Keyboard functions

<F1>Show/hide user guide
<F2>Show/hide the safe area, the crosshair, the global and local coordinate systems and the grid. Some properties, like the Launch direction of the particle layer, are visualised in this mode when they are the active property.
<F3>When the mouse is inside the tool window, the standard Windows colour dialog is presented. When the mouse is outside the tool window, the colour of the current mouse position is copied: it's a colour picker! This only works when you have selected a colour property, like for example the Colour property of the text layer.
<F4>Starts playing the show from the current position
<F5>Refresh
<F6>Change font. This only works when you have selected a text or scroller layer
<F7>Change vector
<F8>Change texture
<F9>Change effect
<F11>Show/hide the tool window
<F12>Show/hide the browser panel
 
<Ctrl><F1>Technical info
<Ctrl><F2>Fix compatibility issues with old shows
 
<Ctrl> AChange all texts
<Ctrl> BTurn the active colour map layer into a show
<Ctrl> CCopy text from textboxs (standard Windows functionality)
<Ctrl> DRemove all dynamic content
<Ctrl> ESet all fonts to the default font
<Ctrl> FFind text
<Ctrl> GFind next
<Ctrl> HCopy the rotation property of the camera to the active layer
<Ctrl> ICopy the position property of the camera to the active layer
<Ctrl> JRender the layer bounding box
<Ctrl> KOptions
<Ctrl> LSet show length (duration)
<Ctrl> MMerge shows. This adds all layers of another show to the current show to the current time.
<Ctrl> NNew show
<Ctrl> OOpen show
<Ctrl> PPause animation
<Ctrl> QLayer properties
<Ctrl> RSet resolution
<Ctrl> SSave show
<Ctrl> TDisplay the generated textures (colour maps, cube maps and shadow maps) in <F2> mode
<Ctrl> UUnpacks the active model layer into submodels
<Ctrl> VPaste text from textboxs (standard Windows functionality)
<Ctrl> WMove menu
<Ctrl> XCut text from textboxs (standard Windows functionality)
<Ctrl> YRedo
<Ctrl> ZUndo
 
<Ctrl> 1,2,...Select layer 1,2,...
<Ctrl> ,Toggle visibility active layer
<Ctrl><Shift>Render only the active layer
 
<Ctrl><Alt>←Jump to the previous keyframe
<Ctrl><Alt>→Jump to the next keyframe
<Ctrl><Alt>↑Jump to the start of the show
<Ctrl><Alt>↓Jump to the last keyframe
<Ctrl><Alt> CCompile all effects (developer edition only)
<Ctrl><Alt> DDetach container layer from model layer. Learn more
<Ctrl><Alt> RSwitch robotic arm
<Ctrl><Alt> SSnap position active container layer to nearest container layer
 
<Alt> AChange all textures
<Alt> EExport as video
<Alt> GChange glyph
<Alt> MChange model
<Alt> PChange traced picture
<Alt> TChange text
<Alt> VVJ dialog
<Alt> WExport as picture
<Alt> 1,2,...Select property 1,2,...
<Alt> [Bring active layer backward
<Alt> ]Bring active layer forward
<Alt><Enter>Plays the show fullscreen
<Alt>←Back
<Alt>→Forward
 
<Tab>Wireframe mode
<Escape>Stops the show

Mouse functions

The active property can be adjusted by clicking and dragging in the render window. Moving the mouse horizontally while holding down the left button changes the 1st slider. Moving the mouse vertically while holding down the left button changes the 2nd slider. Moving the mouse vertically while holding down the right button changes the 3th slider. Position properties take the camera rotation into account.

The 3rd slider of the active property can also be adjusted with the mouse wheel.

Hold down the <Ctrl> key when dragging for small adjustments.

Hold down the <Alt> key when dragging for super small adjustments.

Hold down the <Shift> key when dragging for big adjustments.

The time can be adjusted by hovering over the timeline and rolling your mouse wheel. Use the <Ctrl>, <Alt> and <Shift> keys to control the displacement.

Selecting a layer

Select a layer by double clicking on it in the render window.

Hold down the <Ctrl> key to select a rotation joint property (JX) of a 3D model.

Hold down the <Alt> key to select a size joint property (SX) of a 3D model.

Hold down the <Shift> key to select a submodel of a 3D model: it sets the Submodel property. Click again to select all submodels.

Hold down the <Alt> and <Shift> keys to select the parent container layer.

Positioning the camera

Hold down the <Ctrl> and <Alt> keys to position the camera in front of the active layer.

Drag and drop functions

Drop a show file on the render window and it is opened.

Drop a picture file on the render window and it replaces the 1st texture of the active layer.

Drop a 3D model file on the render window and it replaces the model of the active model layer.

Camera control

Moving the camera

The camera position is set with the Position property of the camera layer. Adjusting this property works best with your mouse:

  • Select the camera layer
  • Select the Position property
  • Left/right click in the render window, continue holding down this button and move your mouse

Press <Alt> 1 to quickly select the Position property.

Rotating the camera

The camera rotation is set with the Rotation property of the camera layer. Adjusting this property works best with your mouse:

  • Select the camera layer
  • Select the Rotation property
  • Left/right click in the render window, continue holding down this button and move your mouse

Press <Alt> 2 to quickly select the Rotation property.

For gamers

When you are used to games, use WASD control:

WStep forward
AStep left
SStep backwards
DStep right

This works best when at the same time adjusting the rotation with your mouse: select the Rotation property of the camera layer and click and drag your mouse in the render window.