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Creating smooth changes using roving keyframes


    Using the roving keyframe option in After Effects, you can easily create smooth movement across several keyframes at once. Roving keyframes are keyframes that are not linked to a specific time; their speed and timing are determined by adjacent keyframes. When you change the position of a keyframe adjacent to a roving keyframe in a motion path, the timing of the roving keyframe may change.

    Roving keyframes are available only for spatial layer properties such as Position. In addition, a keyframe can rove only if it is not the first or last keyframe in a layer, because a roving keyframe must interpolate its speed from the previous and next keyframes.

    The original motion path (left) indicates different velocities between keyframes. After the keyframes are set to rove (right), the motion path displays consistent speed over the range of keyframes.
    The original motion path (left) indicates different velocities between keyframes. After the keyframes are set to rove (right), the motion path displays consistent speed over the range of keyframes.

To smooth motion over several keyframes:

  1. In the Timeline window, set up the keyframes for the motion you will smooth. See Setting layer position.
  2. Determine the beginning and ending keyframes for the range you want to smooth.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • For every keyframe in the range (except the beginning and ending keyframes), deselect the roving-keyframe option directly below the keyframe. The intermediate keyframes adjust their positions on the timeline to smooth the speed curve between the beginning and ending keyframes.
    When you deselect the roving-keyframe option (left), the keyframe may shift to smooth the motion (right).
    When you deselect the roving-keyframe option (left), the keyframe may shift to smooth the motion (right).
    • Select the keyframes you want to rove and choose Animation > Keyframe Interpolation. Then choose Rove Across Time from the Roving pop-up menu.

To change a roving keyframe back to a nonroving keyframe:

    Do one of the following:

    • Select the roving keyframe option, or drag the roving keyframe left or right.
    • Select the keyframes you want to change and choose Animation > Keyframe Interpolation. Then choose Lock to Time from the Roving pop-up menu.