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FXCanvas on macOS

The macOS build of FXCanvas is in alpha. This page gives everything that works differently on a Mac. It tells you how to open the app the first time, which sources are not available, and the other platform differences.

Opening FXCanvas the First Time​

The macOS build is not signed or notarized with an Apple Developer ID. macOS Gatekeeper blocks the first start of a downloaded app when it cannot identify the developer. This behavior is normal, and you approve FXCanvas one time only. After an update installs, macOS can ask you to approve FXCanvas again.

The steps depend on your macOS version:

macOS 15 Sequoia and later​

Sequoia removed the right-click shortcut. As a result, you must approve FXCanvas in System Settings:

  1. Double-click FXCanvas in Applications. macOS shows "Apple could not verify 'FXCanvas' is free of malware…". Click Done, not Move to Trash
  2. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security
  3. Scroll down to the Security section. It shows "FXCanvas was blocked to protect your Mac"
  4. Click Open Anyway. Authenticate with your password or Touch ID
  5. Click Open Anyway again in the last dialog

macOS 14 Sonoma and earlier​

  1. In Applications, right-click (or Control-click) FXCanvas and select Open
  2. In the dialog, click Open

If the right-click method does not show an Open button, use the System Settings method. That method works on all versions.

If macOS says the app "is damaged"​

On some systems, Gatekeeper reports an unsigned app as "damaged and can't be opened" and gives no approval path. The app is not damaged. macOS refuses the quarantine flag that it put on the download. Delete that flag from Terminal:

xattr -d com.apple.quarantine /Applications/FXCanvas.app

Then start FXCanvas normally.

Only bypass Gatekeeper for downloads that you trust

These steps tell macOS to trust this one app. Do this only for FXCanvas copies that you download from fxc.studio.

Sources Not Available on macOS​

Almost all of FXCanvas runs the same way on both platforms. The macOS build excludes three built-in sources. These sources render too slowly in the OpenGL implementation of Apple for use in a live show:

SourceStatus on macOS
CurvatureNot available (Windows only)
SwarmNot available (Windows only)
OncomingNot available (Windows only)

These sources and their built-in presets do not appear in the source list on a Mac. A show that you make on Windows with these sources loads on macOS. Those cues then use the last active source. All other built-in sources are available on both platforms.

Why not let them run slowly?

On Apple Silicon these three sources render at 3–16 fps. This frame rate stutters too much for live use, and it can also slow down the rest of the engine. FXCanvas hides these sources on macOS until they are rewritten with macOS-friendly techniques.

Other Platform Differences​

  • Texture sharing — macOS uses Syphon for local texture sharing. Windows uses Spout. NDI output works the same way on both platforms.
  • Hardware — the macOS build needs Apple Silicon (M1 or newer). Intel Macs are not supported.
  • Maturity — Windows is the primary platform, and it is fully supported. The macOS build is alpha. The core feature set works, but rough edges remain. Report each error that you find.