Adding and Deleting Keys

When you add or delete keys on an fcurve, it is the same as adding or deleting keyframes. Softimage recalculates the interpolation and draws new curve segments reconnecting the keys.

You can set the default way in which keys are added to the fcurve by setting the Keys When Adding Keys Use option in the Animation Preferences (see Animation Preferences).

NoteIf you add a key on the same frame as an existing key, the old key is replaced.

Adding Keys Interactively

Select the fcurves to which you want to add points.
Do one of the following:
- Choose Keys Add Key Tool, click its icon in the toolbar, or press the I (capital "i") key. On the fcurve, click where you want to add keys.
- Choose Keys Edit Key Tool, click its icon in the toolbar, or press Shift+E. On the fcurve, middle-click where you want to add keys.

When you add keys this way, the shape of the curve segment where you added the key may change slightly. See below for ways of adding keys without changing the shape of the curve.

Because adding points interactively can be imprecise, you might want to have your keys snap to specific time or value intervals. For more information on snapping to the grid, see Snapping Keys.

Inserting Keys without Changing the Fcurve Shape

There are three ways in which you can insert keys on an fcurve without changing the fcurve's shape:

Use the Add Key tool with the middle mouse button — see Inserting Keys Anywhere.
Use the Keys Insert Key at Current Time command to insert keys at a certain frame — see Inserting Keys on Multiple Curves at a Certain Frame (Current Time).
Use the Keys Insert Key at Key Time command to insert keys where you've middle-clicked in the timeline — see Inserting Keys at Key Time.

Inserting Keys Anywhere

You can insert a key anywhere on an fcurve without changing the shape of the fcurve. This is especially useful with curves that have few keys, or curves that have sharp peaks and valleys where adding a key as usual would change the shape of the fcurve.

Activate the Add Key tool (see above).
Hold down the middle-mouse button and drag the red vertical bar that appears. The small box on the bar follows the contour of the fcurve as you drag.

TipPress Ctrl while dragging to snap to the increments set in the Fcurve Editor Preferences property editor (see Snapping Keys ).
Release the middle mouse button at the place where you want to add the key. The key is added without changing the shape of the curve.

Inserting Keys on Multiple Curves at a Certain Frame (Current Time)

You can automatically add keys to all selected curves on a given frame. While a new key is added for each curve, the curves retain their shape. This is useful when you want to insert a key for a group of parameters (for example, X, Y, and Z) so that each key occurs at the exact same point in time.

Select the fcurves to which you want to add keys.
Position the playback cursor to the frame where you want the keys inserted.
Choose Keys Insert Key at Current Time from the fcurve editor toolbar.

One key is inserted on each selected curve at the frame indicated by the playback cursor.

Inserting Keys at Key Time

As in the main timeline, you can middle-click the playback cursor in the animation editor's timeline to go to a different frame without updating the scene. When you do this, the playback cursor turns green and you can insert a key for these values.

Middle-click in the animation editor's timeline to set the key time. The playback cursor turns green.
Select the fcurve on which you want to insert the key and choose Keys Insert Key at Key Time . This inserts a key on this fcurve without changing its shape.

If the key time is not visible (it's at the same location as the current time), the command is dimmed since the current time is the key time.

Key is inserted for the current state at frame 55.

Deleting Keys

When you delete keys from an fcurve, it is the same as deleting a keyframe from your animation. Softimage recalculates the interpolation and draws a new curve segment connecting the remaining keys.

Deleting Specific Keys Using the Delete Key Tool

Select the fcurves from which you want to delete points.
Choose Keys Delete Key Tool, click its icon on the toolbar, or press the D key.
Click the keys you want to delete.

Deleting Specific Keys Using the Edit Key Tool

Choose Keys Edit Key Tool, click its icon on the toolbar, or press Shift+E.
Right-click the keys you want to delete.

Deleting Multiple Keys

Select one or more fcurves from which you want to delete keys.
Select all the keys you want to delete.
Press Delete or choose Keys Remove Keys.

Deleting Multiple Keys on the Same Frame

Select the curves from which you want to delete keys.
Move the playback cursor to the frame at which you want to delete keys.
Choose Keys Delete Key at Current Time.

Deleting a Key at Key Time

Middle-click in the animation editor's timeline and drag the green cursor to where there is a key.
Select the curves from which you want to delete keys at this frame.
Choose Keys Delete Key at Key Time.