Design and Animate Modes

Rive has two main editing modes: Design and Animate.

• Design Mode is for creating, editing, importing, and rigging objects.
• Animate Mode is for creating timelines, state machines, keys, and animation logic.

Use the Mode Toggle in the toolbar, or press Tab, to switch between modes.

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Avoiding accidental keys

When you’re in Animate Mode, some edits can create animation keys depending on what is selected. If a timeline is selected, changes to animatable properties may be keyed automatically. This can happen when you move, resize, rotate, recolor, or otherwise edit an object while working in a timeline.

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When to use Design Mode

Use Design Mode when you want to change the default design of your file. Common design changes include:

• Creating or deleting objects
• Moving, resizing, or rotating objects
• Editing fills, strokes, and shape properties
• Importing assets
• Adding bones, constraints, or other rigging

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When to use Animate Mode

Use Animate Mode when you want to create animation behavior. Common animation tasks include:

• Creating timelines
• Creating state machines
• Adding keys
• Editing key values
• Setting up transitions, listeners, and animation logic