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Tutorial: Navigating the Timeline and Managing Keyframes

In this tutorial, we will learn how to navigate the timeline, manage keyframes, and utilize the Dopesheet effectively. Follow the steps below to streamline your animation workflow.

  • Expanding Parameters

    • Expanding the parameters in the timeline will occupy more space.
  • Scrolling Vertically

    • To scroll through the timeline vertically, you have several options:

      • Use the scrollbar located on the right side of the stack.

      • Click the middle mouse button to scroll vertically.

      • Use the scroll wheel on your mouse for navigation.

  • Zooming in the Dopesheet

    • After zooming in on the Dopesheet, use the ++spacebar++ to navigate the timeline, similar to navigating in the viewer.

Accessing Keyframe Functions

  • Keyframe Menu

    • To access keyframe-related functions, click the button on the left that creates a circular menu.
  • Understanding Keyframe Icons

    • The icon on the button has different meanings:

      • Empty Square: No animation keyframe is created for this parameter.

      • Empty Diamond: There are no keyframes at the current time, but there are other keyframes at different times for this parameter.

  • Identifying Keyframes

    • Move your playhead to a keyframe, and you'll see the icon light up.

    • The same applies when magnetizing the playhead to the key on the right.

Jumping Between Keyframes

  • Using the Keyframe Menu

    • The circular menu includes buttons to jump directly to the next or previous keyframe.

    • If your parameter has more than two keyframes, the menu for jumping will close.

    • To keep the menu open while clicking, hold down the Ctrl or Cmd key.

  • Quickly Jumping Between Keyframes###

    • This method allows you to quickly move from one keyframe to another.

Deleting Keyframes

  • Deleting a Keyframe

    • To delete a keyframe, select it and press the Del.

    • Selecting the parameter name will have the same effect, deleting all associated keyframes.

  • Removing All Animation

    • Return to the keyframe menu and choose REMOVE ANIMATION to delete all keyframes for that parameter.
  • Using Undo

    • If you make an error, use the UNDO command to revert your changes and restore your keyframes.

Summary

In this section, we covered:

  • How to navigate the stack and Dopesheet.

  • How to jump between keyframes efficiently.

  • How to delete specific keyframes or all keyframes for a parameter.