Setting Keyframes

You can set keyframes for just about anything that has a value, including an object transform, visual attribute, as well as any tool attribute. When you set a keyframe to animate a particular parameter, a function curve is created. The curve is a graph that represents the animation of that parameter over time. You can edit the animation by editing its curve in Animation Editor or by modifying the attribute values in the Tool UI. You can set keyframes manually or automatically—see Setting Keys Manually and Setting Keyframes Automatically.

Setting Keys Manually

You can set keyframes for any animatable parameter at any time, and in any order. When you add a keyframe, the interpolation between the previous and the next keyframe is computed automatically. Setting a keyframe over another keyframe replaces the old keyframe.You can set keyframes the following ways:

The Keyframe button in the Player controls, which only sets keyframes on marked attributes.
The Add Keyframe button in the Tool Options.
The Add Keyframe button in the Animation Tab.
The Set Keyframe option list when you right-click on an attribute's value field in the tool UI or in the Composition Browser.

The Set Keyframe hotkey (K).
NoteWhen you use the K hotkey in the Animation Editor, keyframes are added as follows:
- If none of the inputs of the selected node are selected, a keyframe is added at the current viewer's time for every input in the selected node (as if you selected every input in the tool).
- If at least one input is selected, keyframes are set on the selected inputs only.
- Every time a keyframe is set, there is no check for previous animation on inputs. This means that pressing the K hotkey will set keyframes on inputs even if the inputs were not already animated.

The Set Keyframe for marked attributes hotkey combination (Shift + K).
NoteThe Shift + K hotkey has the same behavior as the Set Keyframe buttons mentioned above. It will set keyframes for all the marked attributes of the currently selected tool. The K hotkey, on the other hand, can only be used in an Animation Editor context.

Setting Keyframes Automatically

You can set animation keyframes automatically each time you modify the attribute values. This process is called AutoKey.

AutoKey lets you to skip the steps of marking attributes and pressing a button or hotkey every time you want to set a keyframe. When AutoKey is on and you modify an attribute value in any way (using the tool UI, direct manipulation, or scripting) a keyframe for the modified attribute value is set at the current time, whether or not the attribute is marked for animation. The Autokey setting therefore overrides all markings for animation settings. This is also valid while playing and is usually done this way to define the initial shape of the animation.

To turn AutoKey on:

Select the AutoKey button.

You are now in AutoKey mode.
Select AutoKey again to turn off AutoKey mode.

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