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Key Concepts

CE.SDK is built on two distinct technical layers that work together seamlessly:

The different layers CE.SDK is made of, see description below.

This intentional separation gives you powerful advantages:

  1. Cross-platform consistency – The engine is cross-compiled to native web, iOS, Android, and Node.js, ensuring identical output everywhere
  2. Custom UI – Build your own UI for simpler tools and workflows
  3. Headless automation – Run the engine independently for automations and batch processing, both client-side and server-side

Creative Engine#

The Creative Engine powers all core editing operations. It handles rendering, processing, and manipulation across images, layouts, text, video, audio, and vectors.

What the Engine Does:

  • Maintains the scene file (your structured content)
  • Renders the canvas in real-time
  • Handles block positioning and resizing
  • Applies filters and effects to images
  • Manages text editing and typography
  • Controls templates with role-based permissions
  • Displays smart guides and snap lines

Every engine capability is exposed through a comprehensive API, letting you build custom UIs, workflows, and automations.

Headless / Engine only#

Use the engine without any UI for powerful automation scenarios:

Client-side automation Perfect for in-browser batch operations and dynamic content generation without server dependencies.

Server-side automation with Node.js Use the Node.JS SDK for following scenarios:

  • High-resolution processing – Edit on the client with preview quality, then render server-side with full-resolution assets
  • Bulk generation – Create a large volume of design variations for variable data printing
  • Non-blocking workflows – Let users continue designing while exports process in the background

Plugin development When building CE.SDK plugins, you get direct API access to manipulate canvas elements programmatically.

User Interface Components#

CE.SDK includes pre-built UI configurations optimized for different use cases:

More configurations are coming based on customer needs.

UI Customization#

While UI configurations provide a solid foundation, you maintain control over the user experience:

  • Apply custom color schemes and branding
  • Enable or disable specific features
  • Add custom asset libraries (fonts, images, graphics, videos, audio)
  • Extend functionality through the plugin system (e.g. adding AI features, custom workflows, etc)

The plugin architecture lets you add custom buttons and panels throughout the interface, ensuring the editor feels native to your product.