changelog

Every version, in the open

A lot has changed. This is the honest record of it, newest first. Format follows Keep a Changelog.

v1.5.6UnreleasedNext

Added

Collision Groups

  • Per-layer Collision Groups (1-8): layers in the same group pass through each other but still collide with everything else.
  • Visual group badges in the layer list and colored group outlines in the preview canvas.
  • Select Group action: with one layer selected, instantly select every other layer in its group.

Hitbox System

  • Hitbox Type override per layer: Exact Shape, Auto-Circle or Auto-Rectangle for faster, smoother collisions on simple objects.
  • Hitbox Padding to expand or shrink collision bounds independently of the visual shape, applied through Matter's body scaling so mass and inertia stay correct.
  • Automatic stroke detection pre-fills padding so stroked shapes collide at their visible edge.
  • Corner Rounding (chamfer) per layer with real-time feedback while dragging.

Constraints & Chains

  • Create Chain: link 2+ layers into a rope or necklace with configurable stiffness, damping and link length.
  • Connect Rigid and Connect Spring actions to link selected layers pair by pair.
  • Max Stretch limit on spring, distance and chain constraints to stop bodies flying apart under high forces.
  • Draggable pin anchors rendered as AE-style crosshairs; drag to re-attach a pin to an exact spot on a body.

Kinematic Timing

  • Three timing modes for kinematic layers: Original AE Timing, Start Immediately, and On Collision (holds until hit, then plays its keyframes).

Text Layer Workflow

  • Automatic text detection on import, with a dialog to convert to a shape layer, split into one layer per character, or skip.
  • Split Shape Layers: turn a multi-path shape layer into one layer per path.

Workflow & Import

  • 2x2 import grid: Reload Selected, Reload All, Update Layers (re-fetch geometry while keeping settings) and Add Selected.
  • Collision markers on bake: a timeline marker at every frame two bodies collide, for syncing sound effects.
  • Sync button to pull the active comp's duration into the duration field.
  • Copy / Paste Settings between layers, and Randomize Weights for multi-selections.
  • Layers hidden in AE import in Inactive mode automatically.

Interface

  • Contextual action toolbar that adapts to the current selection.
  • World Presets: Default, Bouncy Castle, Slippery Ice, Moon Gravity, Heavy Sludge.
  • Reset to Default button and double-click-to-reset on every slider.
  • Static Friction and Sleep Threshold sliders.
  • Info tooltips across the entire interface, and an indeterminate progress bar during bake.

Changed

  • Layer panel completely redesigned into compact AE-timeline-style rows with an Advanced Settings expander per layer.
  • Friendlier terminology: Bounciness (was Restitution), Air Resistance (was Air Friction), Weight (was Density), Corner Rounding (was Chamfer).
  • Kinematic layers now default to Original AE Timing.
  • Dropdowns and tooltips use fixed positioning so they can never be clipped by panel edges.
  • Shape vertex pipeline hardened for typography: inner paths (holes in O, e, P) are ignored and all vertices are sanitized before decomposition.
  • Typography pass: larger fonts, lighter sub-labels, and all em-dashes replaced with standard hyphens.

Fixed

  • Hitbox padding no longer breaks collisions: applied via Body.scale instead of inflating vertices.
  • Layers no longer spawn grouped together or stuck at the origin; degenerate vertex data is detected and corrected.
  • Shift multi-select now works reliably in both the layer list and the canvas, even while running.
  • Kinematic bodies can no longer go dormant mid-simulation: a wake guard runs every frame, protecting the hold-then-release workflow.
  • Creating a constraint now resets to frame 0 first, so anchors come from the original layout.
  • Springs and distance constraints no longer let bodies fly apart under high forces.
  • Letters and complex shapes that fail decomposition fall back to an accurate bounding-box body instead of jumbled geometry.
v1.5.5
  • Global undo system (30 steps) with Cmd+Z / Ctrl+Z across positions, modes, weights, settings and constraints.
  • Hand / drag tool for repositioning shapes in the preview.
  • Typable slider values and custom styled dropdown menus with mode colors.
  • Per-layer weight affecting fall speed, momentum and bounce; center-of-mass compensation for compound shapes.
v1.5.4
  • Vertex extraction in comp space; scrollable layer panel.
v1.5.3
  • Group Transform accumulation for nested shape groups.
v1.5.2
  • Rotation bake fix (initial rotation offset) and kinematic delta rotation.
v1.5.0
  • Inactive layer mode, mode color sync in the preview, compound bodies (multiple paths per layer), Import All Layers with compatibility detection.
v1.4.0
  • Split-panel layout with resizable dividers, welcome screen, kinematic mode, Save/Load embedded in the AE project, Show Outside Comp view, selection sync.
v1.3.0
  • Real Matter.js + poly-decomp integration, file-based bake data transfer, sub-stepping physics, Bezier curve flattening.
v1.0.0
  • Initial release: shape extraction, real-time preview, bake to new comp.

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