Modify keyframes in the Timeline in Motion

When keyframes are visible in the Timeline, you can change their positions in time. Moving a keyframe in time does not modify the keyframe’s parameter value. Rather, it changes the position in time when the keyframe occurs. This can have a significant effect on the nature of the animation. For example, if you have two keyframes that animate an object from the top of the screen to the bottom over a duration of five seconds, dragging one of the keyframes farther from the other forces the animation to occur more slowly.

The value of a keyframe can also be modified in the Timeline.

When multiple keyframe values are set in the same frame, only one keyframe marker appears in the Timeline. However, you can choose to edit any of its values.

Move a keyframe in the Timeline

In the Timeline track area in Motion, drag the keyframe left or right to adjust its position in time.

Edit a keyframe value in the Timeline

In the Timeline track area in Motion, Control-click (or double-click) the keyframe.
A shortcut menu appears displaying all of the parameters keyframed at the current frame.
Choose the keyframe parameter to edit.
Enter a value into the value field, then press Return.
Note: To exit an active value field without making changes, press Esc.

Copy and paste keyframes in the Timeline

In the Timeline track area in Motion, select one or more keyframes.
Shift-click to select multiple contiguous keyframes; Command-click to select multiple noncontiguous keyframes.
Choose Edit > Copy (or press Command-C).
Move the playhead to the frame where you want to paste the keyframes.
In the Timeline layers list, select the target object (or objects) for the copied keyframes, then choose Edit > Paste (or press Command-V).
You can copy and paste keyframes from multiple objects to single or multiple objects. The objects must share the same parameters for the keyframes to apply.
Note: You can also copy and paste keyframes from one object to another object by dragging a parameter or group of parameters from the Inspector to an object in the Layers list. The objects must share the same parameters for the values to apply.

Delete a keyframe in the Timeline

In the Timeline track area in Motion, Control-click the keyframe to delete, then choose Delete Keyframes from the shortcut menu.
If there are multiple keyframes applied at the playhead position, they’re all deleted.

Delete all of an object’s keyframes in the Timeline

In the Timeline track area in Motion, Control-click any keyframe, then choose Delete All Keyframes from the shortcut menu.
For more control of effects using keyframes, you can use the Keyframe Editor.
Note: Although you can delete keyframes in the Timeline, there is no way to add keyframes from the Timeline.

Align a keyframe to a marker in the Timeline

In the Timeline, you can align a keyframe with other important timed events. For example, you might want to align a filter keyframe applied to one object with the In or Out point of another object, or to a marker, or to a keyframe in another track.

In the top-right corner of the Timeline in Motion, click the Show Keyframes button so that it’s highlighted blue.
In the top-right corner of the Timeline, click the Snapping button so that it’s highlighted blue.
Pressing and holding the Shift key, drag a keyframe in the Timeline until the keyframe snaps to a marker, another keyframe, or the In or Out point of another object.

Download this guide: PDF

Helpful?

Motion User Guide