Pixel Processor

An in-development macOS pixel processing app. Supports Ventura and up. Grab the current TestFlight beta via pixelprocessor.co.uk * The icon is temporary. * The UI is very much a work in progress. * Future functionality is still to be determined. Thoughts and feedback very much appreciated. 🙏

Before I forget, if anyone comes up with nice CRT or LCD effect settings, do give me a nudge. If all goes to plan, the idea is to include the best of the bunch in Retrospecs v4. You can grab some example CRT effects to get you started at: pixelprocessor.co.uk/packs/Pixel%...

Barring any show stoppers, the final beta (for now) is out and about. I’m going to swap over to getting Retrospecs v4 into a beta-worthy state before I pick Pixel Processor back up again, which should hopefully allow time for some of the UI ideas I want to try to solidify.

If all goes to plan, there should be a new beta out within the next week or so, which fixes some macOS 27 oddities. Once that’s been released, I’ll be pausing for a while so I can try a different UI approach. So… umm… yup. 🤔

Apologies if you’re experiencing issues running the Pixel Processor beta on macOS 27, but it’s likely to be a few weeks before I can properly investigate. (I only have one Mac, and some other software I need for the day job apparently doesn’t play nice on macOS 27 at the moment.)

Of course, it's entirely possible that Pixel Processor is never released and instead just becomes an endlessly rolling beta that gradually grinds to a halt under a heap of distressingly esoteric features. That's always an option. 🤔

Having a bit of a pause for a few weeks before trying to get a 1.0 release out there. Any feedback on the current build would be much appreciated. 👍

There’s nothing quite like putting together content for a macOS Help Book to make you wish there was something else you could doing instead.

Did another beta. Excitingly, I then immediately realised one of the icon file mappings was incorrect. Let us all enjoy this naked icon while it lasts.

Of course, sometimes less is more. (This might not be one of those occasions.)

Playing around with some icon options. (Yes, I still suck at icons.) These are the macOS 27 renditions, as there's not a great deal of value in targeting the macOS 26 Icon Composer look at this point in time.

Doing more typings of late - trying to move towards a 1.0 release, although there’s still lots to do. It’s fair to say that it’ll always be a (very, very) niche app, but hopefully it’ll be useful to some

Did another beta. Mostly tidy-ups. Mostly.

Not much progress on Pixel Processor of late, so no new beta this weekend. (Just been doing some behind the scenes tidy-up work - necessary, but dull.)

Beta seven is now available. I think this is the first version of Pixel Processor where it feels like it’s becoming its own thing rather than just an increasingly elaborate test bench for potential future Retrospecs functionality. Grab the TestFlight via pixelprocessor.co.uk

Dog in 8 Old Computers

Beta seven is now available. I think this is the first version of Pixel Processor where it feels like it’s becoming its own thing rather than just an increasingly elaborate test bench for potential future Retrospecs functionality. Grab the TestFlight via pixelprocessor.co.uk

For a brief moment, there was a beta six. It contains a bad though, so has been expired.

Next up is something long overdue - The Great UI Tidy-Up™ has finally begun. Although it’s mainly just putting things in boxes. 🤔

Next up is bug fixing and tidy-ups. So… err… yeah. That’s exciting? 🤔

As was foretold by the prophecies (see previous post), the mutator functionality is now available for your enjoyment - the latest beta escaped containment at some point overnight. 🥳

What's next, you might wonder? (It'll be the mutator functionality. The mutator functionality will be next.)

Did another beta. (#4) Don’t care what you think - you’re not my real dad. [ Flounces off. ]

There’ll be a few new bits in the next beta, such as the ability to process media at native resolution, and “crop mode” that’ll let you use the source media aspect ratio. There’s also a few fixes and improvements such as ensuring that noise-based effects are randomised for each video frame, etc.

Beta three brings news from afar, the headline being that video conversion is now supported. 🥳 You can now also use Pixel Processor on macOS 13 (Ventura) and up, rather than needing Sequoia. Join the TestFlight via pixelprocessor.co.uk

Or… I might just do a new beta sooner rather than later, as there’s basic video support up and running already. 😀 Just need to fix a few issues first.

Hmm… that radio star is looking pretty ropy. 🤔 Hopefully another beta on the way within the next few weeks.

Lazy Sunday (Commodore 64-style) made with @pixel-processor.bsky.social #retrocomputing

The second beta of Pixel Processor should now be out and about on TestFlight. 🥳 Link available via pixelprocessor.co.uk if you’d like to have a play.

Here's where things are currently at. There's a long way to go in terms of fleshing out the editors and adding import and export tools, but all of the new options in the re-written underlying engine are available to explore and experiment with.