Interface Overview

UI_1

OpenToonz interface is organized into rooms, also known as workspaces: each room is a different collection of windows which are laid out at specific positions on the screen.

Using Rooms

UI_rooms

Available rooms are listed on the far right of the menu bar. Each of them always displays the content of the current scene.

Rooms can be named and their order can be rearranged. New rooms can be added and existing rooms can be deleted. When a room is added it is empty; to configure it, panes can be added one by one (see below).

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To enter a room:

Click the related tab on the far right of the menu bar.

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To name a room:

Double-click the tab and type the name you want to assign to the room.

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To order room tabs:

Click and drag the tab to the new position.

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To add a new room:

Right-click in the room tab area and choose New Room from the menu that opens.

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To delete a room:

Right-click the room tab and choose Delete Room "<Name>" from the menu that opens. The current room cannot be deleted.

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To return to the set of rooms provided with OpenToonz:

Choose Windows → Workspace → Reset to Default Rooms.

Customizing Rooms

Rooms can be modified by setting different sizes to different panes, and adding or removing panes. To prevent the accidental addition or removal of panes, rooms configuration can be locked.

Most of the panes can be maximized to fill the full interface, and can be added as floating windows by using the Windows menu.

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To resize a pane in the room:

Click any vertical or horizontal separator and drag it to the new position.

注釈

Some panes like the toolbar and the level strip have some fixed size, therefore they cannot be resized.

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To open a pane as a floating window:

Select in the Windows menu the pane you want to open.

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To resize a floating window:

Click and drag the border or corner of a window.

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To close a floating window or a dialog:

Click the close button at the right of the title bar.

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To add a pane to a room:

  1. Use the Windows menu to open the pane as a floating window.
  2. Click and drag its title bar to move it around and release to dock it according to the highlighted insertion point.

注釈

Trying to dock a pane to the leftmost/rightmost part of the interface may fail if the main OpenToonz window is maximized at that moment. To overcome this, you can restore the main window size, dock the desired pane, and then maximize it back.

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To remove a pane from a room:

  1. Click and drag the title bar of the pane you want to remove to undock it from the room.
  2. Close the floating window.

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To maximize, or minimize a maximized pane:

Double-click its title bar.

注釈

Some panes like the toolbar and the level strip have some fixed size, therefore they cannot be maximized.

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To lock/unlock the rooms configuration:

Activate/deactivate the Windows → Workspace → Lock Room Panes option.

Room Panes

Below there is a list of the panes (in the same order in which they appear in the Windows menu) that can be used to build rooms and that can be opened as floating windows.

Batch Servers

UI_batch

The Batch Servers window allows you to process the batch list by using the render farm, and contains information about the list of server (rendering) nodes defined for the farm.

See Monitoring the Server Nodes .

Cleanup Settings

UI_cleanup

The Cleanup Settings pane allows you to define the parameters for the clean-up process of scanned raster images, in order to convert them into Toonz Raster images, ready to be painted in OpenToonz.

See Cleaning-up Scanned Drawings .

Color Model

UI_colormodel

The color model viewer displays the image, or animation level, you loaded as reference to paint the current animation level.

See Using a Color Model .

File Browser

UI_filebrowser

The file browser allows you to load and save files, and to access projects.

On the left there is a file tree with some main folders containing material stored on your computer: My Computer, Network, My Documents, History, Library and Projects. You can open folders and sub-folders in order to retrieve files that are displayed in the area on the right.

See Managing Projects and Using the File Browser .

Flipbook

UI_flipbook

The flipbook can display animation levels, clips or sequences of images. It can be used to check levels for instance before loading them, or to control a rendered sequence.

See Using the Flipbook .

Function Editor

UI_functioneditor

The function editor maps objects and FX transformations with key values and related interpolations by using a spreadsheet or a graph editor. It is divided into two sections: on the left there is an area where the spreadsheet or graph editor is displayed, on the right top is an area where the interpolation of the current transformation segment is displayed, and on the right bottom is the objects/FX tree.

See Using the Function Editor .

Level Strip

UI_levelstrip

The level strip displays the sequence of drawings belonging to the level currently selected in the Xsheet.

It helps you to edit the sequence of drawings and to see all the drawings of the current level, even if those drawings are not exposed in a Xsheet.

See Editing Animation Levels .

Palette

UI_palette

It displays the styles defined for the current level, or in case it is inactive the styles defined for a previously selected level.

See The Palette Window .

Scene Cast

UI_scenecast

The scene cast pane lets you control the files loaded in the scene, save them and load new ones. It can be organized in folders and sub-folders.

See Using the Scene Cast .

Schematic

UI_schematic

The schematic can alternatively display stage information or special FX usage.

The stage schematic displays as nodes all the objects defined in a scene, i.e. columns, pegbars, cameras, the table and motion paths, and allows you to manage the way they are linked to each other.

The FX schematic allows you to apply FX to the content of Xsheet columns, and to manage the way they are applied. All the columns and FX are displayed as nodes that can be connected in order to set the way FX affect the scene content.

