Animation Timeline Editing

Before this section, please refer to the Timeline Editor for more information about the user interface and tools.

Data Types

There are four types of data in a track and one special track for Timeline Editing in iClone - Key, Clip, Target-switching, On/Off and Collect Clip.

1

Timeline Pointer

Drag the pointer on the Timeline frame meter for quick frame review.

2

Key

Animation Key stores RTS (Rotation, Transformation, Scale) data for all objects in the iClone 3D space, including camera, lighting, actors, props, accessories. Users can use keys on the timeline to control a prop's location, rotation and size change; as for actors, cameras and lighting, only location and rotation can be controlled.

Parameter Key stores settings of specific objects such as Color, Range, Beam, Falloff of Lights and Lens, Focal Length of Cameras. The parameter values between keys are interpolated automatically.

3

Clip

Animation Clip stores the motion/animation clip segments of animation data corresponding to animated objects, such as moving/performing/operating of actors/iProps, LiveProps, merged props, and hand gestures. Animation Clips can handle more complicated motion behavior, such as skin-bone animation, morph animation.

A clip can be accelerated/decelerated, looped or blended into another clip. Please refer to the Speed, Loop and Blending section for more information.

Please refer to the The Rules of Animation Tracks section for more information.

4

Target-switching

Target-switching data resembles the key concept. It stores the targeting relationship between one object and its target. The target can be changed or even dissolved at any time frame. Features such as Look at, Link to for actors, cameras, lights or props (Link to only) are under this category.

5

On/Off

The On/Off data on the Visible track stores only one status of the objects. You can let the object be visible (On) at one frame till it is set to be invisible (Off) at another.

The On/Off data can also control the emitter of the particle effect to start/stop sending out the particles.

6

Collect Clip Track

This special track doesn't keep any data or clips. It helps you with selecting a range in the Timeline and then merges and saves the motion/animation-related data into the library for actors or embeds the data to props.
Actors: Data in Move, Transform, Perform, Operate, Motion Layer and Hand tracks will be merged and saved.
Props: Data in Move, Transform, Perform, Operate, tracks will be merged and saved.

Key/Clip Selections

Please refer to the Timeline Shortcuts and Basic Operation for Animation Clips sections for the information.