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Backdrop 0.1.0

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@OGZamasu OGZamasu released this 29 Oct 04:46
v0.1.0
9e5fc27

⚠️ The virtual camera can't be set up from this version. Please download 0.2.1 instead.

This release packaged its camera extension under a file name macOS rejects, so Backdrop Camera won't install. That was confirmed when updating an already-installed camera, and a first-time install uses the same check. 0.2.1 fixes it.

The first public release of Backdrop: a menu bar app that replaces your camera background and shows up as its own camera ("Backdrop Camera") in Discord, Zoom, Meet, FaceTime and other apps.

Install

  1. Unzip it and drag Backdrop.app into Applications. It has to live there for macOS to accept its camera extension.
  2. Open it. Click the menu bar icon, then Set Up Backdrop Camera, and approve it in System Settings › General › Login Items & Extensions › Camera Extensions.
  3. Turn the camera on, then choose Backdrop Camera in your video app.

Requires macOS 15.1 or later on Apple silicon. AI backgrounds need Apple Intelligence.

What's in it

  • Live backgrounds: looping video, a live window or your whole screen, animated gradients, the classic Windows 3D Pipes screensaver, and a parallax option.
  • AI backgrounds from a text description, generated on your Mac by Image Playground.
  • Automation by app, calendar event or time of day, with global shortcuts: ⌃⌥→ and ⌃⌥← to cycle, ⌃⌥B to turn the camera on or off.
  • Cutout controls: quality, edge softness, light wrap and colour match.

Verify

Signed with a Developer ID certificate and notarized by Apple. To check the download:

shasum -a 256 -c Backdrop-0.1.0.zip.sha256

Early release

Developed and tested on a single Apple silicon Mac running macOS 27. The engine has automated tests, but the virtual camera has had limited real-world testing, so expect rough edges. Known gaps:

  • There's no Intel build.
  • The camera is switched on and off by hand (menu bar or ⌃⌥B). It doesn't start by itself when another app opens Backdrop Camera.
  • Backdrop Camera deliberately advertises 60 fps so macOS doesn't layer its own Background effect over the result. If that effect is on for Backdrop's own camera input, the app warns you.

Bug reports are welcome as issues.

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