...
The following paragraphs introduce several (freely combinable) methods for creating keys.
Adding Keys using the Parameter Circles
- Select a node and open a parameter in its “Node Params” panel.
- Drag the timeline slider to the first animation frame.
- Click on the circle – it will become a red dot (= key).
- Drag the timeline slider to the next/last frame. The dot turns into a circle again (= no key).
- Change the parameter's value or shift/rotate/scale the node.
- Click on the red circle again to set the next key.
Adding Keys with the Right-Click Menu
- Select a node and open a parameter in its “Node Params” panel.
- Drag the timeline slider to the first animation frame.
- Right-click on the white circle and choose “Add Key” – it will become a red dot (= key).
- Drag the timeline slider to the next/last frame. The dot turns into a circle again (= no key).
- Change the parameter's value or shift/rotate/scale the node.
- Right-click on the red circle again to set the next key.
Adding Keys in the Curve Editor
- Select a node and open a parameter from its “Node Params” → “Node Params” panel.
- Right-click on the parameter and choose “Edit Curve...”. The “Curve Editor” → “Curve Editor” appears.
- Double-click on a free area of the canvas to create a key.
- Set the exact frame and parameter value with the two input fields (see image).
- Repeat this process until all frames are set.
...
- Click on a red dot – it will become a circle.
- Choose “Remove Current Key” from the dot's right-click menu. In order to delete the entire animation key, choose “Remove Curve”.
- Select a key in the “Curve Editor” and hit the Del key.
- In order to delete the entire animation curve, choose “Remove Curve”.
Expressions
Instead of setting key it is also possible to animate a value with a formula or a condition:
- RightEnter the expression to the appropriate parameter field,e.g.
=2+sin(t*3)*2.5(mind the = operator!) - Alternatively, right-click on the circle and choose “Edit Curve...”
- Go Then, go to the empty line at the bottom of the appearing “Curve Editor” and enter the → expression, e.g.
2+sin(t*3)*2.5
- You will see that the circle turned green and has two black lines.
- Click on the parameter's "+" symbol to open the slider section. There you will find green dots for every expression-driven parameter.
- Right-click on the green dot and choose “Show Expression”. Now it is possible to edit the expression in the parameter's field without having to use the “Curve Editor”→ “Curve Editor”.
- Switch back to the current value with “Show Value” from the right-click menu.
Working with Animation Curves
When you right-click on a circle/dot choose “Edit Curve...” to open the “Curve Editor”→ “Curve Editor”. There you can
- create, delete, position, and refine keys
- (multi-)select keys and copy/past them to other curves
- extend curves
- change the key type to → linear, TCB, Bezier, stepped or combinations of all modes (A)
- break, unify, and flatten tangents (B)
- change the curvature, create ease-in and ease-out effects
- add → expressions.
