Compositors

Compositors are individuals or systems responsible for combining separate elements into a single, final result. The term spans multiple disciplines, each with its own methods and tools.

In traditional publishing and printing, a compositor, or typesetter, arranged type and images for printing plates, preparing pages for press. They worked from manuscripts, used metal type or digital fonts, and produced proofs for verification. The role evolved from hot metal typesetting to computer-based layouts.

In film, television, and photography, a compositor is a visual effects artist who combines multiple image elements—such as live-action plates, CGI, and matte paintings—into a single shot. Workflows include keying, rotoscoping, color matching, and depth cues. Tools commonly used include Nuke, After Effects, and Fusion.

In music, the term compositor is rarely used in English where composer is standard, but it may be encountered in some contexts or languages to refer to someone who writes music.

In computing, a compositor is a windowing component that renders the final image by combining buffers from multiple application windows. This enables effects like transparency, shadows, and animations. Examples include Wayland compositors (such as Weston) and X11-based composites (such as Compiz, KWin, and Mutter). They manage double buffering and screen effects to create a cohesive desktop display.

The term thus covers roles and systems that perform the act of bringing together separate elements into a unified whole, across publishing, visual media, music, and computing.