Pencil2D for Windows

The timeline is where Pencil2D’s hand-drawn animation takes shape: drawings are arranged across frames so you can build motion one image at a time. Pencil2D combines that frame-by-frame workflow with raster and vector drawing tools, letting an animation move from rough sketches to cleaner artwork in the same project.

Timeline and onion skin

Create a drawing on a frame, then add drawings on later frames to develop the movement. The timeline keeps those images in sequence, making it straightforward to move between poses and play the animation to check its timing.

Onion skin displays neighboring frames as faint references while you draw. That view makes it easier to keep a character or object aligned from frame to frame and judge how far it should move. It is especially handy for checking a short motion test or loop as the drawings take shape.

Raster and vector drawing

Pencil2D supports both bitmap (raster) and vector artwork. The two approaches can serve different stages of a drawing: raster tools suit loose sketching and painted marks, while vector artwork keeps lines and shapes editable. Switch between the workflows as you sketch, refine linework, and add color.

• Use frame-by-frame drawings to build traditional 2D animation.
• Combine raster and vector work within an animation project.

Quick Reference Guide

The Help menu includes a Quick Reference Guide for looking up Pencil2D’s tools and functions. It provides a direct way to identify a control while working through the drawing and timeline workflow. New animators can use it alongside the project itself, trying a tool on a frame and checking the result in playback.

System requirements: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11 · 32-bit and 64-bit

Can Pencil2D work with both raster and vector drawings?

Yes. It supports bitmap (raster) and vector workflows, which can be switched as you draw.

What does onion skin do in Pencil2D?

It shows nearby frames as faint references, so you can compare poses and keep movement consistent while drawing.

Where can I look up Pencil2D’s tools?

Open the Help menu and choose Quick Reference Guide.