Tool reference.
Every one of the 38 built-in Tools, grouped by category, with what each does and how to control it.
Altar ships with 38 built-in Tools. Each has its own page covering what it does and how to control it. Search the manual (Ctrl/Cmd+K) by Tool name or by the job you want done.
Jump to a category: Selection Tools · Keyframe Tools · Layer Tools · Composition Tools · Text Tools · Color Tools · General Tools
Selection Tools
17 Tools.
- At Playhead: Select layers whose span crosses the playhead.
- Inverse: Invert the current layer selection.
- Random Select: Randomly select or deselect a percentage of layers.
- Select 3D: Select every 3D layer in the comp.
- Select Audio: Select every audio layer in the comp.
- Select Children: Select every layer that has a parent.
- Select Every Nth: Select every Nth layer in the comp or selection.
- Select Family: Select all descendants of the selection.
- Select Guides: Select every guide layer in the comp.
- Select Lights: Select every light layer in the comp.
- Select Matching: Select every property matching the selected one.
- Select Nulls: Select every null layer in the comp.
- Select Odd/Even: Select the odd- or even-positioned layers.
- Select Parents: Select every layer used as a parent.
- Select Precomps: Select every precomp layer in the comp.
- Select Shapes: Select every shape layer in the comp.
- Select Text: Select every text layer in the comp.
Keyframe Tools
15 Tools.
- Add Secondary Property Value: Add slider controls to offset selected property values.
- Align to First Keyframe: Align selected keys to the earliest keyframe.
- Align to Last Keyframe: Align selected keys to the latest keyframe.
- Clone and Mirror Keyframes: Duplicate selected keyframes in reverse at the playhead.
- Clone Keyframes: Duplicate selected keyframes at the playhead, preserving relative timing.
- Copy Keyframe Values: Copy selected keyframe values for use with Paste Keyframe Values.
- Easing: Apply easing curves to selected keyframes.
- Fix Position Overshoot: Remove motion-path overshoot between Position keyframes with identical values.
- Move Keyframes to In Point: Move selected keyframes together to each layer’s in point.
- Move Keyframes to Out Point: Move selected keyframes together to each layer’s out point.
- Move Keyframes to Playhead: Move selected keyframes together to the playhead.
- Paste Keyframe Values: Apply copied values to selected keyframes, preserving timing and easing.
- Reverse Keyframes: Reverse selected keyframes in time.
- Separate Position Dimensions: Split selected layers’ Position into independently animated dimensions.
- Snap Keyframes to Frames: Snap selected keyframes to the nearest whole frame.
Layer Tools
2 Tools.
- Anchor + Align + Distribute: Reposition anchor points, align, and distribute layers.
- Primitives: One-click rigged shapes + shape-layer Solid / Null / Adjustment.
Composition Tools
1 Tool.
- Pre-render Comp: Pre-render a comp to a soloed layer inside it, to cut re-render time.
Text Tools
1 Tool.
- Text Point: Per-character/word/line IN & OUT text animation with tweakable Effect Controls.
Color Tools
1 Tool.
- Color Swatches: Save brand palettes and apply colors to the selection.
General Tools
1 Tool.
- Command search: Find and run any Altar command.