Animation Preferences

These options let you set the default style, interpolation, and slope modes for function curves when they are created. There are also options for setting the default autokey and keying behaviors, as well as keying in property editors.

To set preferences when editing function curves in the animation editor, see the Fcurve Editor Preferences property editor.

To display: Choose File Preferences from the main menu. In the explorer that appears, click Animation or its icon.

Autokey

These options apply to automatic keying. Automatic keying (autokeying) sets a key whenever you change a parameter's value. This means that you don't have to click the keyframe button each time you change a value at a different frame.

For more information, see Setting Keys Automatically.

Enable AutoKey	Activates the autokey feature. Autokey registers the parameter values you enter for the selected frame. You can also activate the autokey feature by clicking the Auto button in the Animation panel, which is in lower-right corner of the main window. The auto button changes color when activated. Select one of these options to determine the autokey behavior:
	On Any Value Change: Sets a key whenever you change any properties. When you autokey with this option, the auto button turns red.
	On Existing Keys Only: Generates a new key when a parameter is changed only if there's already a key for that parameter at the current frame. This makes it easy and safe for editing existing keys, allowing you to work in a mode similar to traditional animation. When you autokey with this option, the auto button turns light orange.
	On Existing Fcurves Only: Generates a new key when a parameter is changed only if the parameter already has an fcurve. New keys are added regardless of whether or not there's already a key at the current frame. When you autokey with this option, the auto button turns dark orange.
Autokey Modified Parameters Only	Sets keys only on modified parameters that already have fcurves instead of setting keys on all parameters. This is on by default.
Highlight Active Viewport and Timeline	When the Enable AutoKey is selected, this option displays a colored border around the viewport in which you click the mouse, as well as around the timeline.
Highlighting Color	If the Highlight Active Viewport and Timeline option is selected, you can select the highlight color. Click the color chip and select a color from the color editor.

Save Key

Determines which parameters are keyed when you save a key by pressing K, by clicking the keyframe icon in the Animation panel or the keying panel, or by choosing the Save Key command from the Animation menu or Character Key Set menu.

These options do not affect keying by using a parameter's animation icon.

For more information, see Selecting Which Keying Method to Use.

Save Key Command

Key Marked Parameters sets keys only on marked parameters. This is the default method for working in Softimage.

For more information, see Keying Marked Parameters.
Key All Keyable sets keys on all parameters that are displayed in the keying panel for the selected object. These parameters are known as keyable parameters.

If you're using the Maya or 3ds Max interaction mode, this option is on by default.

For more information, see Keying Keyable Parameters in the Keying Panel.
Key Marked Keyable sets keys only on keyable parameters that you have marked in the keying panel. This is mixture that lets you set keys on the intersection of parameters that are both keyable and marked.
Key Character Key Set sets keys only on parameters in the current character (or subcharacter) key set.

For more information, see Keying with Character Key Sets.

Save Keys on Modified Parameters Only

Sets keys only on modified parameters that already have fcurves instead of setting keys on all parameters. This is off by default.

Curves

For more information, see Editing a Function Curve's Slope.

Curve Style

These options determine the curve style when function curves are created.

XSI (Free Length Slopes): Sets the default function curve style to the Softimage style (default), where function curves are drawn with slope handles (tangents) whose length can be changed.
SI3D (Fixed Length Slopes): Sets the default function curve style to be the same as in SOFTIMAGE|3D, where the function curve slope handles remain a fixed length. You can also convert existing function curves to this style with the Curves SI|3D command in the fcurve editor.

For more information, see Editing a Function Curve's Slope.

Keys

When Adding Keys Use	Determines which settings are used when adding keys to function curves. Saved Curve Settings: Uses the fcurve's preference settings that were in effect when the fcurve was created or the last time a key was saved. Current Preference Settings: Uses the current preference settings as defined in this preferences property editor.
Interpolation for Inserted Keys	Determines the interpolation between key points (keyframes) on function curves. For more information, see Choosing a Function Curve Interpolation Type. Automatic: Sets the interpolation of an inserted key automatically to the same interpolation as the neighboring keys. Stepped: (Constant) Repeats the value of a key point until the next one. The movement is characterized by sudden changes at key points and static positions between key points. Linear: Connects key points by straight line segments. The movement is constant (no acceleration or deceleration) with sudden changes at each key point. Spline: Results in a smooth transition. Spline interpolation accelerates and decelerates to ease into and out of each key point. The degree of acceleration and deceleration before and after the key point is determined by the tangent handles associated with the key point.
Slope Computation Constraint	Determines the default slope of function curves when they are created. For more information on slopes, see Editing a Function Curve's Slope. None: Sets the slope of an inserted key automatically using the slopes of neighboring keys. Does not affect the slope of these neighboring keys. Automatic Plateau Spline (from neighboring keys): Sets the slope of an inserted key automatically to the slopes of neighboring keys using a combination of the Automatic and Plateau Slope commands. It computes the orientation and length of a key's slope based on the interpolation of the fcurve between the previous key and the next key (neighboring keys) in a plateau-type manner where the slopes gradually flatten out as they approach their local maxima/minima. This mode affects the slope of the neighboring keys. Automatic Spline (from neighboring keys): Sets the slope of an inserted key automatically to the slopes of its neighboring keys, without the plateau influence. This option has the behavior of the Automatic Slope option from Softimage versions previous to v7.0.
Slope Orientation Constraint	Determines the default slope's orientation when the function curves are created. For more information, see Setting the Slope's Orientation (Angle). None: The slope's orientation is free to be modified by you, and/or it will get automatically calculated based on neighboring keys. Plateau: Sets the slope of an inserted key automatically to 0 if the next key has the same value or if that key is a local minimum or maximum. A local minimum/maximum is a key point where both previous and next keys have either smaller (maximum) or larger (minimum) values. This is useful to hold key-point values to prevent the automatic interpolation from going above of below your keyed values. Zero Orientation: Constrains the slope at key points to 0. The slope handles remain horizontal so that only the slope tension can be modified.
Slope Length Constraint	These options determine the default slope's handle (tangent) length when the function curves are created. For more information, see Controlling the Length of the Slope Handles. None: The slope's length is free to be modified by you, and/or it will get automatically calculated based on neighboring keys. Zero Slope Length: Creates sharp points (break points) on the curve, allowing you to manipulate the handles independently. Unified Length: Keeps the length for the slope handles equal on both sides of the key point.
Collapsing Animation Layers	These options determine how the resulting fcurves are created when you collapse animation layers. For more information, see Collapsing or Storing the Animation Layers. Preserve Animation: The tangent handles of the resulting collapsed fcurves are altered in order to preserve the object's animation. Preserve Tangent Handles: The tangent handles of the resulting collapsed fcurves are preserved. This may alter the object's resulting animation.

Animation Scope in Editors

This applies only to the keyframe icon (set key) at the top of property editors. It has no effect on the keyframe icon on the Animation panel or the keying panel, the Save Key command in the Animation menu, nor on the K key.

For more information, see Keying Parameters in Property Editors.

Apply to All Parameters When Nothing Is Marked

If a property set is keyed, this option applies the changed values to all parameters if no individual parameters are marked. This option is on by default, meaning that all parameters in a property editor are keyed if nothing is marked.

Timing for New Scene

Global In/Out

Sets the start/end frame for the time range when you create a new scene.

Fr. Rate change: keep fcurve timings fixed

Allows function curves to maintain their keyframes at the original frame values when the frame rate is changed.

in Seconds	The values of the keys at the current frame appear to change.
in Frames	The fcurves are scaled to compensate for the change in frame rate.

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