diff --git a/.github/workflows/docs-check.yml b/.github/workflows/docs-check.yml new file mode 100644 index 000000000..b89a00a88 --- /dev/null +++ b/.github/workflows/docs-check.yml @@ -0,0 +1,32 @@ +name: docs-check + +on: + pull_request: + paths: ["docs/user/**"] + push: + branches: [main] + paths: ["docs/user/**"] + +permissions: + contents: read + +jobs: + check: + runs-on: ubuntu-latest + steps: + - uses: actions/checkout@v4 + - uses: actions/setup-node@v4 + with: + node-version: 22 + - name: Download the shared docs checker + id: fetch + run: | + url=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/storytold/artcraft-services/main/frontend/apps/artcraft-website-next/scripts/docs/core.mjs + if curl -fsSL "$url" -o "$RUNNER_TEMP/docs-core.mjs"; then + echo "ok=1" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT" + else + echo "::warning::The docs checker is not published yet; skipping." + fi + - name: Check docs/user + if: steps.fetch.outputs.ok == '1' + run: node "$RUNNER_TEMP/docs-core.mjs" docs/user diff --git a/.github/workflows/docs-publish.yml b/.github/workflows/docs-publish.yml new file mode 100644 index 000000000..df4a412cc --- /dev/null +++ b/.github/workflows/docs-publish.yml @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +name: docs-publish + +on: + push: + branches: [main] + paths: ["docs/user/**"] + +permissions: {} + +jobs: + rebuild: + runs-on: ubuntu-latest + steps: + - name: Rebuild getartcraft.com + env: + HOOK: ${{ secrets.DOCS_BUILD_HOOK }} + run: | + if [ -z "$HOOK" ]; then + echo "DOCS_BUILD_HOOK is not set; the nightly website build will pick this up." + exit 0 + fi + curl -fsS -X POST -d '{}' "$HOOK?trigger_title=docs%20update%20from%20$GITHUB_REPOSITORY" diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md index aad29c94a..af320c781 100644 --- a/AGENTS.md +++ b/AGENTS.md @@ -111,6 +111,12 @@ Shared real-file test corpora (Photoshop-authored PSDs, etc.) live in Never commit large binary fixtures to this repo; fetch them pinned by commit and sha256-verified, as PhotoCraft does with `cargo xtask corpus`. +## 4. User docs + +User docs live in `docs/user/` and are published at https://getartcraft.com/docs/effectcraft. If a +change alters something a user sees or does (menu or dialog labels, install, file formats, errors), +update the matching page in `docs/user/` in the same PR, or add one. Rules: `docs/user/AGENTS.md`. + ## See also diff --git a/docs/user/AGENTS.md b/docs/user/AGENTS.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..314ac1c58 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/user/AGENTS.md @@ -0,0 +1,66 @@ +# User docs: rules for agents and contributors + +Everything in this folder (except this file, CLAUDE.md and README.md) is published at +https://getartcraft.com/docs/effectcraft. The file path is the URL: +`troubleshooting/gpu-not-used.md` → `/docs/effectcraft/troubleshooting/gpu-not-used`. +Renaming a file breaks links, so add the old path to `redirect_from` when you rename. + +## Who reads this + +Artists using EffectCraft, Discord mods answering them, and AI assistants looking things up for +either. Write for an artist, not a developer. + +## Page rules + +- One question or problem per page. Lead with the answer or the fix in the first two lines. +- Plain words, short sentences, numbered steps for anything the reader does. +- Start the body at `##`. The page title comes from frontmatter. +- Link to other pages instead of repeating them. Use relative links to the `.md` file: + `[Install EffectCraft](../getting-started/install.md)`. +- No marketing copy, no "simply", no claims you have not checked in the code, a release or an issue. +- Call the product "EffectCraft", as the app, its downloads and getartcraft.com do. +- Name UI labels exactly as the app shows them, in **bold**. Menu paths use the menu text from + `crates/engine/src/menus.rs`. +- Shortcuts: the code writes `Cmd`, which is Ctrl on Windows and Linux. Write Ctrl for Windows. +- Windows 11 is the only Windows version to name. +- Troubleshooting pages: `## Symptoms`, `## Fix`, `## Why this happens` (optional), + `## Still stuck?