About Keyframes

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In Cut-out animation, keyframes are used to record your poses in the Timeline view. As you manipulate your digital puppet, you will create keyframes in the Timeline view which record the new coordinates of the elements being manipulated in your rig. In Harmony you have the option to create individual keyframes for your key poses, breakdowns and in-betweens or to allow the software to interpolate between your set keyframes.

NOTE Key poses are keyframes used to block poses, somewhat similar to what you would see in Traditional Animation.

The two methods for setting keyframes are:

  • Stop-Motion Keyframes - require you to manually set your keyframes in the Timeline as you pose your element.

  • Motion Keyframes - allow you to set automation for your animation between your set keyframes.

Interpolation

Interpolation is the computer-generated motion between two keyframes. By default, the automated animation will be set on a linear path with no set easing. In the Timeline view, interpolation will be represented visually as a black keyframe with a black line extending to the following key. If your keyframes appear red, they are set as stop-motion keyframes with no interpolation.

For more information about easing, see Setting the Ease for Animation Keyframes.

The advantage to using interpolation is that Harmony will calculate the distance between keyframes and generate evenly spaced coordinates along the Timeline view creating the look of a smooth transition.

NOTE When interpolating you need to pay close attention to the values set for any rotations made and to the scale of your image. When automated, Harmony will follow the path used when creating your rotation be it in a positive or negative orientation. Your rig can also deform in unexpected ways if the scale is set to interpolate from a positive value to a negative value and vice versa.

Stop-Motion Keyframes

Stop-motion keyframes do not use interpolation and have no computer-generated motion between keyframes. The segment of the function between those keyframes remains constant. There is no animation generated by the computer between the poses. The drawing remains in position until the next keyframe, then moves to its new position.

Motion Keyframe

Motion Keyframes generate computer-generated interpolation between keyframes. Harmony will acknowledge the values set for each keyframe and calculate the distance and orientation of each value between keyframes. Using Motion Keyframes, the drawings gradually move to the next position instead of remaining in position until the next keyframe. By default, the path calculated by Harmony will be linear.