Animation Timeline

Use

You can use the Animation Timeline to create and modify keyframe animation on models. It shows the animation sequence hierarchy for the selected object, with time progressing in a graph-like display beginning at the left. “Time” is marked in frames, seconds, MM:SS, or SMPTE in the “time display slider” depending on the current time display. The relationship of frames to real time varies depending on the FPS setting for the selected sequence. The default is about 30 frames to 1 second.

All sequences for the selected object are displayed in the hierarchy, and each sequence can contain a “track” for the animation position, rotation, scale, and opacity.

You can create keys for four different tracks: position, rotation, scale, and opacity. A context menu is available to modify the animation tracks. This menu can also be used to insert, edit, and delete keys, and to choose a “mode” in which to select keys and view the timeline.

The purple time/frame line shows your current time or frame depending on the current time display. You can change the view by clicking within the timeline, or by moving the time/frame slider in the animation controls. The time/frame line reflects the selected view.



A: Object name B: Sequence name C: Current track D: Time display slider E: Component values F: Time/frame line G: Key H: X axis (green) I: Y axis (blue) J: Z axis (red)

Features

Option

Functional Description

Sequence Hierarchy

Displays the hierarchy of animation sequences for the selected object

  • Object Name: The name of the selected object. Note that animation sequence hierarchies are displayed for one object at a time

  • Sequence Name: The name of the sequences that make up the object’s animation.

  • Position: The track that defines the object’s position within the animation. As this track is a vector, it contains X, Y, and Z components. You can apply either TCB or linear interpolation to this track. The world coordinate system is used for this track.

  • Rotation: The track that defines the object’s rotation within the animation. The local coordinate system is used for this track.

  • Scale: The track that defines the object’s scale within the animation. You can apply either TCB or linear interpolation to this track.

  • Opacity: The track that defines the object’s opacity within the animation

Time Display Slider

Shows time progressing in a graph-like display beginning at the left with time marked in frames, seconds, MM:SS, or SMPTE depending on the current time display

Component Values

The value divisions of the selected track

  • Position: Values reflect the current the scene units

  • Rotation: Values are based on degrees

  • Scale: Values are based on percentages

  • Opacity: Values are between 0 and 1

Time/Frame Line

Shows your current time/frame. If you move the time/frame slider in the animation controls, this line reflects the selected view

Key

A fixed position in time and space

X Axis (green)

The X axis on which the track can be positioned, rotated, or scaled

Y Axis (blue)

The Y axis on which the track can be positioned, rotated, or scaled

Z Axis (red)

The Z axis on which the track can be positioned, rotated, or scaled

More Information

Animation Controls

Coordinate Systems

Environment Tab Page