it with nodes... and then sum.