Keyframes and Graph Editor

[John Hudson]

I would say the simplest thing would be to just use 2 keyframes. The first and last. Control the arc by adjusting the bezier handles of the first and last keyframes in you comp window to achieve the arch you want. Generally the less keyframes the better.

[Eric Bigman]

Hey John,
Thanks for the reply.

The problem is the effect is achieved with both the scale and the position keyframes. Manipulating one changes the other. Is there way to join them?

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

I’m with John on this – as a general rule of thumb, use as few keyframes as is required for anything that you animate/keyframe.

Two other tips I’d like to add –
1) Use the value graph editor as well as the speed graph editor. oftentimes, the value graph is overlooked BUT it can solve a lot of kinks in an animation which the speed graph can’t/doesn’t

2) You can change the influence handles of more than one property such the selected keyframes for those properties share the same influence handles. To select keyframes for multiple properties, ensure that their keyframes are viewed in the Graph Editor – use the eyeball menu at the bottom of the Graph Editor to choose which property keyframes are shown in the Graph Editor.

Then either CTRL+ALT+A to select all viewable keyframes OR marquee/lasso select the set of keyframes. Then drag the influence handles to suit your needs.

There may however be limitations to the efficacy of this procedure in cases where the speed graphs of the two properties are vastly different – but it’s still a worthwhile trick to know.

HTH
RoRK

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