How to select and edit multiple objects on the timeline

When your Powtoon contains multiple objects that appear at the same time — such as two characters, a character and an image, or a character with a caption — those objects are displayed together on the timeline as a group. This article explains how to work with those groups: selecting individual objects, selecting multiple objects across groups, and applying effects to an entire group at once.

In this article:

• How grouped objects appear on the timeline
• Selecting one object from a group
• Selecting and deselecting multiple objects on the stage
• Selecting and deselecting multiple objects on the timeline
• Applying an enter or exit effect to a group of objects

How grouped objects appear on the timeline

When two or more objects appear on the stage at the same time, the timeline displays a group tag showing the total number of objects in that group. For example, if two characters and a text caption all enter at 3.0 seconds and exit at 10 seconds together, the group tag displays the number 3.

Clicking the group tag expands it to show individual object tags, so you can identify and select each object separately.

Selecting one object from a group

To select and edit a single object within a group on the timeline:

1. Click the group tag on the timeline. The individual object tags within that group are displayed.
2. Click the tag for the object you want to select, or double-click directly on the object on the stage. The object becomes selected on the stage.
3. Edit the selected object or adjust its duration as needed.

Selecting and deselecting multiple objects on the stage

Use this method when the objects you want to select are visible on the stage and do not overlap.

1. Click the first object on the stage to select it.
2. Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and click each additional object you want to include in the selection.
   ► If the objects are positioned next to each other, you can also drag a selection rectangle around them to select them all at once.
3. Make your edits. All changes apply to every selected object simultaneously.
4. Click anywhere outside the selection to deselect all objects.

Selecting and deselecting multiple objects on the timeline

Use this method when objects overlap on the stage and are difficult to select individually by clicking. The timeline gives you direct access to each object tag regardless of how objects are layered on the stage.

Holding Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) while clicking an object tag toggles that object between selected and deselected.

1. Hover over the group tag where you want to begin your selection. The individual object tags within that group are displayed.
2. Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and click the tags for the objects you want to select.
3. To select objects from additional groups, keep holding Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and click the relevant tags in those groups.
   ► If it is easier, click the group tag to select all objects in the group, then hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and click any tags you want to remove from the selection.
4. Make your edits. All changes apply to every selected object.
5. Click anywhere outside the selection to deselect all objects.

Applying an enter or exit effect to a group of objects

When objects are grouped on the timeline, you can apply the same enter or exit effect to all of them at once.

1. Click the group tag on the timeline. The tag displays the number of objects in the group.
2. On the timeline, click the enter or exit effect marker you want to edit.
   ► The steps below apply to both enter and exit effects.
3. Select the effect you want to apply to all objects in the group.
4. Optional: Click Add Hand to add a hand animation that moves the objects onto the stage. Add Hand is only available for effects that support it.
5. Optional: Click Add Sound to attach a sound to the selected effect.

Note: The same enter or exit effect is applied to every object in the group. To apply different effects to individual objects, select each object separately using the steps in the Selecting one object from a group section above.