Animation > Animating with Keyframes >

# Setting Extrapolation

Extrapolation defines the shape of the animation curve outside the keyframes. You can set up a cycle in which channel values change repeatedly in the same manner over time. You can set the extrapolation before the first keyframe separately from the extrapolation after the last keyframe.

You can specify how keyframes are extrapolated using the following settings.

Constant
  Creates an extrapolated animation curve that stays at the same value as the first or last keyframe.

Linear
  Creates an animation curve that changes in a linear fashion before the first or after the last keyframe.

Repeat
  Creates a mirror image of the animation curve before the first or after the last keyframe.

Cycle
  Creates a pattern of repeating keyframes before the first of after the last keyframe.

To set the extrapolation type for a channel:

1. Select the keyframe for which you want to set the extrapolation.
2. Click Animation.
3. Enable the Animation Controls panel.
4. In the Extrapolation Mode panel of the Animation controls, do any of the following:
   - In the PreType controls, click one extrapolation type button to set the extrapolation before the first keyframe.
   - In the PostType controls, click one extrapolation type button to set the extrapolation after the last keyframe.

   (a) PreType Extrapolation option box(b) PostType Extrapolation  option box