Getting Started

FrameZero is a whiteboard-first video editor. You build visuals directly on the canvas, then control when they appear on the timeline.

Editor layout (3 areas)

• Canvas: draw, place, and select elements.
• Sidebar: add tools, media, and transitions.
• Timeline: control timing, sections, and layer order.

Your first scene in 60 seconds

1. Open the editor and choose either a blank scene or the onboarding sample.
2. Add one element (text, shape, or drawing) from the toolbar.
3. Move the playhead and trim or move the element in the timeline.
4. Select the element and change one property from the editing controls.
5. Press play to preview.

Scene settings to set first

Open scene settings early and set:

• Orientation / size for your target output.
• Background color or style.

Where your work is saved

At a user level, you will typically work with two scopes:

• Local scene: stored on your current device/browser.
• Workspace/account-backed scene: available across your signed-in workspace context.

Use local for quick drafts and account-backed/workspace scenes when you need continuity across sessions and devices.

Know these 3 behaviors early

• New content starts at the current playhead time.
• Content lives inside a section and follows that section's timing bounds.
• Right-click on canvas elements for the fastest edit + transition actions.

Beginner pitfalls (quick checks)

• If the inspector looks empty, confirm something is selected.
• If timing feels wrong, check section bounds first.
• If visuals overlap unexpectedly, verify layer order in the timeline.

Read next

• Structuring Your Video
• Add Content
• Working with Media