For over a decade, one of the most valuable tools in the Mac VJ toolkit has been Quartz Composer (QC). It empowered countless artists to create interactive visuals with a drag-and-drop approach that felt revolutionary. However, today it is with a heavy heart that we announce the official start of phasing out support for Quartz Composer in VDMX6 over the next several months as we replace the functionality with other options.
A Bit of Background
Quartz Composer debuted in 2005 as part of Apple’s Xcode suite, offering a node-based visual programming environment ideal for real-time video manipulation and generative art. It became a staple tool among VJs and multimedia artists, thanks to its seamless integration with macOS and its ability to work harmoniously with platforms like VDMX. However, QC's reliance on OpenGL, which Apple is now phasing out in favor of Metal, has created mounting challenges. Apple has stopped updating QC, leading to compatibility issues with each macOS release and causing developers to reconsider its long-term viability.
We had hoped that QC might survive a bit longer, but it’s time to acknowledge the technical hurdles. The majority of recent crash logs we’ve seen are directly tied to the OpenGL-to-Metal bridge required to keep QC functioning within VDMX6. This growing instability has made the transition away from QC a top priority for us.
What's Changing in the Short Term
QC Disabled by Default:
Quartz Composer support is now disabled by default in VDMX6. If you still rely on QC compositions, you can temporarily re-enable it by going to Preferences > Rendering.
Opening Existing Projects with QC:
When opening a project that uses QC compositions, you’ll see a warning letting you know that QC support must be turned back on to proceed.
Beyond That
Text File Playback:
VDMX6 still relies heavily on Quartz Composer for text file playback.
Replacing QC usage in this area is a top priority.
In the meantime, you may need to enable QC support to take advantage of this feature.
VDMX6 Plus Alternatives:
VDMX6 Plus users can switch to Vuo or TouchDesigner for more advanced text rendering options.
New Built-in Effects:
We’ve added alternatives to popular QC effects, starting with:
Blur Faces
Remove Background
Rutt Etra
Let us know what other QC-based assets you’d like us to prioritize in future releases!
A Final Goodbye to Quartz Composer
Quartz Composer gave us so many unforgettable moments, empowering visual artists around the world with its unique approach to generative art. But all good things must come to an end. If you’ve been a long-time fan like we have, please join us on the forums for a little memorial service and share some of your favorite QC memories with the community. Let’s celebrate all the incredible art QC made possible and look forward to what the future holds!
With change comes opportunity, and though it’s tough to say goodbye, we’re excited about the new possibilities that modern tools like Metal, Vuo, and TouchDesigner are bringing to the world of visual performance. Thanks for being on this journey with us—we can’t wait to see what you’ll create next!