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Handbook

How to pose, light and export your characters in JustSketchMe.

Start here

1. Pick a character. The app starts with one. Add more from the Characters menu.
2. Pose it. Click a coloured dot on a joint, then drag a ring to rotate it.
3. Frame it. Drag the background to orbit and scroll to zoom. See Camera for touch controls.
4. Light it. Press W, select the yellow sphere, then drag its arrows.
5. Export it. Press P to save a transparent .png.

The app at a glance

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1. Menu bar: on a narrow screen, swipe sideways to see the rest. See Menus.
2. Posing tools
3. Toggles: mirror posing, then camera position and lock camera (see Camera).
4. Upgrade to Pro: see what's included, or enter your key.
5. Tabs: one for each character and prop.
6. Light source: the yellow sphere. It can start off screen on a phone, so zoom out if you can't see it.
7. Joints: click a dot to select that joint.
8. Hand editor: click the pink sphere by a hand.

Prefer to watch? These videos show an older version of the app, but the basics are the same.

Pose a character

The four posing tools

Tool	Key	What it does
Rotate	Q	Rotates joints and props.
Move	W	Moves characters, props, whole limbs and the light.
Scale	E	Resizes characters and props.
Hide tools	R	Hides joints and gizmos so you can check your pose. Pick another tool to bring them back.

Rotate a joint

With the Rotate tool, select a joint. Drag a coloured ring to rotate around that axis, or drag inside the sphere to rotate freely.

Pose a whole arm or leg

With the Move tool, select a hand or foot and drag it. The rest of the limb follows.

Pose fingers and hands

• Pose each finger: click the pink sphere next to a hand to zoom in. Click Exit hand editor or press Esc to go back.
• Use a hand pose Pro : in the Hands menu, click Left or Right on a pose to apply it to the selected character.

Use a ready-made pose Pro

Select a character, then click a pose in the Poses menu's library of hundreds.

Mirror left and right

J copies joint rotations to the character's other side as you pose.

Set up the scene

Add a character or prop

• Characters: the Characters menu is grouped into Base, Stylised, Realistic, Fantasy and Other. Some need Pro.
• Props: the Props menu has free basic shapes for blocking out a scene. Prop packs Pro add weapons, animals, decor, environments and more.

Select, hide or lock an object

Every character and prop has a tab in the top left. Click a tab, joint or object to select it. Click the background or press Esc to deselect.

• Hide H: gets an object out of the way while you work.
• Lock K: stops accidental changes. Locking a character also hides its joints.
• Object menu: click … on a tab, or right-click it, to change colour, duplicate, flip, delete and more. The Edit menu has the same actions for whatever is selected.

Move and resize

• Move W: drag an arrow to move along one axis, or a square to move along a plane.
• Scale a prop E: drag an axis to stretch it, or a corner square to scale evenly.
• Scale a character E: use the Scale slider at the bottom of the screen. Characters scale from their feet, so they stay on the ground.

Lighting

• Move the light: select the yellow sphere with the Move tool, then drag its arrows. Reset light in the View menu puts it back.
• Ambient lighting (View menu): even light from everywhere. Higher values soften shadows.
• Spot lighting (View menu): light from the yellow sphere. Higher values deepen shadows.
• Hard shadows (Settings menu): shows more shadow detail, but can slow down older devices.

Attach a prop to a character

Attach a prop to a joint so it moves with the character, like a sword in a hand.

1. Choose Attach to character from the prop's object menu.
2. Select the joint.
3. Choose whether to snap the prop to it.

To undo it, choose Detach from character.

Reshape a body Pro

Add Adjustable male or Adjustable female from the top of Base, then choose Adjust proportions from its object menu.

Upload your own Pro

Use the Props menu. Files can be up to 8mb.

• Upload image: .png, .jpg, .webp or .gif. Transparency is kept, so an image can be a prop or a background.
• Upload prop: an .obj model.

You can also drag .png, .jpg and .obj files onto the app.

Camera

Action	Mouse and keyboard	Touch
Orbit	Drag the background	Drag with one finger
Pan	Right-drag	Drag with two fingers
Zoom	Scroll	Pinch
Orbit around the selection	F	View → Focus on selection
Save the view	Hold the button, or Shift+C	Hold the button
Return to the saved view	Click the button, or C	Tap the button
Lock the camera	Click the button, or L	Tap the button

A saved view keeps the position, angle and field of view. Until you save one, returning goes to the starting view.

For dramatic perspective (think giant fist in the foreground), widen View → Field of view.

Save and export

Export an image

Go to Export → Take screenshot, or press P, to save a transparent .png.

Save to the cloud Pro

Saves sync across your devices.

• Scene: click Save scene in the Scenes menu, or press Ctrl/⌘+S. This saves characters, props, lighting and camera. Click a saved scene to load it.
• Pose: select a character and click Save pose in the Poses menu. Click a saved pose to apply it.

Export a 3D model Pro

Go to Export → Export 3D model to download the selected character as an .obj. You can't export a whole scene yet.

Install the app

JustSketchMe runs in any web browser. Installing it from the browser gives you the full app, not just a bookmark.

iOS

Download it from the App Store. Or open app.justsketch.me in Safari, then tap Share → Add to Home Screen.

To use an existing license key in the App Store app, tap Upgrade to Pro → Get JustSketchMe Pro → Already subscribed?.

Android

Open app.justsketch.me in Chrome, open the browser menu , then tap Add to Home Screen.

Mac

Download the Mac app.

Windows

Open app.justsketch.me in Chrome, click the install button at the right of the address bar, then Install JustSketchMe.

Pro and billing

JustSketchMe Pro is a subscription or a one-time purchase.

Free vs Pro

Activate Pro

Your license key is your login. Click Upgrade to Pro, paste your key into Already have a license key? and click Activate.

Use Pro on several devices

Copy your key from Settings → Account and activate it on your other devices. Saved poses and scenes sync between them.

Lost license key

Search your inbox for "JustSketchMe" to find the email from Gumroad or LemonSqueezy. Your key is also in your LemonSqueezy orders or Gumroad library.

Cancel subscription

To update your payment details or cancel, use any of these:

• Settings → Account in the app
• Your LemonSqueezy orders or Gumroad library
• The link in your receipt email

If you subscribed through the Apple App Store, use your device's App Store settings.

Common problems

• Clicking something opens the upgrade screen. That feature needs Pro. See Free vs Pro.
• The joints have disappeared. Pick a posing tool to leave Hide tools, or check that the character isn't locked or hidden on its tab.
• The camera won't move. Press L to unlock it.
• The app is slow. Turn off Hard shadows in the Settings menu.
• Will I lose my scene if I close the app? No. Your current scene comes back next time on the same device and browser. Use cloud saves to keep several scenes or open them elsewhere.
• Does it work offline? Yes, once you've opened it online. Characters and props you haven't loaded yet need a connection.

Reference

Keyboard shortcuts

Press ? in the app to see these at any time.

Menus

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