Get started

Keyboard shortcuts

Every key the studio answers to.

The studio answers to single keys for the things you do most: playing, versions, drawers and panels. Press ? in the studio, or click Keyboard shortcuts at the bottom of the rail, to see the main ones on screen.

The single-key shortcuts don't fire while you're typing in a field (the prompt box, the code editor, a name), or while you hold ⌘, Ctrl or Alt, so the browser's own shortcuts keep working. Where this page shows ⌘, use Ctrl on Windows.

Studio

KeyWhat it does
/Puts the cursor in Perlin's prompt box, opening the panel first if it's folded.
SpacePauses or plays the piece.
RRestarts the piece.
FPresents the piece full screen, or leaves present mode.
[Steps back to the previous version.
]Steps forward to the next version.
\Shows or hides Perlin's panel (on a computer).
WOpens Wallpaper & avatar.
?Shows or hides the list of shortcuts.
EscCloses or lets go of whatever is on top. See below.

Space, R and F need a piece on stage. W needs a piece that is running without an error. The version keys don't work while Perlin is building.

Esc closes one thing at a time, in this order: an image you're previewing, the asset viewer, the asset picker, the Generate assets panel, present mode, whatever is selected in the Motion panel, then an open drawer. It also closes the shortcuts list.

Panels and drawers

Press a drawer's key again to close it. Opening another drawer replaces the one that's open.

KeyWhat it does
HOpens or closes Versions.
LOpens or closes My pieces.
AOpens or closes Assets.
COpens or closes Code.
GOpens or closes the Gallery.
PShows or hides the Parameters panel.
MOpens or closes the Motion panel.

M needs a piece on stage and a screen at least 1024 pixels wide. When the stage is narrow, with the code drawer open for instance, the Parameters panel starts folded and P leaves it as it is: click the panel's title to open it.

Prompt box and fields

KeyWhereWhat it does
↵Prompt boxSends the prompt.
Shift ↵Prompt boxStarts a new line.
⌘ VAnywhere but another text fieldPastes a copied image as a reference image, or a copied PDF or text file for Perlin to read. Works in the prompt box too.
↵ or EscPiece titleSaves or cancels the new name.
↵ or EscA parameter's value, after you click itSets the number you typed, or cancels.
Shift while draggingA parameter's nameNudges the value in finer steps.
↵Generate assetsSends the request; Shift ↵ starts a new line.

Code editor

KeyWhat it does
⌘ ↵Runs the code in the editor. Changed code becomes a new version.
⌘ SDoes the same.

Motion panel

These work while the Motion panel is open.

KeyWhat it does
SpacePlays or pauses the timeline.
MCloses the panel.
Delete or BackspaceRemoves the selected keyframe or sound clip.
EscLets go of the selected keyframe, sound clip or layer.
Shift while dragging a sound clip or a layer's barPlaces it freely, without snapping to the playhead, keyframes or other edges.
Shift while scrubbing the rulerMoves the playhead smoothly instead of a frame at a time.
↑ or ↓ in a number fieldSteps the value up or down; add Shift for ten steps.
↵ in a fieldSets what you typed. In a text field Esc puts back what was there.
⌘ ↵ in a text box of several linesSets what you typed.

Stage layers

With the Motion panel open, click a layer on the stage to select it.

KeyWhat it does
← → ↑ ↓Nudges the selected layer a pixel.
Shift and an arrowNudges it ten pixels.
Delete or BackspaceRemoves the selected layer.
EscLets go of the layer.
Shift while moving a layerKeeps it to one direction, across or up and down.
⌘ while moving a layerMoves it freely, without snapping to the middle of the frame.
Shift while sizing a layerSizes it in steps of 10%.
Shift while turning a layerTurns it in steps of 15°.

Assets and the asset viewer

KeyWhereWhat it does
Shift and clickAssets drawerSelects every asset from the last one you picked to this one.
Double clickAssets drawerOpens the asset in the viewer.
EscA name you're typingCancels the new name or folder without closing the drawer.
← →Asset viewerShows the previous or next asset on show.
← →A sound's position slider, once you've tabbed to itMoves through the sound a tenth of its length at a time.
EscAsset viewerCloses it.

Dialogs

KeyWhereWhat it does
SpaceWallpaper & avatarPauses or plays the preview.
EscWallpaper & avatar, Embed code, Post a clip, the token shopCloses the dialog.
EscRender videoCloses the dialog, unless a render is under way.

Still stuck, or something here out of date? Tell us