` (link the issue tracker or Discord). + +## Frontmatter + + --- + title: EffectCraft does not use my graphics card + description: One sentence for search results, link previews and AI summaries. + order: 10 # optional, sorts within the folder (lower first) + verified: 0.8.0 # optional, app version you last checked this page against + redirect_from: [old/path] # optional, old URLs (relative to /docs/effectcraft) + --- + +Only `key: value` and `key: [a, b]` lines work. Quote values that start with a quote or contain ` #`. + +Set `verified` to the workspace `version` in the root `Cargo.toml` whenever you check a +page against the current code. + +## Folders + +- `getting-started/` install and first run +- `guides/` how to do one thing +- `troubleshooting/` symptom → fix +- `faq/` short answers +- `reference/` lists and settings + +A folder's `index.md` names the folder in the sidebar. Files or folders starting with `_` are +drafts and are not published. + +## Check before you push + + curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/storytold/artcraft-services/main/frontend/apps/artcraft-website-next/scripts/docs/core.mjs -o /tmp/docs-core.mjs + node /tmp/docs-core.mjs docs/user + +CI runs the same check on every PR that touches `docs/user/`. + +## Support PRs + +Pages written to answer a user question come in as PRs titled `docs(support): `. +Review them like code: check every claim against the source. Problems and bug reports go in the +[issue tracker](https://github.com/storytold/effectcraft/issues). diff --git a/docs/user/CLAUDE.md b/docs/user/CLAUDE.md new file mode 120000 index 000000000..47dc3e3d8 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/user/CLAUDE.md @@ -0,0 +1 @@ +AGENTS.md \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/docs/user/faq/after-effects-projects.md b/docs/user/faq/after-effects-projects.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..2c22e6644 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/user/faq/after-effects-projects.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +title: Can EffectCraft open After Effects projects? +description: EffectCraft cannot open .aep or .aepx files, and After Effects plug-ins do not run. It saves .ecproj files and imports Lottie. +order: 10 +verified: 0.8.0 +--- + +No. EffectCraft cannot open After Effects projects (`.aep` or `.aepx`), and After Effects plug-ins do not run in it. + +## What it opens instead + +- Its own projects, saved as `.ecproj`. These are readable, versioned JSON files. +- Lottie animations, with **File ▸ Import ▸ Lottie...**. Each opens as a new composition. +- Photoshop and PDF or Illustrator files, imported as footage or as a composition. See [Import footage and image sequences](../guides/import-footage.md). + +## What carries over + +Expressions are JavaScript with the After Effects object model, such as `wiggle`, `loopOut` and `thisComp.layer("...")`. The panels, shortcuts and effect parameter names follow After Effects, so the skills carry over. + +## Status + +Reading `.aep` files is the largest known gap between EffectCraft and After Effects. It is listed in the project's [gap list](https://github.com/storytold/effectcraft/blob/main/docs/gaps.md), and the maintainers have not yet decided how to approach it. diff --git a/docs/user/faq/index.md b/docs/user/faq/index.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..75b27177f --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/user/faq/index.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +--- +title: FAQ +description: Short answers about EffectCraft. +order: 40 +--- + +- [Can EffectCraft open After Effects projects?](after-effects-projects.md) +- [Is EffectCraft free, and where does it run?](price-and-platforms.md) diff --git a/docs/user/faq/price-and-platforms.md b/docs/user/faq/price-and-platforms.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..ce45a885d --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/user/faq/price-and-platforms.