# Cutting, Copying and Pasting Cells

As you build content, you will want to reuse as much as possible to reduce your work, and hopefully reduce the file size of your animation.

- If you cut or copy and paste a cell in the same element, Toon Boom Studio will paste the original cell label, accessing the original drawing or image in the animation set folder.

To reduce your work and keep the file size of your final Macromedia® Flash movie small, you can to reuse the same drawing at different frames.

- If you paste a new object, Toon Boom Studio copies the contents of the original cell to the new cell and creates a new file in your animation set folder.

You can use the paste new object feature to use the contents of one cell for the basis of another drawing.

To cut, copy and paste cells:

1. Select the cell(s) you want to copy from the element column in the Exposure Sheet window.

2. Select Edit > Cut or Edit > Copy.

- Select Copy to leave a copy of the cell at its original frame.
- Select Cut to delete the cell.

3. Select where you want to paste the cells.

- If you want to reuse the same drawing and keep the file size small, you must select a cell in the same element.
- If you want to create a new drawing, you can select a cell in the same or a different element.
- In the Timeline window, you must change the current frame (with the red frame slider) to select the cell in the element where you want to insert the pasted object.

4. Select Edit > Paste or Edit > Paste New Object.

- Select Paste.

- If you selected a cell in the same element, Toon Boom Studio accesses the original file. When you modify a file, all cells that access the file are updated.
- If you selected a cell in a different element, Toon Boom Studio creates a new file in your animation set folder. You can modify either file without affecting the other.

- Select Paste New Object if you want to create a new cell in the same element with the contents of the original cell.

See Also
Sequencing and Timing Drawings and Images
Creating Cycles
Copying and Pasting Keyframe Values