> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cstplus.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cstplus.org/documentation/feature-reference/cg-studio.md). # CG Studio CG Studio is the built-in character-generator editor. It is where you design the on-screen graphics your channels put on air: lower-thirds, tickers, clocks, scoreboards, logos, QR codes and full-frame slates. You build a graphic once, save it as a template, and take it to air on any channel with no stream restart. *** ### Where to find it Open **CG Studio** in the sidebar. The editor fills the screen: a canvas in the middle, a layer list, and a properties panel for the selected layer. The canvas is always 1920x1080; graphics are scaled to each channel's resolution automatically when they go on air. *** ### Building a graphic A graphic is a stack of **layers** drawn back to front. Add a layer from the toolbar, position it on the canvas, and edit its properties on the right. | Layer type | Use it for | | ---------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Text / lower-third | Names, roles, captions, titles | | Ticker | Scrolling single-line headline strip | | Roll | Vertical scrolling credits or notices | | Clock | Live time (HH:mm or HH:mm:ss) | | Date / countdown / stopwatch | A date, a countdown to a target, or a running timer | | Analog clock | A round clock face | | Sport scoreboard | Two teams, scores, game clock, period | | Shape | Rectangle, ellipse/circle, triangle (fills, gradients, radius, stroke) | | Image | A logo or picture from a URL | | QR | A scannable code from any text or URL | {% hint style="info" %} Layer order is back to front: the top item in the layer list is drawn last (on top). Drag to reorder, or use grouping and multi-select to move several at once. {% endhint %} *** ### Design tools * **Multi-select and grouping** to move and align several layers together. * **Copy / paste**, **rename**, and **blend modes** per layer. * **Flip** horizontal or vertical. * **Gradient text fill** and shape gradients. * **Snap** to safe zones and to other layers while dragging. * **Custom safe zones** you can save and reuse. * **Export / import** a graphic as a file to move it between installs. *** ### Animation Every layer can animate on a **motion timeline** (the same idea as CapCut or Premiere). **Step 1: Open the timeline** Click **Timeline** in the toolbar. A keyframe track appears under the canvas. **Step 2: Add keyframes** Move the playhead, change a layer's position, opacity, rotation or scale, and a keyframe is recorded. Repeat to build motion. **Step 3: Shape the motion** Pick an easing preset, or open the bezier **speed-curve editor** to draw a custom acceleration curve between two keyframes. **Playback modes:** once, loop, or ping-pong. You can also give a layer an **idle-loop** so it keeps moving subtly while on air, and stagger animation start with a per-layer delay. {% hint style="warning" %} On air, graphics render at the channel's frame rate. If animations look choppy in the broadcast but smooth in the editor, check the channel's frame rate and the CG frame-rate setting under Rendering, not the editor. {% endhint %} *** ### AI graphics The **AI** button generates a graphic or on-screen text from a plain-language prompt (for example, "a sports scoreboard for Team A vs Team B" or "lower-third for guest Ivan Petrov, chief editor"). The result drops onto the canvas as editable layers. {% hint style="info" %} AI graphics generation and the motion timeline are **Professional plan** features. On lower plans the buttons show a lock. {% endhint %} *** ### Templates and taking to air Save a finished graphic as a **template**. Templates appear in CG Studio and on the Linear TV control room, ready to take to air. To put a graphic on a channel, use the Live Playout control room: select the template and take it. Because CST+ composites graphics in real time over a continuous stream, taking or clearing a graphic never restarts the channel and never drops the picture. *** ### Data-driven text A text layer can pull its content from a **Google Sheet (CSV)** source, so a lower-third or ticker updates from a spreadsheet instead of being typed by hand. Point the layer at the sheet's CSV URL and map the cell. For EPG-driven text (an "up next" plate), the text auto-fills on air from the channel's programme guide and refreshes every 30 seconds; the text you type in the editor is only a placeholder. *** --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. 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