Guides
Get to know ABLUR.
From your first scene to shortcuts — the basics you need to start making backgrounds today.
Quick Start · 6 steps
Your first scene, in 6 steps.
From the start screen to your first PSD export. Click through the steps — by the end, your first comic background is done.
Step 1 of 6 · Start
Get to know the Start Screen
Two things to do before you open anything: pick a default mode, then choose how to start.
1
🎨 Pick a default mode
Opening a .skp file? Pick a mode (Line, Color, etc.) — ABLUR uses it for that project.
Opening an .ablr file? ABLUR keeps your last saved settings.
Default mode just sets the starting values. You can change anything later in the Quick Control panel.
2
📂 Choose how to start
| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| Import SketchUp | Open a .skp file. |
| Start Tutorial | Open the sample project + in-app tutorial. |
| Start with Sample Project | Open the sample to play around. |
| Load Project | Open an .ablr file. Pick from recent projects. |
First time? Click Start with Sample Project — that's the easiest path in. We'll do exactly that in the next step.
Step 2 of 6 · Sample
Start with Sample Project
1
🎬 Click the big "Sample Project" button
Don't get lost on this main screen wondering where to go... The answer is right in front of you.
Just click "Start with Sample Project"! ABLUR opens a ready-made scene so you can start editing right away. No setup, no blank canvas — just dive in.
Too easy? That's the point — ABLUR is built for fast starts.
Step 3 of 6 · Place
Place your character
"To place a character, open the Character Panel..." — ACON Discordkeeper, 2026
1
Open the Character Panel
The Character Panel icon looks like this:
It's the 4th icon from the top in the right-side menu panel.
2
Create a character slot
Are you in? Next, to add a character, you first need to create a character slot. Click the + button here:
Now a character slot (like Character_1) will appear below.
3
Add your image (optional)
If you have a character image you'd like to add, click on the slot and see the Character Details window below:
Click the Find button next to Image to load your image.
But what if you don't have a suitable character image? Don't worry — you already have the sample character, Mr.C. Whether you've loaded an image or not, it's time to move to the next step.
4
Place the character in the scene
Click this part on the character slot. This is the button to place your character:
Then, your cursor will change like this:
Bring this marker to the "ground point" and click. Ta-da! Your character is placed.
Step 4 of 6 · Light
Try the lighting tools
"...Also, to adjust Lighting, open the Lighting Panel." — ACON Discordkeeper, 2026
1
💡 Open the Lighting Panel
The Lighting Panel icon looks like this:
It's the 4th icon from the bottom in the right-side menu panel.
2
☀️ Adjust the Sunlight Altitude
The key is adjusting the Sunlight settings — specifically, the Altitude.
Try changing the slider as much as you like!
Step 5 of 6 · Camera
Learn the camera basics
1
🎥 Master a few keys
Time to master the controls! Keyboard controls are the focus, here is your shortcut guide:
- W A S D — Move camera up, down, left, right
- Q / E — Move camera vertically (down / up)
- Right-click + drag — Rotate the camera view
- O + drag — Another way to rotate
Want more? See the full list in Keyboard Shortcuts.
Step 6 of 6 · Export · Last step!
Export as PSD
Three steps. Click Render, set the options, save the PSD.
1
📤 Click the Render button
The Render button is in the top-right corner:
2
⚙️ Customize your options
Customize your options in the render window:
3
⚠️ Check "Output as PSD File"
But be careful! If you don't check the "Output as PSD File" option, you'll only get image format output, not PSD.
You're all set! Your first ABLUR scene is ready to drop into your comic.
Reference
Keyboard Shortcuts
The full list. Save this page — your hands stay on the keyboard.
| Function | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Undo & Redo | ||
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | Undo the last action. |
| Redo | Ctrl + Shift + Z | Redo the last undone action. |
| Object Selection | ||
| Select Mode | V | Click an object to select it. |
| Drag select | Drag | Select all objects within the drag range. |
| Add to selection | Ctrl + Click | Adds an object. Clicking the selected object again does not deselect it. |
| Toggle selection | Shift + Click | Adds an object. Clicking a selected object again deselects it. |
| Add range | Ctrl + Drag | Add objects within the drag range to selection. |
| Toggle range | Shift + Drag | Add objects in range; if any are already selected, deselect them. |
| Object Hide / Duplicate / Delete | ||
| Hide / unhide | Ctrl + H | Hide or unhide the selected object. |
| Unhide all | Ctrl + Shift + H | Unhide every hidden object. |
| Duplicate | Ctrl + D | Duplicate the selected object (copy + auto-paste). |
| Delete | Backspace | Delete the selected object. |
| Camera Control | ||
| Easy movement | W A S D / arrows | Move easily in all directions. |
| Rotate (drag) | O + drag | Drag to rotate the screen. |
| Pan (drag) | H + drag | Drag to move the screen. |
| Zoom in/out | Z + drag | Drag up or down to zoom. |
| Camera facing | L | Change the direction the camera faces. |
| Camera tilt | T | Tilt the camera. |
| View all | Shift + C | Frame all objects within the view. |
| Save | ||
| Save | Ctrl + S | Save the project to a file. |
| Save As | Ctrl + Shift + S | Save the project with a different name. |
| Scene | ||
| Next scene | Ctrl + Tab / Ctrl + Shift + → | Go to the next scene. |
| Previous scene | Ctrl + Shift + Tab / Ctrl + Shift + ← | Go to the previous scene. |
| Load scene | Ctrl + number | Switch to the scene at that position. |
| New scene | Ctrl + Shift + N | Copy the current scene to create a new one. |
| Render | ||
| Open render | Ctrl + R | Launch the render window. |
More guides
Want to learn something else?
More guides are on the way. The fastest way to get an answer right now — ask in our Discord. The team and other comic creators using ABLUR every day are there to help.
💬 Got a question, or a topic you'd like to see?
Drop it in the #ablur-feedback channel. The team reads every message, and you can swap tips with other creators using ABLUR.
Open Discord →Still need help?