Copy and paste keyframes in Final Cut Pro

You can copy and paste individual keyframes from one parameter to another. This allows you to move or duplicate a specific effect (or part of an effect) from one clip to another. For example, you can copy and paste an animated color correction effect or an audio filter adjustment.

You can also move or copy keyframes from one parameter to another within the same clip. For example, you can copy the center point keyframes from a kaleidoscope effect and paste them in the center point of a radial blur effect so that both effects follow identical paths.

You can even copy and paste keyframes within a single parameter, allowing you to create a repeating pattern, or to move an animation from the beginning of a clip to a point later in time.

Keyframes can be copied from any parameter, including parameters in clip effects (such as opacity, position, and audio volume), parameters in effects applied from the Effects browser (such as Gaussian Blur or Channel EQ), and even published parameters for a title. Any keyframes you can select can be cut, copied, and pasted.

Keyframes are always pasted beginning at the location of the playhead or skimmer, and a specific parameter must be selected before you choose the Paste command. If the playhead or skimmer is not currently over the selected clip, no keyframes are pasted.

Note: Pasted keyframes replace any keyframes already applied to the destination parameter within the time range of the pasted keyframes. Keyframes outside the time range being pasted are not affected. For example, if you select opacity keyframes covering a 5-second range and then paste them to a new clip’s opacity setting, keyframes within the 5 seconds beginning at the playhead or skimmer are replaced with the copied keyframes. Any keyframes before or after that range remain the same.

Copy or move keyframes from one clip to another

Select the clip in the Final Cut Pro timeline containing the keyframes you want to copy.
To display the specific parameter you want to copy from, do one of the following:
- Show the Video Animation editor: Choose Clip > Show Video Animation (or press Control-V).
- Show the Audio Animation editor: Choose Clip > Show Audio Animation (or press Control-A).
Double-click the graph of the parameter containing the keyframes you want to copy.
The graph expands, revealing keyframes arranged along a curve.
Note: Some parameters allow you to select keyframes without expanding the graph.
Shift-click the keyframes you want to copy, or drag a selection rectangle around them.
The selected keyframes are highlighted in yellow.
Do one of the following:
- Duplicate the keyframes: Choose Edit > Keyframes > Copy (or press Option-Shift-C).
- Move the keyframes: Choose Edit > Keyframes > Cut (or press Option-Shift-X).
The keyframes are copied to the Clipboard.
Select the clip into which you want to paste the keyframes, then show the Video Animation or Audio Animation editor for that clip.
Note: You can also copy and paste keyframes within the same clip, or within a single parameter.
Click the name or keyframe graph for the parameter you want to paste the keyframes to.
When selected, the graph becomes highlighted.
Position the playhead on the frame where you want the new keyframes to begin.
Choose Edit > Keyframes > Paste (or press Option-Shift-V).
The keyframes are added to the selected parameter.

Copy or move keyframes from one parameter to another

In the Video Animation or Audio Animation editor in Final Cut Pro, select the keyframes you want to copy.
Shift-click to select multiple keyframes, or drag a selection rectangle around the keyframes you want to select.
Do one of the following:
- Duplicate the keyframes: Choose Edit > Keyframes > Copy (or press Option-Shift-C).
- Move the keyframes: Choose Edit > Keyframes > Cut (or press Option-Shift-X).
Select the parameter to which you want to paste the keyframes.
If Solo Animation is turned on, click the parameter pop-up menu and choose the graph for the parameter you want to copy or move the keyframes to. For more information about using Solo Animation, see Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro.
Note: Some parameters’ keyframes can be pasted only onto a similar parameter. For example, you can paste audio volume keyframes from one clip to another clip’s volume animation, but you can’t paste those keyframes to a clip’s opacity animation.
Position the playhead on the frame where you want the pasted keyframes to begin.
Choose Edit > Keyframes > Paste (or press Option-Shift-V).
The keyframes are added to the selected parameter.

Helpful?

Final Cut Pro User Guide

Copy and paste keyframes in Final Cut Pro

Copy or move keyframes from one clip to another

Copy or move keyframes from one parameter to another