> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://animoia.gitbook.io/animoia-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://animoia.gitbook.io/animoia-docs/guide/compositions.md).

# Compositions

## Create and edit a composition

Choose **New Composition** in the Project panel or use its shortcut. Right-click a composition and choose **Edit**, double-click its open Timeline tab, or use **Composition settings** for the composition on screen.

**Composition settings**

| Name           | Type             | Description                                                                                                           |
| -------------- | ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Preset         | Menu             | Picks Custom, HD 1080p 30/60, HD 720p, UHD 4K, DCI 4K, QHD, Vertical, Square, or Cinema 2K dimensions and frame rate. |
| Name           | Text             | Composition name, limited to the app's name length.                                                                   |
| Width / Height | Pixels           | Output dimensions. Link them to preserve the current aspect ratio while editing either value.                         |
| Frame Rate     | fps              | Composition frame grid and playback rate.                                                                             |
| Duration       | Seconds/timecode | Composition length.                                                                                                   |
| Background     | None/Solid       | Transparent background or an opaque color. The color swatch opens the color picker.                                   |
| Motion Blur    | Toggle           | Master switch; a layer also needs its own Motion Blur switch.                                                         |
| Shutter Angle  | Degrees          | Exposure span, 0–720 degrees.                                                                                         |
| Shutter Phase  | Degrees          | Moves the exposure window relative to each frame.                                                                     |
| Samples        | Integer          | Sub-frame samples per blurred layer, from 2–64.                                                                       |

Edits preview live, but **Cancel** restores the original composition. **OK** commits the complete draft as one undo step. Resizing never scales layers; root layers shift so a plain resize remains centered. Parent children follow their roots. Shortening a source composition re-clamps nested layers.

## Crop composition

In edit mode, choose **Crop** and drag the on-canvas crop box or its handles. `Enter`/Crop applies the box to the settings draft; `Escape`/Cancel discards that box. You can crop repeatedly, edit the resulting dimensions, undo within the settings window, or cancel the whole draft.

## Pre-compose

Select layers and use **Pre-compose**. Name the new composition, then choose:

* **Keep everything on this layer** — single-layer only. Only source content moves inside; transform, effects, keyframes, and timing remain on the original layer.
* **Move layers inside** — moves selected layers and their properties into the new composition and replaces them with one composition layer.

For Move mode, **Trim to Contents** makes the nested composition match the selected span; **Match Parent Composition** uses the parent duration.

## Composition tabs

Open compositions appear as Timeline tabs. Click to switch, double-click to open settings, and close a tab without deleting its composition. The composition-usage menu beside the timecode shows where the active composition is nested and lets you navigate to a parent use.


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