Pencil is traditional animation software that allows users to create 2D animations. It has various tools like the timeline, layers, and palettes to help animate frames. Key shortcuts allow quick access to common tasks like creating/opening documents, undo/redo, and exporting animations. Layers are organized by type (image, sound, camera) and displayed on individual tracks in the timeline to show changes over frames.

1. Pencil Traditional Animation Software
Quick Reference Guide
Pencil Workspace Tools Palette
Display Palette
Timeline Palette
Fundamental Tasks
To create a new document Click > New
To open a document Click > Open…
To open a recent document Click > Open Recent…
To save your document Click > Save
To save document with another name Click > Save As…
To export your document Click > Export
To detach all palettes Click > Detach All Palettes
To import sound Click > Import Sound…
To pan Click the tool and click-drag the canvas
To zoom Click the tool and right-click-drag up and down
Keyboard Shortcuts
Create New Ctrl+N
Open a Document Ctrl+O
Save Document Ctrl+S
Save Document As Ctrl+ Shift+S
Undo Ctrl+Z
Redo Ctrl+Shift+Z
Help Ctrl+?
Copy Ctrl+C
Paste Ctrl+V
Select All Ctrl+A
Import an Image Ctrl+I
Hide/Unhide Current Layer H
Show Outlines Only F1
Create New Frame Enter
Next Frame D
Previous Frame S
Export as X-Sheet Ctrl+Alt+X
Export as Images Ctrl+Alt+S
Export as Movie Ctrl+Alt+M
Export as Flash Ctrl+Alt+F
Pencil - Traditional Animation Software www.pencil-animation.org

2. Pencil Quick Reference Guide
Definitions
2D animation The creation of moving illustrations or drawings in a two-dimensional environment. Illustrations can
be hand-drawn “cel” animations or computer-aided drawings created with animation software.
Bitmap image A computer graphic consisting of “pixels” on a grid. Each “pixel” contains color information for the
image.
Frame One complete image out of the sequence of images that make up the whole animation. Equivalent to
an animation “cel” in hand-drawn illustrations, in Pencil the frame is one complete image on the
canvas.
Key A placeholder on the Pencil timeline that contains information about what the layer should show or
produce at the frame where it is located. A key defines pivotal points of motion in the animation
sequence.
Layer The underlying structure of a Pencil animation. A Pencil document is organized in layers. The four
types of layers are: bitmap image, vector image, sound, and camera.
Onion skin view A view option to display the previous and/or subsequent key frame as semi-transparent.
Timeline A frame-by-frame layout of the entire animation over time. Since all animations are linear, timelines
can be numbered from the beginning of the animation to the end of the animation using any interval
of time. In Pencil the timeline is located at the bottom of the screen and shows the existing layers.
Track A portion of the timeline corresponding to a layer. Each layer has a track, which can change as a
function of time.
Traditional animation The illusion of movement created by viewing a sequence of illustrations in rapid succession.
Traditionally, the illustrations were hand drawn using a pencil and paper.
Vector image An alternative to the bitmap image, vector images are based on mathematical equations defining the
lines, shapes, and points that form the image.
X-sheet Also called an exposure sheet or a dope sheet, it is a worksheet that provides specific instructions for
how the animation should be captured. It is used to plan the timing and action and includes details on
the field, camera, and action.
Pencil - Traditional Animation Software www.pencil-animation.org