Getting Started with Glaxnimate: A Beginner’s Guide

Glaxnimate is a free, open-source 2D vector animation program that integrates natively into Kdenlive and Shotcut. It allows editors to create custom vector paths, shape transitions, travel route animations, and complex custom masks directly on top of their timeline footage.

The setup and workflow for linking and using Glaxnimate within both non-linear video editors are outlined below. Using Glaxnimate with Kdenlive

Before you can create animations, you must link the downloaded Glaxnimate executable inside Kdenlive’s settings. 1. Linking the Software

Open Settings: Navigate to Settings > Configure Kdenlive in the top menu. Set the Path: Select Environment followed by Default Apps.

Locate Glaxnimate: Look for the Animation editing field, click the file icon, and select your local glaxnimate application file. Click OK to save. 2. Creating an Animation Clip

Add to Project Bin: Right-click in an empty area of your Project Bin and select Create Animation. Alternatively, go to the top media menu and select Add Media > Create Animation.

Define Settings: A prompt will ask for a file name, location, and timeline duration. Once submitted, Glaxnimate will automatically launch in an external window. 3. Matching Animations with Timeline Footage

Drag to Timeline: Close Glaxnimate temporarily and drag your newly created animation clip from the Project Bin onto an upper track of your Kdenlive Timeline.

Load Background: Double-click that animation clip directly from the timeline. Glaxnimate will reopen, and your underlying Kdenlive video track will now display as the canvas background.

Draw and Keyframe: Use Glaxnimate’s shape, Bezier curve, or freehand draw tools to build vector graphics matching your video. Turn on the Recording (red dot) icon to auto-capture spatial changes across the timeline.

Save: Hit Save (Ctrl + S) and close the application. Your vector animations will instantly update and play over your footage inside Kdenlive. Using Glaxnimate with Shotcut

Shotcut includes two different integration workflows based on whether you want an independent overlay animation or a dynamic video mask. Method A: Independent Overlays (Open Other Menu)

Generate Animation: Click Open Other in the top toolbar and select Animation.

Save the File: Shotcut will ask you to name and save a raw animation file; doing so immediately opens the Glaxnimate interface.

Bring into Track: Initially, Glaxnimate’s canvas is blank. Save a blank canvas, go back to Shotcut, and drag the newly loaded source file onto a video track (e.g., Track V2) sitting above your main clip.

Enable Video Background: Select the animation clip on the track, open the Properties panel, and click Edit. When Glaxnimate pulls back up, your lower Shotcut video track will be visible as a guide background on the canvas.

Draw and Finish: Create your graphics, save, and exit to push the live updates to Shotcut. Method B: Custom Masking (Filters Menu)

Select Clip: Left-click the target video clip on your Shotcut timeline.

Apply Filter: Open the Filters panel, click the ”+” (Add) button, and search for the Mask: Draw (Glaxnimate) filter.

Design Mask: Click New or Edit inside the filter settings to launch Glaxnimate.

Leverage Transparency: Draw shapes or use the Bezier curve tool directly over your underlying video frame. The alpha transparency channel of your vector drawing will control what portions of the Shotcut clip are shown or hidden.

Update Timeline: Click Save and close Glaxnimate to lock in the mask geometry directly to the Shotcut filter stack.

For a step-by-step visual on configuring and tracking paths using this integration, watch this tutorial: How to add Path to Glaxnimate in Kdenlive Eses infor Learning YouTube · Oct 29, 2022 If you want to dive deeper, let me know: