For those of us working in audiovisual production on Linux, the search for software that not only runs on our system but is also truly powerful and competitive is a constant journey. And in the field of motion graphics and compositing, one name had been shining with a rare intensity: Autograph, by Left Angle. This was software with the potential to be not just a substitute, but perhaps a spiritual successor to Adobe After Effects, boasting a modern approach and impressive performance.
Here at Cine Linux, we were ecstatic. So much so that just two days ago, during our debut YouTube livestream, we presented Autograph as one of the most promising tools on the current scene. We talked about its intuitive interface, its layer-based compositing system, and above all, its gigantic potential to revolutionize the workflow of motion designers on Linux. Little did we know we were praising a ghost.
A splash of cold water
Just 48 hours after our broadcast, the news hit like a ton of bricks. On June 5th, users began receiving an email. Anyone who tried to access the Left Angle website was met with a redirect to an article on the site of Maxon, the giant behind Cinema 4D, Redshift, and ZBrush.
Overnight, Autograph was discontinued. Worse yet, the software simply stopped working. Since authentication was handled online, the server shutdown prevented users from even logging into their accounts. Projects in progress, studies, everything was brought to an abrupt halt without any prior warning.
The official announcement: What do Maxon and Left Angle say?
On the Maxon website, the announcement attempts to sound like a natural evolution, a joining of forces.
Maxon welcomes the Autograph team following Left Angle’s transition
Compositing pioneers join forces to drive the future of creative tools.June 5, 2025
As Left Angle, the creators of Autograph, winds down its operations, we at Maxon are pleased to welcome their team into our growing family. The folks from Left Angle bring a deep expertise in modern compositing workflows, and we are looking forward to combining their innovative technology approach with the Maxon creative ecosystem to build something new together. This collaboration opens the door for fresh ideas and visionary development that will better serve artists and creators around the world. Stay tuned, we look forward to sharing more in the future about how we plan to use this technology for the benefit of the community.
Meanwhile, the message from Left Angle reads like a melancholy, yet hopeful, farewell.
A message from Left Angle
June 5, 2025
Left Angle, the creator of Autograph, was established with a bold vision: to rethink compositing from the ground up and build a modern toolset for motion designers and VFX artists. We are incredibly proud of what we accomplished — and deeply grateful to the artists, studios, and partners who joined us on this journey.
As of today, our business is winding down in its entirety, and our team is beginning a new chapter. With this transition, our website and all related channels will be going offline.
While this chapter is ending, we are hopeful about what’s next and what we can create. We are working on a path forward and look forward to sharing more in the future. Thank you for your support! – The Left Angle Team
For questions, please email: [email protected]
The future is a mystery: Integration or abandonment?
The big question hanging in the air is: what will Maxon do with Autograph’s technology and team? The statements are vague and corporate. They speak of “building something new together” and “using this technology for the benefit of the community,” but what does that mean in practice?
There are a few possible scenarios:
- Full Integration: Maxon could integrate Autograph’s compositing engine directly into its existing tools, like Cinema 4D or Red Giant, enhancing their motion graphics and VFX capabilities. This would be the end of Autograph as a standalone software, but its soul would live on in another product.
- Tool Abandonment: The acquisition may have been an “acquihire,” a strategy to absorb talent. Maxon might have simply hired Left Angle’s team of brilliant developers to work on internal projects, completely scrapping Autograph in the process.
- Resurrection Under a New Brand: In a more optimistic scenario, Maxon could relaunch Autograph in the future, perhaps as “Maxon Autograph,” integrated into its ecosystem of subscriptions and licenses.
What we know for sure is that for the community that bet on Autograph, especially us Linux users, the situation is devastating. We have lost, in the most sudden way possible, a tool that represented hope and innovation. Trust in new, independent companies and solutions is shaken when, overnight, they can be swallowed up by industry giants and disappear without a trace.
We at Cine Linux will continue to keep an eye on this story. The hope is that Left Angle’s bold vision does not die on Maxon’s corporate shores and that, somehow, this technology will re-emerge to benefit all of us, the artists and creators who seek freedom and firepower on our Linux workstations. The dream, for now, has been interrupted. It remains to be seen whether it will turn into a nightmare or if we will just have to wait a little longer for a new awakening.