Isadora 3 (64-bit) vs Isadora 2 (32-bit)

  • Isadora 3 only accepts 64-bit plugins, 32-bit plugins cannot be loaded.
  • Isadora 2 only accepts 32-bit plugins, 64-bit plugins cannot be loaded.
  • Storing 32-bit and 64-bit plugins in the same folder can cause error messages and crashes on startup!

Additional Notes

Isadora 3: Installing Official TroikaTronix Plugins

First Method: Using The Tools In The File Download

  1. Download one of the plugins that are part of the official TroikaTronix content on the TroikaTronix Add-Ons page.
  2. Unzip the zip file.
  3. Open the resulting folder.
  4. Open the folder for your platform (Windows or Mac).
    1. On Windows: Drag the ".izzyplug" folder onto the file that says "Drag Actors Here To Install".
    2. On Mac: Double-click the file "Open and Run to Install Plugins.scpt", then press the "Run the Script" button at the top left.
  5. If you had Isadora open when you loaded in external plugins, you will need to quit Isadora and re-launch it in order for the plugins to appear in the Toolbox.

Second Method: Using The Help Menu In Isadora

  1. Open the folder where the external plugin is located.
  2. Launch Isadora.
  3. In the Isadora 3 menu, select Help > Open Plugins Folder > TroikaTronix Actor Plugins.
  4. A new window will open with the folder that stores the TroikaTronix Actor Plugins.
  5. Click and drag the external plugin into the window that opened in the previous step.
  6. Quit and re-launch Isadora in order for the plugins to appear in the Toolbox.

Isadora 3: Installing GLSL Shaders

  1. Download the TroikaTronix GLSL Shaders from the TroikaTronix Add-Ons page.
  2. Unzip the zip file.
  3. Open the resulting folder.
  4. Launch Isadora.
  5. In the Isadora 3 menu, select Help > Open Plugin Folder > TroikaTronix GLSL Shaders.
  6. A new window will open with the folder that stores GLSL Shaders.
  7. Click and drag the GLSL Shader files into the window that opened in the previous step.
  8. Quit and re-launch Isadora in order for the plugins to appear in the Toolbox.

Isadora 3: Installing FFGL Plugins

Installing FFGL Plugins (Mac)

  1. Download the TroikaTronix FFGL Plugins from the TroikaTronix Add-Ons page. 
  2. Unzip the zip file.
  3. Open the resulting folder.
  4. Launch Isadora.
  5. In the Isadora 3 menu, select Help > Open Plugin Folder > FreeFrame Plugins.
    1. If it says no folder exists, follow the steps in the section "Creating The FFGL Plugin Folder (Mac)" below, then try step 5 again.
  6. A new window will open with the folder that stores FFGL Plugins.
  7. Click and drag the FFGL Plugins from Not_Recommended > Macintosh (Isadora 2+3) into the window that opened in step 6.
  8. Click and drag the FFGL Plugins from Recommended > Macintosh (Isadora 2+3) into the window that opened in step 6.
  9. Quit and re-launch Isadora in order for the plugins to appear in the Toolbox.

Creating The FFGL Plugin Folder (Mac)

  1. Open Finder
  2. In the Finder menu, select Go > Go to Folder...
  3. In the "Go to the folder:" field, type "/Library/Application Support", then press "Go".
  4. In the Finder menu, select File > New Folder.
  5. Enter your administrator username and password to allow the creation of the folder.
  6. Name the folder "FreeFrame_x64".

Installing FFGL Plugins (Windows)

  1. Download the TroikaTronix FFGL Plugins from the TroikaTronix Add-Ons page.
  2. Unzip the zip file.
  3. Open the resulting folder.
  4. Launch Isadora.
  5. In the Isadora 3 menu, select Help > Open Plugin Folder > FreeFrame Plugins.
    1. If it says no folder exists, follow the steps in the section "Creating The FFGL Plugin Folder (Windows)" below, then try step 5 again.
  6. A new window will open with the folder that stores FFGL Plugins.
  7. Click and drag the FFGL Plugins from Not_Recommended > Windows_64bit (Isadora 3) into the window that opened in step 6.
  8. Click and drag the FFGL Plugins from Recommended > Windows_64bit (Isadora 3) into the window that opened in step 6.
  9. Quit and re-launch Isadora in order for the plugins to appear in the Toolbox.

