By default, the first selected layer in a new document is a bitmap image layer. Using the standard drawing tools (pen, pencil, brush, paint bucket.), you can draw a picture in one of the image layers. In fact, disregarding the tracks and animation controls in the the time line (which can be all hidden by dragging the vertical separator in the time line), one can use Pencil as a drawing drawing program. The first thing you might want do to with Pencil is drawing. If on the contrary, you want to concentrate on the selected layer and hide all the other layers, press again the circle to turn it blank.
However, if you wish to see all the image layers at full opacity (as they will appear in the final rendering), press the circle above all the layers to turn it black. By default, the other image layers are semi-transparent, to help you focus on the selected layer. If the currently selected layer is an image layer, it is shown in the canvas view at full opacity. A deactivated image layer is hidden from the canvas view. Layers can be activated or deactivated by clicking the circle at the very left of their icon. Layer properties, such as their name, can be changed by double-clicking on the name. The order affects the way image layers are displayed on top of each other it does not affect the sound and camera layers. You can change the layer order by dragging their name. Layers To select a layer that you want to edit, just click on it in the layer list (or use the up and down arrows). Note that you can loop the animation, as well as set the number of frames per seconds. To play the animation, use the controls in the time line. The current frame is indicated by the red bar and can be changed by moving the red bar to scrub through your animation (or use the left and right arrows). The sequence of these images creates an animation. For image layers (ie bitmap and vector), each key corresponds to a different image. To add or delete keys at a particular frame in a layer track, use the or buttons next to "Keys" (shortcut: type "return" to create a new frame).
Each key contains information about what the layer should show or produce at the frame where the key is located. This is done by inserting keys (the little grey rectangles) at certain frames in the track.
By default, a new document contains a bitmap layer and a vector layer on top of it, but you can add and delete layers as you wish (using either the and buttons next to "Layers", or the menu Layer).Įach layer has a track which enables you to change it as a function of time. The Time Line window at the bottom of the screen shows the existing layers. There are currently four types of layers: bitmap image, vector image, sound and camera.
Overview A Pencil document is organised in layers.
User Manual - Pencil 0.4.3b by Pascal Naidon - July 21st 2007 (to be completed) Overview Layers Drawing Bitmap drawing Vector drawing Zoom, rotation Animating Onion skin Adjusting keys Importing images Camera Sound Example Vector drawing example Bitmap drawing Saving and Exporting
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Pencil - a traditional 2D animation software