Getting Started

Installation

The current release is Varve 0.1.0 — get it from the download page, which lists packages, checksums, and system requirements for each platform. This is an early beta: expect rough edges, and keep backups of anything you care about. The instructions below describe each platform's installer.

Linux

• AppImage (Recommended): Download the AppImage, make it executable, and run it:

• deb: Install via package manager: sudo dpkg -i varve_*.deb
• rpm: Install via package manager: sudo rpm -i varve-*.rpm

macOS

Download the dmg and drag Varve to your Applications folder. Requires macOS 13 Ventura or later and an Apple Silicon Mac — there is no Intel build yet.

Windows

Download the NSIS installer (.exe) and run it. Requires Windows 10 or Windows 11.

First Launch

When you first launch Varve, you'll see the home screen with options to:

• Create a new document
• Open an existing document
• View recent documents

Creating Your First Document

1. Click "New Document" on the home screen
2. Choose a preset or enter custom dimensions
3. Name your document
4. Click "Create"

Basic Workflow

• Tools: Select tools from the toolbar (left side)
• Canvas: Use mouse wheel to zoom, middle-click to pan
• Layers: View and manage layers in the layers panel (right side)
• Properties: Edit properties in the inspector panel (F6)
• Export: Export via File > Export or the export panel

Keyboard Shortcuts

Common shortcuts:

• V - Select tool
• R - Rectangle tool
• E - Ellipse tool
• T - Text tool
• F6 - Toggle inspector
• Ctrl+Z - Undo
• Ctrl+Shift+Z - Redo

See the full keyboard shortcuts reference.

Next Steps

• Interface Overview - Learn about the Varve interface
• Your First Project - Tutorial for your first design
• Features - Deep dives into Varve's capabilities
• Support - Get help if you're stuck