Creating The FFGL Plugin Folder (Windows)

  1. In the Windows search box at the bottom left, type "C:\Program Files\Common Files" and press enter.
  2. In the resulting Windows File Explorer window, create a new folder by clicking the "New Folder" button at the top or by right-clicking and selecting New > Folder.
  3. Name the folder "FreeFrame".

Isadora 3: Installing User Actors

Installing User Actors

  1. Open the location that contains the User Actors you want to install.
  2. Launch Isadora.
  3. In the Isadora 3 menu, select Help > Open Plugin Folder > User Actor Folder.
    1. If it says no folder exists, follow the steps in the section "Setting The Global User Actor Folder" below, then try step 3 again.
  4. A new window will open with the folder that stores User Actors Plugins.
  5. Click and drag the User Actors from the location described in step 1 into the window that opened in step 4.
  6. Quit and re-launch Isadora in order for the User Actors to appear in the Toolbox.

Setting The Global User Actor Folder

  1. Right-click on your desktop (or wherever you want to create the Global User Actor Folder) and create a new folder.
  2. Name the folder "User Actors".
  3. Launch Isadora.
  4. In the Isadora menu, select Actors > Set Global User Actor Folder...
  5. Select the folder you created and confirm your selection.

Isadora 3 Plugin File Paths: A Quick Reference

TroikaTronix Plugins

macOS

/Library/Application Support/TroikaTronix/IsadoraPlugins_x64

/Library/Application Support/TroikaTronix/IsadoraControls_x64

/Library/Application Support/TroikaTronix/GLSL Plugins

Windows

C:\Program Files\Common Files\TroikaTronix\Isadora Plugins

C:\Program Files\Common Files\TroikaTronix\Isadora Controls

C:\Program Files\Common Files\TroikaTronix\GLSL Plugins

FreeFrame and FreeFrameGL Plugins 

macOS

/Library/Application Support/FreeFrame_x64

Windows 

C:\Program Files\Common Files\FreeFrame

Notes:

  • Pete's FreeFrame Plugins cannot be updated to 64 bit, so they cannot be used with Isadora 3.
  • When using Isadora 3, please note that the "FFGL Effects" Toolbox Filter in the Actor Toolbox has been removed. All FF and FFGL actors have been combined into the Toolbox Filter "FF Effects" 

Quartz Composer Plugins (macOS Only)

/System/Library/Compositions 

/Library/Compositions 

~/Library/Compositions 

User Actors

File Path

This file path is user-defined and kept in Isadora 3's global preferences. It is initially not defined. 

You can set your file path for User Actors within Isadora, under Actors > Set Global User Actors Folder... 

New User Actor Format: ".i3ua" 

In Isadora 3, User Actors and Macros save with the extension ".iau3". (These cannot be used in Isadora 2.) 

Old User Actors/Macros made in Isadora 2 (".iua") can be used in Isadora 3, but when you save them Isadora 3 will save copies with the new extension ".i3ua" rather than overwriting your Isadora 2 ".iua" User Actor/Macros. 

This will prevent accidentally overwriting Isadora 2 User Actors/Macros while using them in Isadora 3 (which would otherwise make them unusable in Isadora 2).

Isadora 2 Plugin File Paths: A Quick Reference 

TroikaTronix Plugins 

macOS 

/Library/Application Support/TroikaTronix/Isadora Plugins

/Library/Application Support/TroikaTronix/Isadora Controls

/Library/Application Support/TroikaTronix/GLSL Plugins 

Windows 

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\TroikaTronix\Isadora Plugins

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\TroikaTronix\Isadora Controls

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\TroikaTronix\GLSL Plugins 

FreeFrame Plugins

macOS 

/Library/Application Support/FreeFrame 

Windows 

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\FreeFrame 

Quartz Composer Plugins (macOS Only)

/System/Library/Compositions 

/Library/Compositions 

~/Library/Compositions 

User Actors 

This file path is user-defined and kept in Isadora's global preferences. It is initially not defined. 

You can set your file path for User Actors within Isadora, under Actors -> Set Global User Actors Folder...