Test out the new Magma standalone app for Mac and Windows! This is something we are trialing to see if you have a better experience in a dedicated desktop app rather than through the browser. It also gives us some extra freedom to experiment with things like push notifications and multiple windows.

So, if this is something you’ve been waiting for, we’d love to get your input. Here is where you you can download the app for your system:

Below is a quick look at the benefits of the standalone app:

Improved performance

You can expect better performance on larger canvases and fewer crashes using the app instead of your browser.

App specific customization with your tablet

Previously, adding custom per-app settings for your drawing tablet applied to the entire browser. Now you can have it specifically for the Magma app. We’ll also be looking at what other tablet customization options could work well with Magma beyond just setting keybinds to the pen and tablet buttons.

A navigator window?

A big feature request on our list has been a navigator window. With the Magma app, you can set a tab as a reference window for when you draw on another. This lets you see the canvas as a whole without needing to zoom out.

To do this, right-click on the drawing tab at the top ofthe window and select Float as reference window. Then hide the Magma UI for that window by pressing TAB.

Multiple reference windows

Instead of only having a single reference image in your normal reference window, now you can open your saved references on Magma in new tabs and set the tabs to floating windows.

Push notifications

Push notifications are a better way to be alerted when someone sends you a message or invites you to canvas. Having a dedicated app makes this a bit easier for us to implement and hopefully improves your experience too, making sure that you don’t miss the opportunity to draw with your friends when they come online.

Finally… this is just a trial

This is a very early beta version of the app, and for now only available on MacOS and Windows systems. We’ll be testing some theories and collecting data on usage and performance. We’d also like to get feedback directly from you about the experience. Did you notice improvements in specific areas? Bugs in others? Or have suggestions for things you’d like added? Then let us know by sending us an email or leave a comment on our beta testing artspace on Magma.

We look forward to your feedback.

Happy Drawing!