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ +--- +title: Is EffectCraft free, and where does it run? +description: EffectCraft is free and open source under MIT or Apache-2.0, and runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and in the browser. +order: 20 +verified: 0.8.0 +--- + +Yes, EffectCraft is free. It is open source, dual-licensed under MIT or Apache-2.0, at your option. It has no telemetry, and it uses no network access unless you ask for it. + +## Where it runs + +| Platform | Builds | +|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------| +| Windows | x64, arm64 and x86, as MSI installers and portable zips | +| macOS | One universal app for Apple silicon and Intel | +| Linux | x86_64 and aarch64 as AppImage, Flatpak, deb, rpm and tar.gz; riscv64 tar.gz | +| FreeBSD | x86_64 tar.gz | +| Browser | A web build that runs the full app | + +See [Install EffectCraft](../getting-started/install.md) for the files. + +## How mature is it? + +EffectCraft is in alpha. The README calls macOS the most tested platform, and says Linux and Windows users have hit basic interaction bugs that are being fixed first. Bug reports in the [issue tracker](https://github.com/storytold/effectcraft/issues) are the most useful thing you can send. diff --git a/docs/user/getting-started/index.md b/docs/user/getting-started/index.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..6a3cad148 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/user/getting-started/index.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +--- +title: Getting started +description: Install EffectCraft and make your first composition. +order: 10 +--- + +- [Install EffectCraft](install.md) +- [Make your first composition](../guides/make-a-composition.md) diff --git a/docs/user/getting-started/install.md b/docs/user/getting-started/install.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..7d2580972 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/user/getting-started/install.md @@ -0,0 +1,54 @@ +--- +title: Install EffectCraft +description: Download EffectCraft for Windows 11, macOS or Linux, install it, or install it through ArtCraft Launcher. +order: 10 +verified: 0.8.0 +--- + +The easiest way is the [EffectCraft page on getartcraft.com](https://getartcraft.com/apps/effectcraft). For a specific file, use the [latest release](https://github.com/storytold/effectcraft/releases/latest) on GitHub. In the file names, `` stands for the version number, for example `0.8.0`. + +## Windows 11 + +1. Open the [latest release](https://github.com/storytold/effectcraft/releases/latest). +2. Download `effectcraft--windows-x64.msi`. It fits most PCs (Intel and AMD, 64-bit). +3. Run the file and follow the installer. It asks where to install EffectCraft and offers a **Create a desktop shortcut** box. +4. Start **EffectCraft** from the Start menu. + +The release also has an `arm64` installer for Snapdragon and other ARM PCs, and an `x86` installer for 32-bit Windows. The installers are code-signed and install for all users. Later versions install into the same folder. + +To run it without installing, download `effectcraft--windows-x64-portable.zip` instead. It contains `effectcraft.exe` and the command-line tool `effectcraft-cli.exe`. The `arm64` and `x86` builds have portable zips too. + +## macOS + +1. Download `effectcraft--macos-universal.dmg`. It works on Apple silicon and Intel Macs and is signed and notarized. +2. Open it and drag EffectCraft to Applications. + +## Linux + +Pick one file from the release. Replace `x86_64` with `aarch64` on ARM. + +| File | How to use it | +|-----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------| +| `effectcraft--linux-x86_64.AppImage` | Run `chmod +x` on the file, then run it. | +| `effectcraft--linux-x86_64.deb` | For Debian and Ubuntu. | +| `effectcraft--linux-x86_64.rpm` | For Fedora, RHEL and openSUSE. | +| `effectcraft--linux-x86_64.flatpak` | `flatpak install --user ` | +| `effectcraft--linux-x86_64.tar.gz` | Unpack it anywhere. | + +There is also a RISC-V 64-bit `.tar.gz` (it needs glibc 2.39 or newer) and a FreeBSD x86_64 `.tar.gz`. + +## In the browser + +`effectcraft-web-.zip` is the web build. It is a static site that runs in a modern browser and needs to be hosted on a web server. Projects, media and settings stay in the browser and on your computer. + +## Install through ArtCraft Launcher + +ArtCraft Launcher lists EffectCraft. Click **Install** on its card. See [Install and update Craft apps](https://getartcraft.com/docs/craft-launcher/guides/install-and-update-apps). + +## Check the download + +`SHA256SUMS.txt` on the release page lists a checksum for every file. + +## Next + +Open EffectCraft and make something: [Make your first composition](../guides/make-a-composition.md). If you only want to look around, choose **Open Demo Project** on the Home screen. diff --git a/docs/user/guides/add-an-effect.md b/docs/user/guides/add-an-effect.