Sketch Copenhagen (2025.3)

Product Introduction

1. Sketch Copenhagen (2025.3) is a major update to the design software optimized for macOS Tahoe, featuring a complete interface redesign, enhanced layout tools, and improved workspace organization.
2. The update focuses on streamlining design workflows through context-aware tools, advanced layout flexibility, and privacy-focused image processing, while maintaining compatibility with modern macOS design standards.

Main Features

1. The redesigned contextual toolbar dynamically adapts to selected layers and active tools, integrating a rewritten Inspector with floating color panels, numeric scrubbing fields, and ⌥-key alternate functions for advanced controls.
2. Stacks now support wrapping layouts, allowing horizontal or vertical containers to overflow into multiple rows/columns with configurable alignment and gap settings for complex responsive designs.
3. One-click background removal uses Apple's on-device machine learning to process images locally, offering separate modes for human subjects and objects without transmitting data to external servers.
4. Workspace organization now uses infinitely nestable folders (replacing Projects/Collections) with inherited permissions from parent folders, enabling hierarchical document management while maintaining team collaboration security.

Problems Solved

1. Addresses macOS Tahoe compatibility challenges by rebuilding core UI components like the Inspector and toolbar while adding functionality improvements rather than superficial visual updates.
2. Eliminates manual layout adjustments for overflow content through wrapping Stacks, reducing time spent recreating grid systems or responsive components in UI/UX projects.
3. Solves privacy concerns in image editing by implementing local ML processing for background removal, avoiding third-party cloud services that compromise sensitive design assets.

Unique Advantages

1. Unlike competitors, integrates macOS Tahoe design language at the framework level with native performance optimizations, including 5x faster document opening speeds and improved CSS export accuracy.
2. Introduces industry-first floating Inspector panels with numeric scrubbing and modifier-key workflows, enabling precise property adjustments without dialog box interruptions.
3. Combines enterprise-grade workspace management (through nested permission inheritance) with consumer-friendly features like persistent text style memory across documents and frame-specific link sharing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What macOS version is required for Sketch Copenhagen? Sketch 2025.3 requires macOS Sonoma 14.0.0 or newer, with specific optimizations for the Tahoe UI framework including contextual toolbar behaviors and Metal-enhanced rendering.
2. How does background removal handle data privacy? All image processing occurs locally via Apple's Core ML frameworks, ensuring no image data leaves the device while supporting both portrait segmentation and object isolation modes.
3. Can collaborators without the update access nested folders? Users must upgrade to Copenhagen to view or edit nested folder structures, as legacy versions lack the hierarchical organization system replacing previous Projects/Collections.
4. What performance improvements are included? Document opening is 5x faster through optimized asset loading, with additional gains in CSS export efficiency through shorthand radius outputs and layer-name comments in copied code.
5. Are API changes backward-compatible? The update introduces breaking changes including deprecated Blur.isCustomGlass and new SymbolInstance methods, requiring plugin developers to consult updated SDK documentation for compatibility adjustments.