About the Animation Editor

The Animation Editor provides a timeline on which you can position keyframes corresponding to specific changes of actors (for example, changes of color or position).

You can view and edit the content of an animation as well as play the animation.

See Also
Creating Animations
Editing Animations

Each number identifies a specific area in the Animation Editor. Areas are described in the following table.

Number Item Description
1 Name of animation Displays the name of the current animation.

To switch to another animation, click the arrow and select the animation in the list.

2 Time Displays time and the animation's duration.

To set time, click the current time, enter a new time, and press Enter.

3 Play Controls Lets you do the following:
  • Go to the first frame
  • Play backward or pause the animation
  • Stop the animation
  • Play forward or pause the animation
  • Go to the last frame.
4 Speed Lets you change the speed of the animation preview.
5 Looping Control Plays the animation indefinitely.
6 Record Switches to the automatic mode.

When you modify an actor, either by manipulating the actor directly in the 3D area or using the Properties panel, keyframes are automatically added to the timeline.

If the automatic mode is not active, you need to manually add keyframes to the timeline.
7 Zoom Controls Manages the zoom factor.

You can fit all in, zoom in, or zoom out an animation.

When you zoom in, you can scroll to navigate the animation.
8 Add Actor Adds actors to the timeline.
9 Camera Shows the animation from the camera's viewpoint.

To switch to another camera's viewpoint, select a camera in the list.

To show the animation using a fixed viewpoint, turn off the Camera mode.

10 Timeline Grid Displays the animation's keyframes.
11 Track Includes a group of keyframes of a given actor's property.

When an actor or an actor's property is added to the timeline, a new track is created.

You can expand, collapse, or delete tracks.

12 Keyframe Represents the property's value of an actor at a given time.
13 Time Bar Indicates the current time of the animation.

The time bar includes a yellow bar and a cursor.

You can also drag the cursor to a specific location on the timeline to start the animation from that point in time. The Properties panel and 3D area change accordingly.

14 Time Period Lets you select and focus on a specific area of the timeline.

The selected time period is surrounded by two black markers.

When you preview the animation, only the selected time period plays.
15 Timeline Tree Displays the animated actors and their properties.

You can add a property's track by clicking +.