Customize the editor

Customize the editor layout to speed up your editing workflow. This article explains how to resize editor panels, adjust layouts, and work with floating panels in Descript.

Layout preferences

While the app is open, new compositions keep your Timeline and sidebar sizes. Descript doesn’t currently save custom layout preferences, so the layout resets when you close the app.

Adjust editor panels

Resize panels

Resize the Script editor, scene editor, Timeline, and sidebar by clicking and dragging the border between panels.

Dragging the border between editor panels to resize the timeline, scene editor, and sidebar

Show or hide comments

Show or hide comments — or collapse the panel entirely — by clicking the Comments icon in the top right corner of the window.

Comments icon in the top app bar used to show or hide comments

Change the layout in video compositions

In video compositions, you can arrange the Script editor and scene editor side by side or stack the scene editor above the Script editor. Open the top-left menu and select View > Scene editor to switch layouts.

Menu option for switching between side-by-side and stacked editor layouts

Side-by-side layout not available?

If the side-by-side option is disabled, your browser window is likely too narrow. Maximize the window or increase its width to enable this layout.

Adjustable panels

You can move and resize floating panels that appear when you open settings or project assets.

Move a panel

Click a blank area in the panel’s top bar, then drag the panel anywhere within the editor.

Resize floating panels

Drag the edge or corner of a floating panel to resize it.

Resizing a floating file details panel by dragging its edge