Maybe you are thinking that Synfig Project is very quiet lately. That nobody is working on the project and that it is slowly dying. Nothing is further from reality!

On one hand, Carlos López (aka Genete) is fully working since middle May to add Cairo libraries to the Synfig's render system.

Example of conical gradient rendered using cairo

Example of conical gradient rendered using cairo

The changes needed to achieve the goal are big, so there won't be any intermediate releases until the whole new render system is finished. Initially there are some significant performance improvements in render time as well as some bug discoveries when comparing the Cairo and Synfig render systems. It is targeted to add support for a cairo-gl backend where the performance should be improved by graphic card acceleration.

In any case, achieving the overall render performance or not, these modifications made to support the Cairo libraries inside the core Synfig system are a great step for further implementation of other render libraries (OpenGL).

Morevna Project working screenshot

Morevna Project working screenshot

On the other hand, Konstantin Dmitriev (aka Zelgadis) and Nikolay Mamashev are working hard towards the release of Morevna Project demo (November 10th). The Morevna Project demo is the 'proof of the pudding' of the Synfig Project and is considered a key part of it. 

Also, part of our (and others') community is backing Morevna Project by participating in their community calls for vectorization, 3D model soldiers and main character 3D models. If you want to help them, please get in contact and apply where needed. Just passing by their blog and say hello would give them wings!

So no, we aren't dead or on vacation!  We are so busy that we don't have time to draw breath.

If you love free software and like 2D animation, this is your project! Join us by forking the Synfig code on github and start to submit pull requests or step in on Morevna Project and help them to achieve the due date for the demo release.

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