- Understanding Interpolation
- Interpolation Types
- Specifying the Default Spatial Interpolation
- Specifying Spatial Interpolation in the Motion Path
- Using the Graph Editor: An Overview
- Understanding Value and Speed Graphs
- Viewing Property Graphs
- Specifying the Graph Type
- Viewing Optional Information in the Graph Editor
- Moving Keyframes in the Graph Editor
- Adding and Removing Keyframes in the Graph Editor
- Separating a Position’s Dimensions
- Setting a Keyframe’s Temporal Interpolation Type
- Adjusting Temporal Interpolation Manually
- Applying Keyframe Assistants
- Smoothing Motion with Roving Keyframes
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Specifying Spatial Interpolation in the Motion Path
In Chapter 7, “Properties and Keyframes,” you learned that you can change the spatial positioning of each keyframe by dragging it directly into a Composition or Layer panel. This section focuses on using spatial interpolation to change the course of the motion path from one keyframe to the next.
To move a position keyframe:
- Select a layer with an animated property to reveal its motion path in a Composition or Layer panel.
- Using the selection tool, drag a keyframe to a new position (Figure 9.23).
Position and effect-point paths appear in the Composition panel (Figure 9.22); anchor-point paths appear in the Layer panel.
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Figure 9.22 To move a position keyframe...
In a motion path, a selected spatial keyframe appears as small solid box, or handle; a deselected keyframe appears as an outlined box.
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Figure 9.23 ...drag its icon to a new location in the Layer panel (for anchor point or effect point) or Comp panel (for position or effect point).
To toggle between auto Bézier and linear interpolation:
- Select a layer with an animated property to reveal its motion path in a Composition or Layer panel.
- In the Tools panel, select the Pen tool (Figure 9.25).
- In the motion path, click a keyframe icon to convert it.
- In the Tools panel, choose the Selection tool .
Position and effect-point paths appear in the Composition panel (Figure 9.24); anchor-point paths appear in the Layer panel.
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Figure 9.24 Select a layer so that its motion path is visible in the Comp panel.
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Figure 9.25 In the Tools panel, select the Pen tool.
The Pen tool becomes the Convert Vertex tool when you position it over a keyframe. A keyframe using linear interpolation is converted to auto Bézier, with two equal control handles (motion path tangents) extending from the keyframe. Any Bézier-type keyframe is converted to linear, with no direction handles (Figure 9.26).
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Figure 9.26 Clicking a keyframe with the Convert Vertex tool changes the keyframe from auto Bézier to linear and vice versa.
Once you convert a keyframe, adjust it with the Selection tool. Clicking it without changing tools converts it back.
To convert auto Bézier to continuous Bézier:
- Select a layer with an animated property to reveal its motion path in a Composition or Layer panel.
- Using the Selection tool, drag one tangent of an auto Bézier keyframe so that it’s shorter or longer than the other (Figure 9.27).
Both of the keyframe’s tangents form a continuous line, but they influence the path by different amounts.
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Figure 9.27 Dragging one of an auto Bézier keyframe’s tangents makes it a continuous Bézier keyframe. The tangents remain continuous, but they influence the path unequally.
To convert continuous Bézier to Bézier, and vice versa:
- Select a layer with an animated property to reveal its motion path in a Composition or Layer panel.
- Select one or more keyframes in the motion path (Figure 9.28).
- In the Tools panel, select the Pen tool (Figure 9.29).
- In the motion path, drag a direction handle (Figure 9.30).
- In the Tools panel, choose the Selection tool .
The selected keyframe’s motion path tangents (control handles) become visible.
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Figure 9.28 Select one or more keyframes in the motion path.
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Figure 9.29 Select the Pen tool.
The Pen tool becomes the Convert Vertex tool when you position it over a motion path tangent, also called a direction handle. Dragging a direction handle of a Bézier keyframe converts it to continuous Bézier with two related tangents; dragging a tangent of a continuous Bézier keyframe splits the two tangents, converting it to Bézier.
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Figure 9.30 When positioned over a path tangent, the Pen becomes the Convert Vertex icon. Drag a tangent to change continuous Bézier to Bézier and vice versa.
Once you convert a keyframe, adjust its direction handles with the Selection tool. Otherwise, you’ll convert it back.
To toggle between the Selection tool and a Pen tool:
- Position the mouse pointer over a motion path in a Comp or Layer panel, and do either of the following (Figure 9.31):
- To toggle the current Pen tool to the Selection tool, press and hold Command (Ctrl).
- To toggle the Selection tool to the Pen tool currently visible in the Tools panel, press and hold Command-Option (Ctrl-Alt).
- Release the keyboard modifier to continue using the currently selected tool.
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Figure 9.31 Press and hold Command (Ctrl) to toggle between the currently selected Pen tool and the Selection tool; press Command-Option (Ctrl-Alt) to toggle between the Selection tool and the Pen tool.
Speed in the Motion Path
In the motion path, the spacing between dots indicates speed. Closely spaced dots indicate slower speeds; more widely spaced dots indicate faster speeds. If the dot spacing changes between keyframes, this means the speed is changing—accelerating or decelerating (Figure 9.32). (A solid line means hold interpolation has been applied; see the section “Interpolation Types,” earlier in this chapter).
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Figure 9.32 The spacing of dots in the motion path indicate speed: the more closely spaced the dots, the slower the motion. A solid line would indicate hold interpolation (and no actual motion).
Remember that the motion path gives you direct control over the physical distance between keyframes—not their timing or the temporal interpolation. As you use controls in the timeline to alter the speed or temporal interpolation of a spatial property, watch how the motion path also changes.