How to use the Timeline in Powtoon Studio

The Timeline in Powtoon Studio lets you control when each element on your slide enters, stays visible, and exits. Adjusting the Timeline gives you precise control over the pacing and flow of your Powtoon.

What the Timeline does

Every object you add to a slide — characters, text, images, shapes, and props — has its own timing bar in the Timeline. By moving and resizing these bars, you decide exactly when each element appears and how long it stays on screen.

How to open the Timeline

1. Open your Powtoon in Powtoon Studio.
2. Look at the bottom of the editor. The Timeline panel runs across the lower portion of the screen, below the stage.
3. If the Timeline is not visible, click the Timeline tab or drag the panel divider upward to expand it.

How to adjust element timing on the Timeline

1. Click an object on the stage. Its corresponding timing bar is highlighted in the Timeline.
2. To move when the element appears, click and drag its timing bar left or right along the Timeline.
3. To change how long the element stays on screen, drag the left or right edge of the timing bar to shorten or extend its duration.
4. To set when an element exits, drag the right edge of its bar to the point in time where you want it to disappear.
5. Repeat for each element on the slide until the timing matches your intended flow.

Note: Changes to the Timeline apply to the current slide only. Each slide has its own independent Timeline.

How to adjust the total slide duration

1. Locate the slide duration marker at the right end of the Timeline — this is the vertical line that marks where the slide ends.
2. Click and drag the duration marker left to shorten the slide or right to extend it.

Note: If an element's timing bar extends beyond the slide duration marker, that element will be cut off when the slide ends. Make sure all timing bars fall within the slide duration.

How to preview your timing

1. Click the Play button in the Timeline or on the stage to preview the current slide.
2. Watch the playhead move across the Timeline to see when each element appears and exits.
3. Adjust any timing bars as needed and preview again until the result looks right.

Key things to know about the Timeline

The Timeline in Powtoon Studio works on a per-slide basis. Each slide you create has its own Timeline, and the total length of your Powtoon is the sum of all slide durations. You can layer multiple elements so they appear at the same time, or stagger them so they enter one after another — the Timeline gives you full control over both approaches.

Notes:

1. Audio tracks added to a slide also appear in the Timeline and can be trimmed or repositioned the same way as other elements.
2. Animations attached to an object are tied to the object's timing bar — moving the bar also moves the animation.