See Using the Stage Schematic and Using the FX Schematic .

Studio Palette

UI_studiopalette

The studio palette allows you to store an unlimited number of level palettes. From here any palette can be retrieved and assigned to the current level in order to paint it, with no need to define the same styles again and again. It also includes a viewer displaying the styles of the currently selected palette.

See Using the Studio Palette .

Style Editor

UI_styleeditor

The style editor allows you to modify the palette styles. You can choose the type of style among color, texture, vector and raster. There also is a settings tab where you can decide some parameters for the style.

See Editing Styles .

Tasks

UI_tasks

The Tasks window contains the task tree with all the tasks submitted to the batch processing, and information about the task currently selected in the tree. From the task tree you can start or stop a task execution, or remove it.

See Managing and Executing Render Tasks .

Message Center

UI_messagecenter

The message center displays in a list the messages OpenToonz is sending to the user. You can set filters on the messages showed in the window using the appropriate radio buttons, or you can clear the list completely by pressing the Clear button.

Toolbar

UI_toolbar

The toolbar contains tools to draw, select and edit drawings, and to animate objects like the camera, columns and pegbars. The tools in the toolbar can only be used in the main viewer.

注釈

If the toolbar is too short to display all the tools, it can be scrolled by using arrow buttons available at its ends.

animate Animate modifies the position, rotation and size of the current objects (see Animating Objects ).

selection Selection performs a selection and transforms it (see Using the Selection Tool ).

brush Brush draws in the work area in freehand mode (see Drawing with the Brush Tool ).

geometric Geometric draws geometric shapes (see Drawing with the Geometric Tool ).

type Type adds text by setting the font and size (see Adding Text ).

fill Fill fills drawing areas with the current style (see Filling Areas ).

paint_brush Paint Brush paints lines and areas in Toonz raster drawings in freehand mode. (see Filling Areas ).

eraser Eraser deletes vectors in vector drawings, and painted areas and lines in raster drawings (see Drawing Tools ).

tape Tape joins two open ends of one or two vectors in vector drawings, or closes gaps in raster drawings (see Joining and Splitting ).

style_picker Style Picker picks a style from the current drawing, that becomes the current style in the palette and in the style editor.

RGB_picker RGB Picker picks red, green and blue values from the viewer content, and applies them to the current style (see Plain Colors ).

cpe Control Point Editor modifies the vector shape by editing its control points (see Editing Vector Control Points ).

pinch Pinch modifies the vector shape by clicking and dragging anywhere on the vector (see Changing the Bend of Vectors ).

pump Pump locally modifies the vector thickness by clicking on the section you want to affect and then dragging up or down (see Using Other Modifier Tools ).

magnet Magnet deforms several vectors at once by clicking the area you want to affect and dragging (see Using Other Modifier Tools ).

bender Bender bends vectors in vector drawings (see Using Other Modifier Tools ).

iron Iron removes creases from vectors by moving the cursor on the vector you want to flatten (see Using Other Modifier Tools ).

cutter Cutter splits a vector in two sections when clicking on it (see Joining and Splitting ).

skeleton Skeleton defines character models, and animates them as in cutout animation (see Using the Skeleton Tool )

hook Hook defines reference points to be used in the stage schematic to move an object, or link one object to another (see Using Hooks ).

tracker Tracker tracks specific regions in a sequence of images (see Tracking Points ).

plastic Plastic builds a mesh that allows to deform and animate a character or part of it (see Using Plastic tool ).

zoom Zoom zooms in and out the viewer content; after you click you can drag up to zoom in the work area, or drag down to zoom out.

hand Hand pans over the viewer content; if the 3D view is activated, the Hand tool lets you pan over the 3D view as well.

rotate Rotate rotates the viewer content; if the 3D view is activated, the Rotate tool lets you change the point of view.

Tool Options Bar

UI_tooloptionsbar

The tool options bar displays settings for the current tool, if it has any.

For example it lets you set the thickness and other properties of the Brush tool.

注釈

If the tool options bar is too short to display all the tool options, it can be scrolled by using arrow buttons available at its ends.

Command Bar

UI_commandbar

The Command Bar is a place where the user can display favorite OpenToonz tools and commands to have them readily available.

The Command Bar pane can be docked in any part of the OpenToonz UI.

注釈

If the Command Bar is too short to display all the command buttons, a double-arrow symbol will appear at the right end of it, allowing to display a drop down menu with the rest of them.

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To display the Command Bar:

  • Choose Windows → Command Bar.

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To customize the Command Bar buttons:

  1. Choose Windows → Command Bar to open the Command Bar.
  2. Right click on it and select Customize Command Bar from the menu that opens. The Customize Command Bar window will open.

UI_commandbar_window

  1. To add a command: Search for a command in the Toolbar Items list (right) and drag it to the Command Bar list (left).
  2. To add a separator: At the end of the Toolbar Items list (right), drag the ----Separator---- item to the Command Bar list (left).
  3. To delete a command: Locate the command in the Command Bar list (left), right click on it and select Remove from the menu that opens.
  4. Click OK to accept the changes or Cancel to discard them.

Viewer

UI_viewer

The viewer is the work area where you can draw images and see at the same time the result of your compositing. It is endless and you can scroll, zoom in, zoom out and rotate it the way you prefer.

It has different modes of visualization among which you can choose the more suitable to the operation you are performing.

See Using the Viewer and Previewing the Animation .

ComboViewer

UI_comboviewer

The comboviewer integrates in a single pane a viewer, horizontal toolbar and a tool options bar. It's and alternative work area where you can draw images and see at the same time the result of your compositing. It is endless and you can scroll, zoom in, zoom out and rotate it the way you prefer.

It has different modes of visualization among which you can choose the more suitable to the operation you are performing.

See Using the Viewer and Previewing the Animation .

Xsheet

UI_xsheet

The Xsheet allows you to manage the scene content, in the same manner as the timeline. It is organized in columns, and columns are divided into cells, representing the content of that column in that particular frame. In the columns you can load animation levels, clips, images, audio files or other Xsheets.

Each column has its own header containing information about its content. The column on the far left displays the frame number, with a cursor placed on the current frame. The headers area and the frame column are always visible, even when scrolling the Xsheet area; in this way it's easier to understand how the scene is built.

Frames are rendered reading images from left to right in each cell row.

See Working in Xsheet .

Timeline

UI_timeline

The timeline allows you to manage the scene content, in the same manner as the Xsheet. It is organized in horizontal layers, and layers are divided into cells, representing the content of that layer in that particular frame. In the layers you can load animation levels, clips, images, audio files or other timelines.

At the leftmost part each layer has its own header containing information about its content. At the top part of the timeline there is a time ruler that displays the frame number, with a cursor placed on the current frame. The headers area and the time ruler are always visible, even when scrolling the timeline area; in this way it's easier to understand how the scene is built.

Frames are rendered reading images from bottom to top in each cell column.

See Working in Xsheet .

History

UI_history

The history pane, lets you check and undo/redo the history of the latest actions performed in the current OpenToonz scene.

See Assigning Memory for the Undo Operation .

Record Audio

UI_recordaudio

The record audio window, lets you record a live audio source, listen to it, and insert it into a new audio column of the Xsheet. The insertion point will be located at the right of the selected cell column, and starting at the selected cell frame.

注釈

Currently, this window cannot be docked to form part of a room, like the other ones in the Windows menu. Instead it must be opened as a floating window, when needed.

Customizing the Interface Appearance

The appearance of the OpenToonz interface can be customized to suit any production need by choosing a specific language and interface theme.

OpenToonz allows users to choose a specific language for the software interface, including menus, commands, tooltips, and on-screen messages. Currently available languages are: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, Japanese and Chinese.

There are also several included themes to choose from: Default, Blue, Dark, Light and Neutral.

_images/themes.png

The OpenToonz interface theme set to Default and to Light.

The interface themes are defined by means of a QSS file, whose concepts, terminology, and syntax are inspired by CSS files (HTML Cascading Style Sheets). The QSS files also refers to a set of PNG images that are used to create interface widgets.

These files are stored in a folder named as the QSS file, and located in the C:\OpenToonz stuff\config\qss folder on Windows and OpenToonz stuff\config\qss folder on Macintosh.

注釈

The QSS file for Macintosh is named with the _mac suffix.

The QSS file can be edited with any text editor software, e.g. Notepad or TextEdit; the PNG images with any image editor software. Editing the QSS file requires some skill in CSS language, but some changes like colors of pane elements, can be easily done by expressing them with red, green and blue values.

注釈

The QSS files defining the colors and the images used in the OpenToonz interface have to be written according to a specific syntax, otherwise OpenToonz interface will not be displayed properly. If you decide to edit a QSS file, make a backup copy first in case you need to revert the file to the original version.

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To choose the interface language:

  1. Choose File → Preferences... → Interface.
  2. In the Language* option menu choose the language you want to use in the interface.
  3. Restart OpenToonz to have the interface in the selected language.

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To choose the interface theme:

  1. Choose File → Preferences... → Interface.
  2. In the Theme option menu choose the style to be applied to the interface.

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To create a new theme:

  1. Navigate to C:\OpenToonz stuff\config\qss folder on Windows and OpenToonz stuff\config\qss folder on Macintosh.
  2. Duplicate one of the already existing style folder.
  3. Rename the folder and the QSS files inside it with the name you want to assign to the style.
  4. Edit the QSS file and the PNG images contained in the new folder.

注釈

The new style will be available in the Preferences dialog the next time you run OpenToonz.

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To edit style QSS file:

Open and edit with a text editor software (e.g. Notepad or TextEdit) the QSS files available in the style folder.

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To edit style images:

Open and edit with an image editor software the PNG files available in the style folder.