Main Menu

Name

Description

1

File

Show / Hide File Menu

• Creates an empty project, saves or opens a Cartoon Animator project file (*.ctProject).
• Chooses and opens a project from the Recent File. You do not need to search around for your recently opened project files. The maximum number in the list is 7.
• Switches to the character or prop Composer Mode.
• Converts between props and scene objects.
• Imports a Cartoon Animator model (*.ctActor) or character animation (*,ctMotion, *.ctPerform, *.ctFcs, *.ct3DMotion, *.rlMotion) or prop motion (*.ctAnim).
• Exits Cartoon Animator.

2

Edit

Show / Hide Edit Menu

• Undoes (Ctrl + Z) or redoes (Ctrl + Y) the last operation.
• Selects or duplicates characters, props or objects.
• Applies Render Style to objects.
• Sets flip, link, visible or opacity keys to the selected characters, props or objects.
• Toggles the Isolate Selection tool for selected objects.
• Performs Timeline commands (loop, speed, break) or sets the 3D motion options, aligns angle, extends clip length for the selected Motion Clip.
• Edit the pivots, bones and sprites of the selected objects in your favorite bitmap editor.
• Invokes the Project Settings and Preference panels.

3

Create

Show / Hide Create Menu

• Creates the actor face from an image file (*.jpg, *.png, *.bmp).
• Loads the media material for props, image layers or background from image files (*.jpg, *.jpeg, *.bmp, *.gif, *.png, *.tga, *.gif) or video files (*.avi, *.wmv, *.rm, *.rmvb, *.mpeg, *.mpg, *.mpe, *.mp4, *.asf, *.asx, *.wm, *.flv, *.mov, *.popvideo, *.swf).
• Imports sounds or background music from an audio file (*.wav, *.mp3).
• Creates a script for the selected actor by recording voice, Text-to-Speech Editor, loading an audio file (*.wav, *.mp3) or Cartoon script file (*.ctFcs, *.cts, *.clp, *.ct7script, *.ct7motion).
• Creates a custom path.
• Creates a new object from a blank new SVG file or an existing SVG file using an SVG Editor.
• Creates a new object from a blank new PSD file or an existing PSD file with the Bitmap Editor.
• Launches the Render Style to adjust the SWF objects.
• Launch SVG Color Adjustment panel to modify the color of SVG-based objects.

4

Animation

Show / Hide Animation Menu

• Launches the Action Menu, Action Menu Editor, Sprite Editor, Layer Editor, Motion Pilot or Path Properties panel for the selected actor, prop, or object.
• Launches the 2D Motion Key Editor, Import 3D Motion, Face Puppet and Lips Editor panels for the selected actor.
• Shows the Prop Key Editor on the Property Tool Bar for the selected sprite of the prop.
• Launches the Text Editor or Sound Modify panel.
• Sets keys for the selected prop or scene object on the Property Tool Bar.
• Adds keys on the selected track (Transform, Flip, Facial Layer, Face Motion), or sets a transform key for the object back to the origin size and position (0,0,0) of the scene.
• Aligns the selected motion clip data (root, head, right / left hand, or right / left leg) to the previous clip.
• Inserts extra frames to the current project or adds flags in the Collect Clip track of Project on the Timeline.
• Removes motion clips of the selected actor or removes all animation data in the current project.

5

Control

Show / Hide Control Menu

• Performs Play Bar commands, playbacks, pauses, stops, or jumps to the start, end, previous or next frame.
• Turns on/off the voice or music volume in the current project.
• Snaps the 3D motion angle to the previous motion clip.
• Snaps the object movements to the grid line.
• Toggles to orthographic camera or perspective camera mode.
• Enters the Camera Record Mode.

6

Render

Show / Hide Render Menu

• Previews the output image of the current frame.
• Exports the current project as image, video and/or audio files.
• Exports the current project as object sequences for further editing in an external video editor.
• Exports the current project as PSD file for further editing in an external Bitmap Editor.
• Downloads the Cartoon Animator - AE Script and exports selected objects for further editing in Adobe After Effects.
• Exports one or more objects as a transparent PNG or animated GIF file into the clipboard.

7

View

Show / Hide View Menu

• Shows / hides the on-screen display (FPS, grid line, world axis, stage / composer mode display).
• Enters the full screen mode (F11 and F12).
  • Full Screen Mode: Enters the full screen mode while showing the safe area.
    
  • Full Screen Mode w/o Safe Area: Enters the full screen mode while hiding the safe area.
    
• Performs the Camera Tool Bar commands, zooms in / out of the scene, pans or rotates the camera, switches to the different view modes of the camera, or enters the 3D view mode.

8

Window

Show / Hide Window Menu

• Restores all the tool bars and panels to the default workspace (docking places).
• Shows / hides the tool bars, Timeline, Content Manager, Scene Manager and Packager panels.

9

Plugins

Show / Hide Plugins Menu

• Launches the Motion LIVE 2D plugin panel for capturing facial motions via a web camera or iPhone. Please refer to the Cartoon Animator Motion LIVE 2D Plugin Online Manual for more information.

10

Help

Show / Hide Help Menu

• Launches the Help document or Shortcut tables, goes to the official web page for demo videos and tutorials, or views the product FAQs and gets further assistance.
• Logins with the member account.
• Checks for available program updates.
• Accesses the Reallusion Marketplace of Cartoon Animator.
• Gets free bonus content or purchases trial content.
• Activates the content you have paid for or verifies all of your content in the Template and Custom libraries.
• Accesses the home page of Reallusion or Cartoon Animator.
• Shows the product information for Cartoon Animator.