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..a9732d539 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/user/guides/add-an-effect.md @@ -0,0 +1,33 @@ +--- +title: Add an effect +description: Apply an effect such as Gaussian Blur to a layer and change its settings in Effect Controls. +order: 30 +verified: 0.8.0 +--- + +Select a layer, then choose the effect from the **Effect** menu, or double-click it in the **Effects & Presets** panel. Change its settings in **Effect Controls** (F3). + +## Steps + +1. Select a layer in the Timeline. +2. Apply an effect in one of two ways: + - Choose it from the **Effect** menu. Effects are grouped by category, for example **Effect ▸ Blur & Sharpen ▸ Gaussian Blur**. + - Open **Window ▸ Effects & Presets** (Ctrl+5). Type in the search field, then double-click the effect. Dragging it onto a layer works too. +3. Open **Window ▸ Effect Controls** (F3), or choose **Effect ▸ Effect Controls**. The effect's settings are listed there. **Gaussian Blur** has **Blurriness**, **Blur Dimensions** and **Repeat Edge Pixels**. +4. Change a value. Click the stopwatch beside it to animate it, as in [Animate with keyframes](animate-with-keyframes.md). + +If no layer is selected when you double-click an effect, EffectCraft shows **Select a layer to apply to**. Select a layer and try again. + +## Remove or reuse effects + +- **Effect ▸ Last Effect** applies the effect you used last. +- **Effect ▸ Remove All** takes every effect off the selected layers. +- In **Effects & Presets**, click the star on an effect to add it to Favorites. Recently used effects are listed too. + +## Layer styles + +For drop shadows, glows and bevels, use **Layer ▸ Layer Styles**. It lists **Drop Shadow**, **Inner Shadow**, **Outer Glow**, **Inner Glow**, **Bevel and Emboss** and **Satin**, among others. + +## Next + +[Render a video](render-a-video.md). diff --git a/docs/user/guides/animate-with-keyframes.md b/docs/user/guides/animate-with-keyframes.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..b591b43d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/user/guides/animate-with-keyframes.md @@ -0,0 +1,33 @@ +--- +title: Animate with keyframes +description: Fly a layer in with two Position keyframes and smooth the motion with Easy Ease. +order: 20 +verified: 0.8.0 +--- + +Click the stopwatch beside a property to start animating it, move the current-time indicator, then change the value. The second keyframe appears by itself. Select both keyframes and press F9 to ease the motion. + +You need a composition with a layer. See [Make your first composition](make-a-composition.md). + +## Steps + +1. In the Timeline, twirl the layer open, then open **Transform**. +2. Set the starting value. For a layer that flies in from the left, scrub or type a **Position** that is outside the frame. +3. Click the stopwatch beside **Position**. It turns blue and records a keyframe at the current time. +4. Drag the blue current-time indicator to about 0:00:01:00, or click in the time ruler. +5. Drag the layer to its final place in the Composition viewer, or scrub the **Position** value. Because the stopwatch is on, a second keyframe appears by itself. +6. Select both keyframes (drag a box around them, or click the **Position** name) and press F9. This is **Animation ▸ Keyframe Assistant ▸ Easy Ease**. The layer now glides in and settles. +7. Press the Spacebar, or use Play in the Preview panel, to watch it. Press it again to stop. + +## Other things you can do + +- Click the keyframe button in the layer's property row to add or remove a keyframe at the current time. Its tooltip reads **Add or remove keyframe**. +- Choose **Animation ▸ Keyframe Assistant ▸ Easy Ease In** (Shift+F9) or **Easy Ease Out** to ease one side only. +- Choose **Animation ▸ Toggle Hold Keyframe** for a keyframe that jumps instead of moving. +- Choose **Animation ▸ Keyframe Interpolation...** or **Keyframe Velocity...