A Swift framework for building real-time graphics pipelines on iOS, macOS, and tvOS using Metal.
PixelKit is a Swift framework for creating live graphics and real-time visual effects on Apple platforms. It provides a node-based system to combine shaders, filters, and image processing operations into GPU-accelerated pipelines, solving the complexity of low-level Metal programming for interactive graphics.
iOS, macOS, and tvOS developers building apps with advanced visual effects, camera filters, video processing, or interactive graphics, such as creative coding, AR experiences, or live performance tools.
Developers choose PixelKit for its high-level, composable API that abstracts Metal complexity while retaining full GPU power, enabling rapid prototyping of professional-grade graphics pipelines directly in Swift.
Live Graphics in Swift & Metal
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Offers a wide array of PIX nodes (e.g., CameraPIX, BlurPIX) for building TouchDesigner-inspired graphics pipelines, enabling complex workflows directly in Swift.
Provides MetalPIX nodes for custom shader code, giving GPU-level control without low-level Metal boilerplate, as shown in the MetalPIX examples.
Features blend operators (&, +, etc.) and convenience functions (.pixBlur()) for easy composition, demonstrated in examples like camera effects and green screen.
Runs on iOS, macOS, and tvOS with a unified API for SwiftUI and UIKit, simplifying development across Apple ecosystems, as outlined in the setup sections.
The README admits high bit mode has issues with resources and gamma offset, restricting advanced color processing and effects like DisplacePIX.
Convenience functions create new PIX instances, risking GPU memory overload if not managed carefully, as warned in the Effect Convenience Funcs section.
Requires understanding of node-based graphics, Metal shaders, and a non-standard coordinate system, making it less accessible for beginners or simple projects.
PixelKit is an open-source alternative to the following products: