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Compositor

A free, open-source Photoshop-style image editor for macOS, built for compositing and retouching.

GitHub Download v1.5.12
Stars
18.4k
Forks
1.8k
Licence
MIT
Language
Swift
Last update
4 days ago
Type
App

What it is

Compositor is an image editor for Mac that aims to cover the layer-based workflow people use in Photoshop, including layers, masks, blend modes, selections, painting, and filters. It is free and open source under the MIT license. Its author built it for compositing and post-processing, with keyboard shortcuts and tools modeled on Photoshop.

  • Compositing several photos into one image using layers, masks, and blend modes
  • Retouching with the Spot Healing Brush, Clone Stamp, and Content-Aware Fill
  • Applying Camera Raw-style adjustments and filters to a photo
  • Exporting PNG, JPEG, PDF, or animated GIF files
  • Opening and editing existing Photoshop PSD files, with a conversion report shown before changes apply

Great for

  • Mac users who used Photoshop for compositing or photo post-processing and want a free alternative
  • People who find GIMP unfamiliar and want a Photoshop-like layout and shortcuts
  • Users with an Apple silicon Mac running macOS 26 or later
  • Developers who want to read or modify the editor's Xcode source

Not ideal for

  • Windows or Linux users, since the README says it is macOS only (unofficial ports exist but are not supported by the author)
  • Anyone on an Intel Mac or older macOS, since the README requires macOS 26.0 or later on Apple silicon
  • Print workflows that need CMYK, since the README says PSD import is 8-bit RGB and not CMYK
Step-by-step guide: how to use CompositorInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

How to get it

  1. 1

    Download the app

    You'll need: macOS 26.0 or later · Apple silicon Mac

    Install with Homebrew

    brew install --cask robbietilton-compositor
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Install Compositor using the Homebrew command or download the DMG from the project website or GitHub Releases.
    • Open Compositor and create or open a project.
    • Add images as layers using import, then use the Move tool and layer panel to arrange them.
    • Export your result with Export PNG (⇧⌘E) or Export As.
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Use the Search Commands shortcut (⌘F) to find any menu command or tool by name.
    • Use layer effects like Drop Shadow and Outer Glow, which stay editable at any time.
    • Use Remap Keyboard Shortcuts in Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts to match your Photoshop habits.
    • Try AI agents or scripts to build projects, using the README's guide on writing Compositor projects (docs/writing-comp-files.md).
    • Use Fullscreen mode (F) to focus on the canvas alone.

Downloads

Source code (.zip)main branch · straight from GitHubRelease v1.5.121 files incl. Compositor.dmg

Strengths

  • Free and open source under the MIT license, with the Xcode project available to modify
  • Covers a broad feature set in the README, including layers, masks, adjustments, and text
  • Includes automatic updates that are signed and notarized, according to the README

Trade-offs

  • Requires macOS 26.0 or later on Apple silicon, which limits who can run it
  • Maintained by one person, and the README says translations are not being accepted for now
  • Some Photoshop files only partly survive import; the README notes that other vectors and vertical text become pixels

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.