HOLD a keyframe in FCPX?

[Ben Balser]

Easy, two ways to do this.

First, place your playhead in the Timeline on the frame you want to hold, Edit > Add Freeze Frame (Opt-F). That gives you the freeze frame as a separate clip.

Second method is to select the clip, Cmd-R to bring up the retiming header, the Shift-H to make a hold frame. Grab the end of it’s red header and drag to adjust the duration.

[Laurie Pepper]

I didn’t explain well, ben. I don’t want to hold a frame. I want to create a key frame that will hold a transformation until I want to change it. Like you can in after effects and premiere. Instead of a little diamond shaped one it’s square one in those apps. Fcp doesn’t make keyframing easy!

[Ben Balser]

I still don’t understand. The shape of what represents a keyframe doesn’t matter, it’s still a keyframe. FCP does it the way most all other NLEs do it, with keyframes. Yes, Apple probably could make keyframing more dynamic in FCP, but they’re not horrible or difficult. Can you explain exactly what you’re trying to do?

https://support.apple.com/guide/final-cut-pro/add-video-effect-keyframes-ver8e3f20ea/10.6.6/mac/12.6

https://support.apple.com/guide/final-cut-pro/modify-groups-of-keyframes-veraca9b445e/10.6.6/mac/12.6

[Patrick Grossien]

@bbalser What Laurie tried to explain is the situation where the keyframe can be changed into a “hold” keyframe (as in: hold value). In AE and Premiere, a hold keyframe keeps its value exactly the same until the next keyframe, eliminating the transition between them. The value stays frozen and then jumps instantly to the new value. These keyframes are not diamond shaped in AE but square.

I also have been looking for an answer to this and even in 2026 haven’t found one yet. It seems that this is still not possible. Although I am a strong FCPX supporter, there are some simple aspects it’s still lacking which leave me completely puzzled as to why they have never been implemented. And since there hasn’t been an update to this I just wanted to at least add the standard work around method for this use case, if ever there’s anybody else looking for it.

Copy the keyframe you want to hold and paste it just a frame before the next one.

[Patrick Grossien]

PS. The same as “constant” in motion…

[Ben Balser]

“a hold keyframe keeps its value exactly the same until the next keyframe”

Yeah, you make the first keyframe, set your parameter values as needed, then put the playhead where you need it, without changing any parameters you simply make another keyframe, simple. No need for anything special. As long as you’re not changing parameters between them, it’s a “hold” keyframe. All keyframes are “hold” unless the next keyframe changes a parameter. Simple.