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Working with points in the timeline

When creating animation paths, you need to define the time it will take for the sound to travel along the path. The Position Editor (3D Automation) timeline allows you to specify where each control point will fall over time.

You can move the control points along the timeline to define how fast objects will travel between points along the path. You can move and delete points, but you can't add points directly on the timeline. Control points can only be added in the graph view. You can also select several points at the same time to move or delete a complete section altogether.

[Note]Note

You can zoom and pan in the timeline to help position control points more accurately.

Changing the timeline mode

The timeline in the Position Editor (3D Automation) can be in one of two modes:

  • Linear: Control points are automatically placed at even intervals along the timeline.

  • Non-linear: Control points are placed anywhere on the timeline.

Linear mode produces a constant motion from one key to the next as an object travels along the path. Non-linear mode, on the other hand, can be used to speed up and slow down an object as it travels between points along the path. Linear is the default timeline mode.

You can further configure certain behaviors of the timeline by clicking the Configure Timeline button. For more information, refer to Configuring the positioning timeline.

To change the timeline mode:

  1. In the Position Editor (3D Automation), do one of the following:

    • Clear the Linear option to set the timeline mode to non-linear.

    • Select the Linear option to set the timeline mode to linear.

Selecting control points in the timeline

Before you can move or delete a control point in the timeline, you must select it first. You can select one, several, or all control points at a time.

To select a control point in the timeline:

  1. In the timeline, click a control point to select it.

    The selected control point turns black.

To select several control points in the timeline:

  1. In the timeline, drag a rectangle over the points you want to select.

    The selected points turn black.

[Tip]Tip

You can also select several points by Ctrl+clicking each point.

To select all control points in the timeline:

  1. Click anywhere in the timeline to make it active.

  2. Press Ctrl+A.

    All points in the timeline are selected and turn black.

Moving control points in the timeline

When the timeline is in non-linear mode, you can move control points to change the time between each point. This creates the Effect that the object is speeding up or slowing down between points. A control point can't be moved past the control point before or after it.

To move control points in the timeline:

  1. In the timeline, select one or more control points.

    The selected control points turn black.

  2. Drag the point(s) to their new position on the timeline.

[Note]Note

You can also move points by typing a value directly into the Key field. If more than one point is selected, the positive (+) or negative (-) value you type in the Key field will offset the points to the right or left of their original position.

Deleting control points in the timeline

You can delete any control point in the timeline except the first one.

To delete control points from the curve:

  1. Select one or more points in the timeline.

    The selected control point(s) turn black.

  2. On Windows, press the Delete key. On macOS, press fn+Delete.

    The control point(s) are removed from both the timeline and graph view.


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