Road to v0.01

September brought a lot of changes to Khimera as we work toward our first pre-alpha. The biggest one is something you can see right away: a redesigned workspace.

A clearer place to create

We’ve been reworking the interface to give your work more room and make the tools around it easier to use. In Etch, layers and properties sit together, and the controls change with what you select. Illustration, Raster, and Product Design workspaces let you start with a layout that fits the job.

Etch’s redesigned workspace with an imported Golden Hour poster on the canvas, a compact tool rail on the left, and Layers and Properties panels on the right. — An original Golden Hour poster imported into Etch, shown in the current editor.

There are smaller improvements that make a real difference while you’re working, too. Adjust gradients directly on the canvas. Use spacing guides to line things up. Add, reorder, and switch effects on and off without digging through a wall of settings.

Loupe’s photo-editing workspace showing a Nikon D300 RAW photo of Hallstatt, with edit history on the left, photo adjustments on the right, and a filmstrip below. — A Nikon D300 RAW photo adjusted in Loupe’s photo-editing workspace. Photo via Signature Edits (license).

Bringing your work with you

PSD import is another focus in Etch. We’re still testing compatibility and working through the details, but the goal is straightforward: bring your Photoshop work into Khimera and keep creating.

Still cooking

There’s more to finish before v0.01 is ready. We’ll keep sharing what changes as we get closer to the first pre-alpha.

Join the waitlist for progress updates and news about the pre-alpha.