# OpenShot 3.5.0: Key Performance Improvements and New Tools for Video Editors
On March 20, 2026, version 3.5.0 of the cross-platform video editor OpenShot was released. The project uses Python and PyQt5 for the interface, C++ and FFmpeg for video processing, HTML5 with JavaScript and AngularJS for the timeline. Builds are available for Linux (AppImage), Windows, and macOS. Source code is on GitHub under the GNU license. Compared to 3.1 (December 2022) and the previous release (December 2025), the new version fixes 59 bugs and adds optimizations.
OpenShot supports most video, audio, and image formats via FFmpeg, including SVG. Features include scaling, cropping, clip merging, transitions, overlaying semi-transparent layers, visual effects, and a multi-track editing timeline with drag-and-drop.
Key New Features in Version 3.5.0
Developers focused on performance and usability. Here are the key changes:
- New default timeline: accelerated scaling, scrolling, editing; added keyframe panel.
- Overall 35% speedup, especially in effects and frame processing.
- Improved export: smaller file sizes at high quality, GPU acceleration for decoding/encoding.
- Increased stability thanks to expanded UI tests and full playback cycle.
- Audio transitions for smooth sound fading.
- Mask support in all effects: improved animated masks, new controls.
- New chroma key: soft edges, high quality, improved performance; faster audio import/processing.
- Experimental ComfyUI integration for AI workflows.
- Fixes in editing, playback, caching, platform-specific issues.
Real-time preview recoding is preserved, and the interface remains intuitive for mid/senior developers working with video in projects.
Technical Architecture and Compatibility
The libopenshot core in C++ integrates FFmpeg for decoding/encoding. This provides support for H.264, H.265, VP9, and other codecs without additional plugins. The PyQt5 interface allows customization via Python scripts.
For senior specialists, the multi-track system is useful: elements can be moved between tracks with the mouse, keyframe animations are supported. New mask support simplifies compositing—masks are animated with opacity and position controls.
Experimental ComfyUI integration provides access to node-based AI workflows: effect generation, upscaling via Stable Diffusion-like models directly in the editor. Requires separate ComfyUI installation.
GPU acceleration uses FFmpeg with hardware decoding (NVENC, VAAPI, VideoToolbox), reducing CPU load by 35% in typical scenarios.
What Matters
- 35% speedup and GPU support reduce render times for complex projects.
- Masks and improved chroma key are suitable for VFX tasks without external tools.
- New timeline with keyframe panel speeds up nonlinear editing.
- Stability improved thanks to 59 fixes and UI tests.
- ComfyUI integration is a step toward AI in desktop video editors.
— Editorial Team
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