** to set the curve exactly. +- Hold Alt and click a stopwatch to add an expression. +- The Graph Editor shows value and speed graphs with draggable handles. + +## Next + +[Add an effect](add-an-effect.md). diff --git a/docs/user/guides/import-footage.md b/docs/user/guides/import-footage.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..b5f424a09 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/user/guides/import-footage.md @@ -0,0 +1,47 @@ +--- +title: Import footage and image sequences +description: Bring video, images and numbered image sequences into an EffectCraft project, and change how footage is read. +order: 50 +verified: 0.8.0 +--- + +Choose **File ▸ Import ▸ File...** (Ctrl+I) and pick your files, or drop files on the EffectCraft window. Numbered stills such as `shot_0001.png` can import as one sequence that plays like a movie. + +## Import files + +1. Choose **File ▸ Import ▸ File...** to pick one file. Use **File ▸ Import ▸ Multiple Files...** to pick several. +2. Photoshop and PDF or Illustrator files first ask whether to import them as footage or as a composition. +3. The footage appears in the Project panel. Drag it onto the Composition viewer to make a layer where you drop it, or into the Timeline. + +You can also drop files or folders on the window. Files dropped on the Composition viewer become layers there. The **Media Browser** (**Window ▸ Media Browser**) browses folders and imports what you pick. + +## Import an image sequence + +1. Choose **File ▸ Import ▸ File...** and pick any one numbered file of the run. +2. In the **Import Image Sequence** dialog, check the run it found. It also lists missing frames. +3. Tick the sequence option, which is named after the file type, for example **PNG Sequence**. When it is off, the files import as separate stills. It is off by default. +4. Set **Frame rate (fps)**. The default comes from **Sequence Footage** on the Import page of the preferences (**Edit ▸ Preferences ▸ Import...**), which is 30 fps. +5. Confirm. The run arrives as one footage item named like `shot_[0001-0250].png`. + +**Force alphabetical order** imports every image of that type in the folder in name order, whatever the numbering. Use it for files that are not numbered consistently. + +Stills in PNG, JPEG, TIFF, OpenEXR, BMP and WebP can form a sequence. PSD, SVG and PDF files import one by one. + +If the numbering skips a frame, EffectCraft shows colour bars for it. Put the missing files in the folder and choose **File ▸ Reload Footage** to fill the gap. + +## Change how footage is read + +Select the footage in the Project panel and choose **File ▸ Interpret Footage ▸ Main...** (Ctrl+Alt+G). The dialog has **Alpha**, **Assume this frame rate** and **Start Timecode**, among others. A change applies everywhere the footage is used. + +For example, a 250-frame sequence at 25 fps lasts 10 seconds. At 24 fps it lasts 10.4 seconds. + +## Replace or reload footage + +- **File ▸ Replace Footage ▸ File...** (Ctrl+H) points the item at another file. +- **File ▸ Reload Footage** (Ctrl+Alt+L) reads the files again. A sequence picks up frames added to its folder. + +If footage shows as missing, see [Footage is missing or offline](../troubleshooting/footage-missing.md). + +## Linux with Wayland + +Dragging files onto the window does not work on native Wayland sessions. Use **File ▸ Import ▸ File...** instead. diff --git a/docs/user/guides/index.md b/docs/user/guides/index.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..d8182d069 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/user/guides/index.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +title: Guides +description: Step-by-step guides for the main tasks in EffectCraft. +order: 20 +--- + +- [Make your first composition](make-a-composition.md) +- [Animate with keyframes](animate-with-keyframes.md) +- [Add an effect](add-an-effect.md) +- [Render a video](render-a-video.md) +- [Import footage and image sequences](import-footage.md) diff --git a/docs/user/guides/make-a-composition.md b/docs/user/guides/make-a-composition.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..0234f183a --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/user/guides/make-a-composition.md @@ -0,0 +1,32 @@ +--- +title: Make your first composition +description: Create a composition, add a text layer and save the project as an .ecproj file. +order: 10 +verified: 0.8.0 +--- + +Choose **Composition ▸ New Composition...**, set the size, frame rate and duration, click **OK**, then add layers from the **Layer ▸ New** menu. Shortcuts below use Ctrl on Windows and Linux. On macOS, use Cmd. + +## Steps + +1. Choose **Composition ▸ New Composition...** (Ctrl+N). On the Home screen, click **New Composition** instead. +2. In the dialog, type a **Composition Name**. The default is `Comp 1`. +3. Pick a **Preset**, or set **Width**, **Height**, **Frame Rate** and **Duration**. The presets include `HDTV 1080 24`, `UHD 4K 25` and `Social Media Square · 1080x1080 · 30 fps`. +4. Click **OK**. The composition opens in the Composition panel and the Timeline. +5. Choose **Layer ▸ New ▸ Text**. A text layer appears at the top of the Timeline. +6. Add more layers from **Layer ▸ New**: **Solid...**, **Shape Layer**, **Null Object**, **Adjustment Layer**, **Light...** and **Camera...**. +7. Choose **File ▸ Save** to save the project. + +Projects are saved as `.ecproj` files. An `.ecproj` file is readable JSON, so it also works with version control. + +## Change the settings later + +Choose **Composition ▸ Composition Settings...** to change the name, size, frame rate or duration. The dialog has **Basic**, **Advanced** and **3D Renderer** tabs. + +## Next + +[Animate with keyframes](animate-with-keyframes.md). + +## Learn in the app + +The in-app tutorial **Animate a title** walks through these steps. To open it, choose **Help ▸ In-App Tutorials...**. diff --git a/docs/user/guides/render-a-video.md b/docs/user/guides/render-a-video.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..e3edcb0f9 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/user/guides/render-a-video.md @@ -0,0 +1,48 @@ +--- +title: Render a video +description: Add a composition to the Render Queue, choose a format such as H.264, pick where to save and click Render. +order: 40 +verified: 0.8.0 +--- + +Select the composition, choose **Composition ▸ Add to Render Queue** (Ctrl+M), set the output file, then click **Render** in the Render Queue panel. The default format is H.264, saved as an `.mp4` file named after the composition. + +## Steps + +1. Select the composition in the Project panel or open it. +2. Choose **Composition ▸ Add to Render Queue** (Ctrl+M). You can also drag compositions onto the Render Queue panel. Open the panel with **Window ▸ Render Queue** (Ctrl+Alt+0). +3. The queue lists the item with its **Comp Name**, **Status**, **Started** and **Render Time**. Twirl the item open to see **Render Settings:**, **Output Module:** and **Output To**. +4. Click **Output Module:** and choose a format. The menu entries read **Format: H.264**, **Format: QuickTime (ProRes)** and so on. +5. Click the file name next to **Output To** to choose where to save. Alt-click it to edit the name template instead. +6. Click **Render**. The status changes to **Rendering** with a percentage. Click **Stop** to cancel. + +Tick **Notify** to get a sound and a notification when the queue finishes. + +## Formats + +The **Output Module:** menu lists the formats your build can export: + +| Menu entry | File type | +|-----------------------|-------------------------------------| +| H.264 | `.mp4` | +| QuickTime (ProRes) | `.mov` | +| HEVC (H.265) | `.mp4` | +| AV1 | `.mp4` | +| WebM (VP9 + Opus) | `.webm` | +| PNG Sequence | `.png`, one file per frame | +| JPEG Sequence | `.jpg`, one file per frame | +| TIFF Sequence | `.tif`, one file per frame | +| OpenEXR Sequence | `.exr`, one file per frame | +| Animated GIF | `.gif` | +| WAV | `.wav`, audio only | +| AIFF | `.aif`, audio only | + +To keep transparency, choose **Channels: RGB + Alpha** in the **Output Module:** menu. It appears for formats that can store alpha, such as QuickTime (ProRes) and PNG Sequence. H.264, HEVC, AV1 and JPEG Sequence cannot. + +## Render only part of a composition + +Click **Render Settings:** and choose **Time Span: Work Area Only** or **Time Span: Length of Comp**. The same menu sets **Quality: Best** or **Quality: Draft** and the resolution (**Resolution: Full**, **Half**, **Third** or **Quarter**). + +## Export a Lottie animation instead + +Choose **File ▸ Export ▸ Lottie JSON...** to write a composition as `.json` or `.lottie`. EffectCraft lists anything Lottie cannot express. To open one, choose **File ▸ Import ▸ Lottie...**. diff --git a/docs/user/index.md b/docs/user/index.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..babeaf8bb --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/user/index.md @@ -0,0 +1,36 @@ +--- +title: EffectCraft +description: EffectCraft is a free, open-source app for motion graphics and visual effects, an alternative to Adobe After Effects. +verified: 0.8.0 +--- + +EffectCraft is a free, open-source app for animated titles, motion graphics and compositing. It is an alternative to Adobe After Effects. + +You build a composition from layers (solids, shapes, text, footage, other compositions), animate their properties with keyframes, add effects and render the result. The panels and shortcuts follow After Effects: Project, Composition, Timeline, Effect Controls, Effects & Presets and the Render Queue. It runs on macOS, Windows and Linux, and in the browser. + +EffectCraft is young and in alpha. It cannot open After Effects projects (`.aep`), and some things still behave differently from After Effects. See [Can EffectCraft open After Effects projects?](faq/after-effects-projects.md). + +## Start here + +- [Install EffectCraft](getting-started/install.md) +- [Make your first composition](guides/make-a-composition.md) +- [Animate with keyframes](guides/animate-with-keyframes.md) +- [Add an effect](guides/add-an-effect.md) +- [Render a video](guides/render-a-video.md) +- [Import footage and image sequences](guides/import-footage.md) + +## When something is wrong + +- [EffectCraft does not use my graphics card](troubleshooting/gpu-not-used.md) +- [Footage is missing or offline](troubleshooting/footage-missing.md) + +## Sections + +- [Getting started](getting-started/index.md) +- [Guides](guides/index.md) +- [Troubleshooting](troubleshooting/index.md) +- [FAQ](faq/index.md) + +## Get help + +Ask in [Discord](https://discord.gg/artcraft) or open an issue in the [issue tracker](https://github.com/storytold/effectcraft/issues). Say which version and which system you use. diff --git a/docs/user/troubleshooting/footage-missing.md b/docs/user/troubleshooting/footage-missing.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..9e3314a01 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/user/troubleshooting/footage-missing.md @@ -0,0 +1,33 @@ +--- +title: Footage is missing or offline +description: Find missing footage in an EffectCraft project, relink it to a folder or replace it with another file. +order: 20 +verified: 0.8.0 +--- + +Choose **File ▸ Dependencies ▸ Relink Missing Footage...** and pick the folder where your files are now. For files that stay missing, choose **File ▸ Replace Footage ▸ File...**. + +## Symptoms + +- A footage item in the Project panel is flagged as missing after you open a project. +- EffectCraft shows a message that footage items are missing. + +## Fix + +1. Choose **File ▸ Dependencies ▸ Find Missing Footage**. EffectCraft selects every missing item in the Project panel and shows how many it found. +2. Choose **File ▸ Dependencies ▸ Relink Missing Footage...** and pick the folder that holds your files. EffectCraft searches that folder and its subfolders. +3. It relinks files whose names are unique and whose type, dimensions and codec match what the project saved. The whole relink is one undo step. +4. For anything left over, select the item and choose **File ▸ Replace Footage ▸ File...** (Ctrl+H), then pick the file yourself. This also covers files with duplicate names in the folder, which Relink leaves alone. +5. After you copy or render files into a folder, choose **File ▸ Reload Footage** (Ctrl+Alt+L) to read them again. + +Relinking keeps item names, interpretation and layer timing. It does not change your files. For image sequences, every saved frame must be in the new folder. Relink Missing Footage is not available in the browser version. + +## Why this happens + +A project stores where each footage file is. If you move or rename the files, or open the project on another computer, the project cannot find them. + +Projects built with the command-line tool or an agent can use relative paths such as `bg.mp4`. Before 0.8.0, the app looked for those in its own working directory instead of next to the project file. Since 0.8.0 it also looks next to the project file ([pull request #676](https://github.com/storytold/effectcraft/pull/676)). The reporter on macOS has not confirmed the fix yet ([issue #652](https://github.com/storytold/effectcraft/issues/652)). + +## Still stuck? + +Ask in [Discord](https://discord.gg/artcraft) or open an issue in the [issue tracker](https://github.com/storytold/effectcraft/issues). Say which system you use, whether the project came from another computer or from the command-line tool, and where the footage is stored. diff --git a/docs/user/troubleshooting/gpu-not-used.md b/docs/user/troubleshooting/gpu-not-used.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..7e3807f0d --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/user/troubleshooting/gpu-not-used.md @@ -0,0 +1,38 @@ +--- +title: EffectCraft does not use my graphics card +description: What to do when the report says GPU none (CPU compositing), the window picked another adapter, or GPU effects fail on Windows 11 with DirectX 12. +order: 10 +verified: 0.8.0 +--- + +Open **Help ▸ System Compatibility Report...** and read the **GPU:** and **Window graphics:** lines. If the window runs on the wrong adapter, set **Window Graphics** to **Automatic** in the preferences and restart EffectCraft. + +## Symptoms + +- The report says `GPU: none (CPU compositing)` followed by a reason. +- The `Window graphics:` line names an adapter or backend you did not expect, for example an integrated or OpenGL adapter instead of your graphics card. + +## Fix + +1. Choose **Help ▸ System Compatibility Report...**. Copy the text. +2. Look at the `Window graphics:` line. If it shows the wrong adapter, continue. If it shows your card, go to **Still stuck?** below. +3. Choose **Edit ▸ Preferences ▸ Startup & Repair...**. +4. Set **Window Graphics** to **Automatic**. The other choice is **OpenGL (compatibility)**. +5. Close EffectCraft and start it again. The change applies from the next launch. +6. Open the report again and check that `Window graphics:` now names your card. + +One user whose GPU was not detected on 0.8.0 fixed it this way: they set the window graphics to Automatic, and EffectCraft started through Vulkan ([issue #596](https://github.com/storytold/effectcraft/issues/596)). + +## Why this happens + +When the graphics driver stops EffectCraft as its window opens, the next launch switches to OpenGL by itself. That keeps the app usable. Setting **Window Graphics** to **Automatic** lets EffectCraft choose the graphics backend again. + +The **GPU Information...** button on the Previews page of the preferences shows fixed text in 0.8.0. It does not name your GPU. Use the System Compatibility Report instead. + +## Windows 11 with DirectX 12 + +On some Windows 11 PCs with NVIDIA GPUs, the GPU compositor fails to start on DirectX 12 because the FXC shader compiler rejects some of EffectCraft's GPU kernels. Two users reproduced this with an RTX 4060 laptop GPU and an RTX 3060. In their tests EffectCraft fell back to CPU compositing, and the same build started on Vulkan. This is open as [issue #613](https://github.com/storytold/effectcraft/issues/613). Check the issue for updates. + +## Still stuck? + +Ask in [Discord](https://discord.gg/artcraft) or open an issue in the [issue tracker](https://github.com/storytold/effectcraft/issues). Include the whole System Compatibility Report, your graphics card and driver version, and whether you also have an integrated GPU. diff --git a/docs/user/troubleshooting/index.md b/docs/user/troubleshooting/index.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..0cf140136 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/user/troubleshooting/index.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +title: Troubleshooting +description: Fixes for common EffectCraft problems. +order: 30 +--- + +- [EffectCraft does not use my graphics card](gpu-not-used.md) +- [Footage is missing or offline](footage-missing.md) + +Not listed? Open an issue in the [issue tracker](https://github.com/storytold/effectcraft/issues) or ask in [Discord](https://discord.gg/artcraft). Include the text from **Help ▸ System Compatibility Report...**.