Hidden Features in Scratch: Coding is fun yet it is a long and time-consuming process as it requires logic to move further to the next step. You need to think of and put multiple logic to make one single condition work. The same thing happens in Scratch.

If you want to make a character move like jump or sit, you first need to create the logic behind it using the given blocks which consume a lot of time and make the entire process tedious for the user.

However, to deal with this problem, there are a few hidden features available that not many people know about which help users in making their tedious and time-consuming work easy.

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Hidden Features in Scratch

There are a few hidden features in Scratch that helps users in doing long tasks in a short span of time easily. The following are the hidden features available in Scratch:

1. Precise Movement in Vector Paint Editor

In the Vector Paint Editor, while dragging any shape if the user holds the shift key, it will automatically let the shape snap to 45 degrees angle with respect to the center of the initial position of the shape. This is helpful when the user needs to keep any shape at a particular position but needs to move it horizontally and vertically at the same time.

2. Precise Rotation in Vector Paint Editor

In the Vector Paint Editor, while rotating any shape if the user holds the shift key, it will automatically let the shape snap to 45 degrees angle with respect to the original rotation of the shape. This is helpful when the user precisely needs to rotate objects in Scratch.

3. Color Replace in Bitmap Paint Editor

In the Bitmap Paint Editor, while filling a color in any shape if the user holds the shift key, it will automatically cause all the pixels of that particular color to be replaced with a new color having the same brightness and saturation level. This is helpful when the user needs to fill a color to many shapes at once instead of separately filling in each shape.

4. Blocks in Code Editor

The two list blocks, Item () of () and Item Number of () in (), can be placed into true or false boolean inputs in Scratch. So, if these blocks are placed into boolean inputs, they will return whether that particular value is true or false.

5. Comment

In Scratch, a comment is used to explain the working of blocks. They are light yellow-colored blocks specifically used to report the value of a variable are used to write explanations and notes about the code and they are not executed as part of the program.

To use the comment feature in Scratch, the user simply needs to follow the following steps:

• Step 1: Right-click on the block to which you want to add the comment.
• Step 2: Once you right-click on the block, a drop-down will appear on the screen.
• Step 3: Click on the “Add Comment” option to add the comment to the selected block.

• Step 4: Now, the comment block is successfully added to a block.

6. Cloning

The Cloning feature in Scratch allows the users to duplicate an object or sprite on the screen. To clone an object, just right-click on that object and select “Clone” from the menu. You can then move the cloned object around the screen as needed.

7. Grouping Sprites

Sprites are one of the best features in Scratch but moving sprites from one place to another is a difficult task as sprites are mostly separate for every part of the code. So, you need to individually move all the sprites which is time-consuming.

Instead of moving the sprites individually, you can group them and move them as a whole. To group a sprite, there are two ways.

The first way is you can simply select the whole part you want to move and then press the group icon. Another thing you can do is use the shift key on your keyboard and click on the part you want to move.

8. Masking

This feature allows the users to hide or show certain parts of an object or sprite on the screen. To use masking, just click on the “Mask” button at the top of the screen and select which parts of the object you want to hide or show.

9. Backpack

This feature helps users in saving their time from writing the same logic again and again. It helps in saving any logic or algorithm to use in the future for other projects.

To use the backpack feature in Scratch, the user simply need to follow the following steps:

• Step 1: Click on the “Backpack” option available at the bottom of the screen.

• Step 2: Once you click on the “Backpack” option, an empty space will appear under it.
• Step 3: Select the blocks which you want to save and drag them to the empty space under the backpack option.
• Step 4: Now, whenever you want to use the blocks, just select them and drag them out to the code screen.

10. Snapping

This feature allows the users to quickly align objects or sprites with each other onscreen. To use snapping, hold down Shift while dragging an object or sprite around the screen. The object will automatically snap into place when it gets close to another object or sprite.

Looking to learn Scratch coding? Explore Wiingy’s Online Scratch Coding Classes For Kids to learn from top Scratch coding experts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the Hidden Features of Scratch?
In Scratch, the Hidden Features are the features that not many people know about which help users in making their tedious and time-consuming work easy.

What is the use of cloning in Scratch?
In Scratch, snapping is used to quickly align objects or sprites with each other onscreen.

What is the use of the Hidden Features in Scratch?
In Scratch, the Hidden Features are used to make the entire programming process easy and less time-consuming. It also helps the users in making their projects easily without investing much time.

What are the different types of Hidden Features available in Scratch?
Different types of Hidden Features available in Scratch are Comment, Cloning, Grouping Sprites, Masking, Backpack, Snapping, etc.

What is the use of cloning in Scratch?
In Scratch, cloning is used to duplicate an object or sprite on the screen.

We hope you now know what are some of the cool and hidden features in Scratch and their types and uses.

You can use these hidden features to create fun games on Scratch. Check out our compilation of some of the most popular Scratch Games for Kids such as Pac-man game on Scratch, 3D game on Scratch, Pong game on Scratch along with step-by-step instructions on how to build those games.