FlashFX provides a flexible panel system that adapts to your workflow. You can show, hide, resize, and rearrange panels to create a custom layout optimized for your screen size and working style.

Available Panels

Panel	Default Location	Purpose
Toolbar	Left edge	Drawing and selection tools
Layer Panel	Below toolbar / Collapsible drawer	Layer hierarchy and visibility
Properties Panel	Right side	Element-specific settings
Timeline	Bottom (Animate/Advanced mode)	Keyframes and animation tracks
Swatches	Floating/docked	Color palette management
Navigator	Floating/docked	Canvas overview and quick navigation
Assets	Floating/docked	Imported images, fonts, and media
History	Floating/docked	Undo/redo history list

Showing and Hiding Panels

Access panel visibility controls via the Window menu:

•Window → Layers — Toggle layer panel
•Window → Properties — Toggle properties panel
•Window → Timeline — Toggle timeline
•Window → Swatches — Open swatches panel
•Window → Navigator — Open navigator panel

Checked items in the Window menu indicate visible panels. Click to toggle.

Resizing Panels

In Advanced mode, all panels have resize handles allowing custom sizing:

1.Move cursor to the border between two panels
2.Cursor changes to a resize icon (double-arrow)
3.Click and drag to resize
4.Release to finalize size

Note: In Design and Animate modes, panel sizes are fixed to predefined optimal dimensions.

Floating Panels

Secondary panels (Swatches, Navigator, Assets, History) can float as separate windows:

•Detach — Click the panel's detach icon (top-right corner)
•Reattach — Drag panel back to a dock zone (edges or corners)
•Move — Drag panel by its title bar
•Resize — Drag panel edges or corners

Floating panels stay on top of the main window and can be positioned on secondary monitors.

Docking Zones

When dragging a floating panel, docking zones appear as highlighted areas:

•Left dock — Attaches below the toolbar/layer panel
•Right dock — Attaches below the properties panel
•Bottom dock — Attaches next to the timeline (Advanced mode only)

Drop the panel when the desired zone is highlighted to dock it there.

Workspace Presets

Save and recall custom panel layouts:

•Save workspace — Window → Workspace → New Workspace, enter a name
•Load workspace — Window → Workspace → [Workspace Name]
•Reset workspace — Window → Workspace → Reset to Default
•Delete workspace — Window → Workspace → Manage → Delete

Built-in workspaces:

•Default — Standard layout for general work
•Animation Focus — Maximized timeline, minimal properties panel
•Design Focus — Maximized canvas, hidden timeline
•Compact — Optimized for small screens (laptops)

Full-Screen Mode

Maximize canvas space by entering full-screen mode:

•Toggle full-screen — View → Full Screen (F11)
•Menu bar and browser chrome are hidden
•Panels remain visible but maximize available space
•Press F11 or Escape to exit

Distraction-Free Mode

Hide all panels except the canvas:

•Toggle — View → Distraction-Free Mode (Shift + F11)
•All panels collapse; only canvas and menu bar remain
•Ideal for presentations and final reviews
•Press Shift + F11 to restore panels

Panel Preferences

Customize panel behavior in Edit → Preferences → Interface:

•Auto-collapse panels — Panels shrink when inactive (saves space)
•Panel transition speed — Animation duration for show/hide
•Remember panel states — Restore visibility on next session
•Floating panel opacity — Transparency when not focused (20-100%)

Best Practices

•Create workspace presets for different task types (design, animation, export)
•Use floating panels for secondary tools (Navigator, Swatches) on multi-monitor setups
•In Animate mode, hide the layer panel (collapsible drawer) to maximize timeline height
•Reset to default workspace if panel layout becomes confusing
•Use distraction-free mode when presenting work to clients

Panels & Layout Customization