Nonlinear animation allows you to create and edit an animation sequence by arranging smaller animation sequences (known as clips) on a timeline. A clip is a time-independent sequence of animation that you create from an existing animation (keyframe animation, expressions, constraints, and motion capture data - except motion path animation).

Nonlinear animation tools in Maya^® Trax^TM give you the ability to experiment with your animation sequences and character animations without having to redo all of your work when you want to modify or construct a different animation.

Nonlinear animation is a non-destructive process. You can modify a particular clip’s attributes without affecting the source animation: the source material remains untouched. This makes nonlinear animation useful when you want to experiment, iterate, or change a particular animation sequence.

The primary tool for working with nonlinear animation is the Trax Editor. You can also store your clips for future use by creating a library of clips.

In this lesson you learn how to:

• Key animation sequences for use as nonlinear clips in Trax.
• Create clips from your animation sequences for use in the Trax Editor.
• Use the Trax editor to position, modify, and arrange clips in order to create and modify animation sequences in the scene.
• Scale clips to modify the timing of an animation sequence.
• Trim clips to remove unwanted motion.
• Cycle clips to create motion that repeats.
• Use the Graph Editor to modify the animation of a clip.
• Use the Trax Editor to work with motion capture data.
• Reuse clips using the Outliner and the Visor.