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Editing Keyframes:

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Using the project from the previous page, we are going to learn how to edit key frames.

Key frames can be edited in two main places. One is the Timeline, the other is the Track View.

Editing key frames in the timeline:

Key Frames are displayed as small grey ellipses that turn white when selected. They are located in the thin track just below the timeline:

Using the Select and Move tool, you can drag Key Frames around in the timeline, altering their position. As you move a keyframe, the old and new positions are displayed in the status line, as well as the offset:

You can also use the SHIFT-Click and drag Clone option to copy key frames to other parts of the time line. This is very useful if you want to make an object stay still for a period of time. By having two identical key frames next to one another, with no other key frames in between, you can make your object stay still. (This only works if you have the right tangent type selected, which we will discuss next).

You may have noticed that moving the key frames affects your Spheres trajectory in some unexpected ways. This is because of the Default Tangent Type. Tangent Types are what determine how Max interpolates the motion between your key frames. You can use them to affect the acceleration and deceleration of objects, to make their motion more realistic. The Different Tangent Types are:

 Smooth 

   Linear

   Step

   Fast

   Slow

   Custom

 

Smooth -  This is the default tangent type. It creates a "best fit" curve between the key frames. 
Linear - Takes any curves out of a key frame. The interpolation becomes direct from one key frame to the next
Step -  The action jumps from one key frame to the next, with no in-between frames being calculated.
Fast-  The action speeds up as it approaches/leaves the key (acceleration) 
Slow - The action slows as it approaches/leaves the key (deceleration)
Custom -  Changes the curve type to Bezier, allowing the user to manually adjust the Function Curve using the bezier handles.

Each key frame except for the first and the last, has two tangent types, IN and OUT. The IN tangent determines how the motion behaves as it approaches that key frame. The OUT tangent determines how the motion behaves as it leaves the key frame. For the first and last key frames, although the Key Info Box will display both IN and OUT tangent types, only one of them matters. For the first key frame, there is no action preceding it, so you don't need to worry about the IN tangent. For the last key frame, the action ends there, so you don't need to worry about the OUT tangent.

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