Timelinx

Customizing colors, fonts, layout dimensions, and accent using CSS custom properties

@timelinx/ui uses a CSS custom property (CSS variable) design system. Every color, font, size, and animation speed is a variable in :root. Override them after importing your preset to customize the editor's appearance.

Import Order

/* globals.css */
/* 1. Preset  - defines all tokens */
@import '@timelinx/ui/styles/presets/dark-pro';

/* 2. Structure  - imports tokens, defines layout */
@import '@timelinx/ui/styles/structure';

/* 3. Your overrides  - come last to win specificity */
:root {
  --accent: #7c3aed; /* override amber accent with violet */
}

Always import structure after your preset

structure.css references the token variables. If you swap the import order, the component CSS can't resolve the variables.

Bundled Presets

File	Description
`@timelinx/ui/styles/presets/dark-pro`	Default. Instrument-black canvas with amber accent and cyan selection.
`@timelinx/ui/styles/presets/light`	Light mode. Off-white surfaces, cool-gray borders, same accent scale.
`@timelinx/ui/styles/presets/high-contrast`	Maximum contrast for accessibility. `prefers-contrast: more` compatible.

Accent Color

The accent is used for the playhead, active tool highlight, focus rings, and primary buttons. The scale is --accent-100 (lightest) through --accent-600 (darkest):

:root {
  /* Primary accent  - used on interactive elements */
  --accent: #7c3aed; /* violet instead of amber */
  --accent-hover: #6d28d9;
  --accent-active: #5b21b6;
  --accent-subtle: rgba(124, 58, 237, 0.12);
  --accent-border: rgba(124, 58, 237, 0.3);
  --accent-glow: rgba(124, 58, 237, 0.08);
  --accent-on-fill: #ffffff; /* text on accent-filled buttons */

  /* Full scale */
  --accent-100: #ede9fe;
  --accent-200: #c4b5fd;
  --accent-300: #a78bfa;
  --accent-400: #7c3aed;
  --accent-500: #6d28d9;
  --accent-600: #5b21b6;

  /* Playhead uses the accent */
  --playhead-color: var(--accent-400);
  --playhead-shadow: 0 0 8px rgba(124, 58, 237, 0.4);
}

Selection Color

The selection ring around selected clips and the rubber-band rectangle use the selection color. By default it is electric cyan, distinct from the amber accent:

:root {
  --selection: #7c3aed; /* match accent if you prefer */
  --selection-ring: #6d28d9;
  --selection-glow: rgba(124, 58, 237, 0.12);
  --selection-handle: #7c3aed;
  --selection-on-fill: #ffffff;
}

Surface Colors

The background surfaces use a layered elevation model. Each level is slightly lighter than the one below:

:root {
  --bg-canvas: #0c0c10; /* outermost, page background */
  --bg-app: #0c0c10; /* app shell */
  --bg-panel: #121216; /* sidebars, tool panels */
  --bg-surface: #18181e; /* track rows, content areas */
  --bg-surface-raised: #1e1e26; /* cards, dropdowns, modals */
  --bg-surface-soft: #141418; /* soft fills */
  --bg-hover: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.04);
  --bg-active: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.06);
}

Text Colors

:root {
  --text-primary: #ececf0; /* main text */
  --text-secondary: #b4b4c8; /* labels, descriptions */
  --text-tertiary: #8888a0; /* placeholders, metadata */
  --text-disabled: #4a4a5c; /* disabled state */
}

Track Type Colors

Each track type has a full color family: the fill, a 70% dimmed version, a 12% background tint, and a 30% border:

:root {
  /* Video track  - blue */
  --track-video: #3b82f6;
  --track-video-dim: rgba(59, 130, 246, 0.7);
  --track-video-bg: rgba(59, 130, 246, 0.12);
  --track-video-border: rgba(59, 130, 246, 0.3);

  /* Audio track  - lighter blue */
  --track-audio: #60a5fa;
  --track-audio-bg: rgba(96, 165, 250, 0.12);
  --track-audio-border: rgba(96, 165, 250, 0.3);

  /* Subtitle track  - amber */
  --track-subtitle: #f59e0b;
  --track-subtitle-bg: rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.12);

  /* Image/title track  - pink */
  --track-image: #ec4899;
  --track-image-bg: rgba(236, 72, 153, 0.12);

  /* Effect track  - green */
  --track-effect: #10b981;
  --track-effect-bg: rgba(16, 185, 129, 0.12);

  /* Music track  - purple */
  --track-music: #a855f7;
  --track-music-bg: rgba(168, 85, 247, 0.12);
}

Layout Dimensions

These control the structural dimensions of the editor panels:

:root {
  --track-height: 80px; /* default track row height */
  --track-height-video: 80px; /* video-specific default */
  --track-height-audio: 80px; /* audio-specific default */
  --track-header-width: 180px; /* left header column */
  --ruler-height: 36px; /* timecode ruler */
  --toolbar-height: 44px; /* top toolbar */
  --topbar-height: 48px; /* menu/project bar */
  --sidebar-width: 180px; /* right-side panel */
  --clip-radius: 2px; /* clip corner radius */
}

Typography

:root {
  --font-display: 'Space Grotesk', ui-sans-serif, system-ui, sans-serif;
  --font-sans: 'Inter', ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, sans-serif;
  --font-mono: 'JetBrains Mono', 'SF Mono', Consolas, monospace;
}

To use a different font, override --font-sans and --font-display after importing a Google Font:

@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=DM+Sans:wght@400;500;600&display=swap');

:root {
  --font-sans: 'DM Sans', ui-sans-serif, system-ui, sans-serif;
  --font-display: 'DM Sans', ui-sans-serif, system-ui, sans-serif;
}

Animation Speed

:root {
  --duration-fast: 120ms; /* hover transitions, icon swaps */
  --duration-base: 180ms; /* panel reveals, clip grabs */
  --duration-slow: 280ms; /* modal enters, complex transitions */

  --ease-out: cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1);
  --ease-in-out: cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);
  --ease-spring: cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.56, 0.64, 1);
}

To reduce motion (accessibility):

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  :root {
    --duration-fast: 0ms;
    --duration-base: 0ms;
    --duration-slow: 0ms;
  }
}

Scoped Theming

Override tokens on a parent element to scope them to a subtree without affecting the rest of the page:

.my-compact-editor {
  --track-height: 56px;
  --ruler-height: 28px;
  --toolbar-height: 36px;
  --track-header-width: 140px;
}

<div className="my-compact-editor">
  <TimelineEditor engine={engine} />
</div>

Creating a Custom Preset

Copy dark-pro.css as a starting point and modify the variables:

/* my-preset.css */
@import '@timelinx/ui/styles/tokens.css';

:root {
  color-scheme: dark;
  --bg-canvas: #0a0a0f;
  --bg-app: #0a0a0f;
  --bg-panel: #100f1a;
  --bg-surface: #16152a;
  /* ... rest of your overrides */
  --accent: #818cf8; /* indigo */
}

/* globals.css */
@import './my-preset.css';
@import '@timelinx/ui/styles/structure';

Theming

On this page