FRICTION new release: Free Open Source to After Effects

It’s a powerful tool for creating motion graphics using both vector and raster graphics, with support for web and video output. Whether you’re animating for the browser or producing video content, Friction provides a modern, high-performance workflow.

Built in C++ and powered by Skia and Qt, Friction delivers excellent performance and responsiveness. It brings back the flexibility of the Flash era for web animations, while remaining fully up to date with today’s production needs.

Friction supports multiple scenes and timelines, allowing you to transition smoothly between compositions. You also get an expression editor, text and path effects, raster and shader effects, and much more. Best of all, Friction runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible across platforms.

To experience the latest improvements, you’ll want to download the third release candidate for Friction 1.0.0.

Introducing the third release candidate for Friction 1.0.0

The third release candidate for Friction 1.0.0 focuses on improving interactivity, precision, and layout control, making animation workflows faster and more intuitive.

Gizmos (Interactive Transform Handles)

This release introduces Gizmos, which allow you to manipulate objects directly on the canvas. Dedicated handles are available for:

• Position.
• Rotation
• Scale.
• Shear.

You can toggle individual handles and customize their behavior using the Gizmo menu in the bottom-right toolbar, giving you fine-grained control over how you transform objects.

New Grid System

A brand-new Grid system makes alignment and layout organization much easier. The grid helps visualize spacing and maintain consistent placement throughout your project.

You can configure grid size and visibility using the Grid button in the bottom-right toolbar, adapting it to your specific design needs.

Snapping for Precision

Precision workflows are now smoother thanks to Snapping. Objects can snap to:

• The Canvas.
• Boxes.
• Nodes.
• Pivots.
• The Grid.

This makes it easier than ever to align elements accurately and maintain clean, professional layouts.

For a full breakdown of changes, improvements, and download links, you can find more details here: Friction graphics.

If you’re looking for a powerful, open-source motion graphics tool with a modern feature set, Friction 1.0.0 RC3 is well worth checking out.