Learning how to use Doodly is significantly faster than learning most animation software. This tutorial walks through the complete process from first open to finished exported video — no assumed prior knowledge, no steps skipped. If you have just installed Doodly (or are in the middle of your free trial), this is the place to start.
Step 1: Create a New Project
Open Doodly and click “New Video” from the dashboard. You will be prompted to name your project and choose a board style:
- Whiteboard — white background, most common for explainer videos
- Blackboard — dark background with chalk-style drawing animation
- Greenboard — school chalkboard aesthetic
- Glassboard — transparent glass surface, cleaner modern look
You can change the board style later if you change your mind, but choosing the right one at the start keeps your workflow clean.
Step 2: Add Assets to the Canvas
The main editor shows your canvas on the left and the asset library panel on the right. Browse categories (characters, props, text, backgrounds) and drag elements onto the canvas. Doodly automatically assigns a drawing animation to each element you add — a hand will appear to “draw” it when the video plays.
Key things to know at this stage:
- You can resize, rotate, and reposition any element after placing it
- Text elements work like other assets — drag them from the text tool, type your content, and they animate the same way
- If the built-in library does not have what you need, use the SVG import button to add your own file — Doodly will animate it automatically
- Background elements do not animate — they appear instantly, which is the correct behavior
Step 3: Set the Scene Timeline
Below the canvas is the scene timeline. Each scene is a separate “slide” in your video. You control:
- The order in which assets draw themselves within a scene
- The drawing speed for each element (how fast the hand draws it)
- Pause duration between elements (a short pause between each drawing makes the animation feel more natural)
- Total scene duration
You can add as many scenes as you need. Think of each scene as one “beat” in your video — a new visual idea, a new talking point, a new section.
Step 4: Add Audio
Click the audio icon to add sound to your video. You have two options:
- Voiceover: Record directly in Doodly or import a pre-recorded audio file. Doodly syncs the drawing animation to the length of your audio automatically (or you can set timing manually).
- Background music: Import any audio file as a background track. Doodly includes a small library of royalty-free music options as well.
Step 5: Preview and Export
Use the preview button to watch your video before exporting. When you are satisfied, click Export and choose your resolution (up to 1080p HD). Export time depends on video length and your machine’s specs — expect a few minutes for a typical 2-3 minute video on a modern machine.
The exported file is a standard MP4 ready for YouTube, social media, course platforms, or any other destination.
For a deeper look at how Doodly compares to other tools, see our full review. For pricing details, check the pricing page.