Manage key frames and key events

The Animation Clip Editor enables you to implement complex animations involving different scene objects and commands. This is done by managing keyframes and key events.

Frame indicator

The frame indicator allows you to move the current frame in the timeline. You can move it by clicking any frame on the timebar or the animation, or by editing the current frame indicator text box at the far top right of the editor.

When adding new KeyFrames, they are added in the frame where the frame indicator currently is (on the selected channel or channels).

After KeyFrames are created so that an animation is defined, you can see how the animation progresses frame by frame by moving the frame indicator. For each frame the values applied to each animated property in that frame is displayed in the channels panel, and the effect the animation is also reflected in the Graphic Context Editor, so that it is possible to have a preview of the animation.

KeyFrames selection

KeyFrames can be selected by clicking them or by using area selection. Both single-click selection and area selection support holding the Shift hotkey to use additive selection, and holding the Ctrl hotkey to use toggle selection.

• Additive selection adds each new KeyFrame selected to the current selection.

• Toggle selection toggles the state of each new selected KeyFrame. Selected KeyFrames get unselected and unselected KeyFrames get selected.

Key frames and key events copy and paste

The Animation Clip Editor allows you to copy and paste a selection of key frames and key events from a frame to another frame or even to another clip.

Copy the key frames or key events

1. Select source frame in the timeline.

2. Press Copy or Ctrl+C.

Paste the copied key frames or key events

3. Select the desired destination frame by moving the frame indicator.

4. Press Paste or Ctrl+V.

When pasting a group of KeyFrames, the first KeyFrame of the selection group will be set at the frame indicator position.

Move key frames to different frame

KeyFrames can be moved forward and backwards in the timeline by using a drag and drop interaction. Press and hold the left mouse button on any selected KeyFrame. A visual cue displays to assist the user in the operation.

Notes

• When pasting on a different clipboard, only key frames or key events belonging to shared channels are applied.

• Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V work only when the timeline is focused.

• Ctrl+X is not supported.