Keyable Icon
 
 
 
Command entry: Track View Editing Keys in Curve Editor Curves toolbar (Show Keyable Icons)
Command entry: Track View Editing Keys in Curve Editor Display menu Keyable Icons

The Keyable icon provides a method to tag a track so that it can receive keyframes or be prevented from receiving keyframes. You can display an icon in the Controller window next to the each track’s name to indicate whether or not the track is keyable. You can toggle the state of the icon to define the Keyable property.

You can also use the Track View Controller menu Keyable command to make tracks keyable in a single operation.

Red key icon means a track is keyable.

When the keyable icons are visible, click the red icon to turn off the track.

Black key in a circle indicates a track is not keyable.

NoteWhen a track’s Keyable property is off and Auto Key or Set Key is on, the track is effectively locked; the associated value cannot be changed.
WarningWhen you are working with Set Key animation and you have used key filters to select object parameters or materials, all of the parameters will be keyed unless you turn off the track's keyable property.
TipYou can assign a keyboard shortcut for making tracks keyable: On the Keyboard panel of the Customize User Interface dialog, choose Keyable Property Toggle in the Track View group. By combining the use of keyable icons with key filters, you can use Set Key animation mode to add keyframes to just the tracks you want to work with, and avoid keyframing other tracks.

Procedures

To make an individual track keyable:

  1. Select the object in the viewport.
  2. Right-click and choose Curve Editor.

    The Function Curve Editor opens, with the selected object tracks visible.

  3. On the Curves toolbar, click (Show Keyable Icons).
  4. Click the red keyable icons for the tracks for which you want to prevent animation.

    The tracks are changed, now marked with a black key in a circle. These tracks will not receive keyframes. Only the tracks marked with red keyable icons will.

    NoteKeyable tracks work with both Auto Key and Set Key animation modes.

To make multiple tracks keyable:

  1. In Track View, with the object selected, hold down the Ctrl key and click each track to create a selection set of tracks for which you want to prevent animation. This can be for one or multiple objects
    TipYou can hold down the Shift key to select a group of sequential tracks at once. Alternately you can hold down the Alt key to select all tracks at the same level as a given track at once.
    NoteIf you select just a parent track such as Position, Controller Keyable will toggle all of its sub-tracks, even if theyre not selected.
  2. From the Controller menu, choose Keyable.

    The selected tracks are now defined as keyable.

  3. From the Display menu, choose Keyable Icons.

    The keyable icon appears next to the tracks. The icon appears red for the tracks that are keyable, and black for the ones that are not.

    TipUse the same procedure to make multiple tracks not keyable. The Controller Keyable command toggles the keyability of the tracks.
    NoteIf you have a mixed keyable situation it will toggle the state of the first track and then set all remaining tracks to match the value of the first track