Introducing Graphite: A New Era for Vector and Raster Design

In the evolving landscape of digital art and design, tools that empower creativity while streamlining workflows are invaluable. Enter Graphite - a free, open-source vector and raster graphics engine that brings nondestructive editing to the forefront. Now available in alpha, Graphite aims to reshape how designers approach digital art, offering the flexibility of node-based generative design alongside familiar layer-based compositing.
What is Graphite?
Starting life as a vector editor, Graphite is evolving into a generalized, all-in-one graphics toolbox that's built more like a game engine than a conventional creative app. The editor's tools wrap its node graph core, providing user-friendly workflows for vector, raster, and beyond. Photo editing, motion graphics, digital painting, desktop publishing, and VFX compositing are additional competencies planned on the roadmap to make Graphite a highly versatile content creation tool.
Graphite is currently in development and does not yet have a dedicated desktop app, but one is planned for the future. In the meantime, users can try out the web version.
Layers & Nodes: Hybrid Editing
Graphite combines the best ideas from multiple categories of digital content creation software to redefine the workflows of 2D graphics editing. It is influenced by the core editing experience of traditional layer-based raster and vector apps, the nondestructive approaches of VFX compositing programs used by film studios, and the boundless creative possibilities of procedural production tools daily-driven by the 3D industry.
Classic layer-based image editing is easy to understand, with collapsible folders that help artists stay organized. A variety of interactive viewport tools make it easy to manipulate the layers by drawing directly onto the canvas. On the other hand, node-based editing is like artist-friendly programming. It works by describing manipulations as steps in a flowchart, which is vastly more powerful but comes with added complexity.
The hybrid workflow of Graphite offers a classic tool-centric, layer-based editing experience built around a procedural, node-based compositor. Users can ignore the node graph, use it exclusively, or switch back and forth with the press of a button while creating content. Interacting with the canvas using tools will manipulate the nodes behind the scenes. And the layer panel and node graph provide two equivalent, interchangeable views of the same document structure.
Raster & Vector: Sharp at All Sizes
Digital 2D art commonly takes two forms. Raster artwork is made out of pixels, allowing for limitless creativity, but it can become blurry or pixelated when upscaled. Vector artwork, made from curved shapes, remains crisp at any size but can be limiting for certain styles. The beauty of vector lies in its ability to scale without losing quality.
Most design apps focus on either raster or vector, often requiring artists to purchase and learn both. Switching between apps to mix raster and vector work can disrupt creative flow. Additionally, raster documents are resolution-dependent, forcing artists to start with large file sizes to avoid quality loss, leading to sluggish performance and massive files.
Graphite reinvents raster rendering, ensuring artwork stays sharp at any scale. By treating artwork as data rather than pixels, Graphite redraws at the current viewing resolution. This allows users to zoom and export at any size without losing quality - paint brushes, masks, filters, and effects are rendered natively at the current resolution.
By integrating raster and vector tools into a single platform, Graphite creates a seamless environment where both mediums complement each other. (Scalable raster compositing is still in development.)
Powered by Graphene
Graphene is the node graph engine that powers Graphite's compositor and procedural graphics pipeline. It's a visual scripting environment built upon the high-performance Rust programming language. Its runtime is designed to distribute rendering across CPU cores, GPUs, and network/cloud machines while optimizing for interactive frame rates.
Written in Rust
Always on the bleeding edge and built to last - Graphite is written on a robust foundation with Rust, a modern programming language optimized for creating fast, reliable, future-proof software. Even the GPU compute shaders are written in Rust, enabling reuse of CPU code implementations for nodes.
Why Graphite Matters
Many established design tools excel at either raster or vector graphics but often lack interoperability between the two. Graphite bridges this gap by providing seamless transitions between vector and raster elements in the same environment. This hybrid approach minimizes context-switching and maximizes creative flow.
Additionally, node-based workflows, popular in 3D modeling and VFX, are finding their way into 2D design. Graphite leverages this trend, allowing artists to build intricate, procedural designs without sacrificing the intuitive layering process.
The Future of Graphite
While Graphite is currently in alpha, its development roadmap promises exciting enhancements. Future releases aim to introduce more sophisticated generative tools, deeper integration with existing creative pipelines, and expanded export options. As Graphite matures, it could become a go-to alternative to established design software, especially for those seeking open-source solutions.
Get Started
Graphite is available to try online now. Whether you're an experienced digital artist or someone exploring the world of vector and raster graphics for the first time, Graphite offers a playground for creativity. Join the growing community, contribute to the project, and be part of shaping the future of digital design.
While the desktop app is not yet available, Graphite's web version exist