Product Overview: Kite Compositor
Kite Compositor is a powerful and intuitive animation design and prototyping application specifically designed for Mac users. It is built on top of Apple’s native Core Animation framework, which is also used in iOS, macOS, and tvOS for graphics compositing and interface animation.
What Kite Compositor Does
Kite Compositor enables designers and developers to create sophisticated interface animations and prototypes with ease. It combines a user-friendly, WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) interface with advanced features, making it an ideal tool for both beginners and experienced professionals. The application is tailored to help users bring user interfaces to life quickly and efficiently.
Key Features and Functionality
Adaptive Interface and Real-time Rendering
Kite Compositor features an adaptive interface that scales and adapts to the user’s needs, ensuring a seamless workflow. It leverages Core Animation to render graphics in real-time, eliminating the need to bake frames or script every interaction beforehand. This allows for interactive and impromptu animations.
Timeline and Animation Tools
The integrated smart timeline enables users to drag and edit animation durations and keyframes precisely. The animation curve editor allows for fine-tuning the timing of animations to achieve the desired pace and feel. Additionally, users can snap animation start and end times together for a hand-tuned feel.
Object Inspector and Layer Management
A robust object inspector allows users to edit all layer properties in just a few clicks, including setting colors, adjusting animation curves, and adding Core Image filters. Users can also save reusable layer hierarchies into the library for easy component reuse.
JavaScript Scripting and Interactivity
Kite Compositor includes a built-in JavaScript scripting engine, enabling users to add sophisticated logic to their animations and interactions. This feature allows for live edits to running animations, firing animations, adding new layers, and changing properties via the JavaScript console.
Presentation and Export Options
Users can present their designs in full-screen mode or customize the presentation window size. Kite Compositor also generates zero-dependency Swift or Objective-C code for animations, compatible with both iOS and Mac. This feature eliminates the guesswork involved in animating elements, such as speed, size, and easing between keyframes.
Multi-Page Design and Transitions
The application supports designing with multiple pages, each with its own independent timeline. Users can easily transition between pages using built-in transitions or custom timeline animations.
Touchbar Support and Interoperability
Kite Compositor integrates with the Touchbar, allowing users to scrub through animations, change tools, and play or pause the timeline without needing the mouse. The application also ensures interoperability by storing data in flat files, making it easy to open and edit assets, canvas values, or document data directly.
Companion App and Design Preview
For a more realistic preview, users can download the native companion app, Kite Compositor for iOS, to see how their designs feel on an actual iOS device.
Conclusion
Kite Compositor is a comprehensive tool for animation design and prototyping, offering a blend of user-friendly interfaces and advanced features. Its real-time rendering, powerful scripting capabilities, and seamless integration with Core Animation make it an invaluable asset for designers and developers aiming to create stunning and interactive user interfaces. With its adaptive interface, robust inspector, and extensive library features, Kite Compositor stands out as a powerful tool in the realm of motion design and prototyping.