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Using the Timeline to Control Layers and Animations

Learn how to use the Timeline in the editor to control animation duration, layer positioning, and effects.

Updated this week

The Timeline is one of the most powerful features in the design editor, allowing you to easily control the timing, animations, and order of your elements. With it, you can:

  • Adjust slide and layer durations.

  • Apply and customize animations.

  • Control the visual sequence of layers.

  • Preview specific frames instantly without playing the full design.

Whether you’re creating ads, presentations, or interactive visuals, the Timeline gives you precise control over how and when elements appear.

How the Timeline Works

The Timeline appears at the bottom of the editor and displays every layer in your design, along with its timing and animations. You can show or hide it by clicking the Timeline button in the lower-right corner of the editor.

A user shows and hides the timeline using the button in the sidebar.

Adjusting Slide Duration

There are two main ways to adjust a slide’s duration:

  1. Drag the time bar on the duration axis to make the slide longer or shorter.

  2. Enter a custom duration by double-clicking the time value and typing in the exact number of seconds.

A user adjust the slide duration using the timeline.

Adding and Customizing Animations

Animations help bring your designs to life. You can:

  • Apply build-in and build-out animations by choosing from a library of presets.

  • Use Advanced Mode for custom animations with precise controls.

  • Adjust animation length by dragging handles left or right, with real-time duration feedback in seconds.

A user looks into the build-in and build-out animation menus.

A user opens the advanced animations menu on the timeline.

A user hovers over the stop side button on the timeline.

Controlling Layer Timing and Order

The Timeline also allows you to:

  • Adjust layer duration and delay by dragging the edges of each layer’s bar.

  • Reorder layers by dragging them up or down—affecting both their visual stacking order and when they appear in the sequence.

  • Temporarily hide layers for easier editing and improved visibility.

A user rearranges layers by drag and drop on the timeline.

Applying Middle Animations

In addition to start and end animations, you can add middle animations to a layer. These create movement or effects while the element is already on the screen, making your designs more dynamic.

Why Use the Timeline?

With the Timeline, you can create highly polished animations without needing external tools or complex coding. This feature is ideal for:

  • Ad creatives that need precise sequencing.

  • Social media posts with layered motion graphics.

  • Presentations that require smooth transitions.


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