Final Cut Pro 7: Visual QuickPro Guide

Working with Keyframes

in the Timeline

You can edit and adjust keyframes in two

areas of the Timeline:

◆

Clip Keyframes area: The Timeline

keyframe area can display any or all of

these four effects tools: The Filters bar,

the Motion bar, a compact keyframe

graph, and the clip speed indicator. These

keyframing tools are hidden by default.

◆

Keyframe overlay: These graphs are

overlaid on top of the track display in the

Timeline. Video clips display clip opacity

levels; audio clips display volume level

and stereo pan position.

To show or hide the Timeline Clip

Keyframes area:

◆

In the Timeline, click the Clip Keyframes

control (located in the lower-left corner)

to display the Timeline keyframe area

(Figure 14.21).

Keyframes are displayed in a clip’s

keyframe graph and on the Filters and

Motion bars.

To customize the Clip Keyframes

area display:

1.

Control-click the Clip Keyframes control.

The Clip Keyframes display shortcut

menu appears (Figure 14.22).

2.

Choose Audio or Video, then from the

Audio or Video submenu, choose one of

the following:

◆

Select an area to toggle its visibility:

Checked areas are visible; unchecked

areas are hidden.

◆

Choose Select All to show all four areas.

◆

Choose Select None to hide all four

areas.

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Compositing and Effects Overview

Working with Keyframes in the Timeline

Figure 14.21 Click the Clip Keyframes

control, and the Timeline tracks expand

to display the Timeline keyframe area.

Figure 14.22 Control-click the Clip Keyframes control

to access the Clip Keyframes display shortcut menu.

Use the shortcut menu selections to show or hide

keyframe area elements.

To display keyframes for a selected

effect’s parameter in the keyframe

graph:

1.

In the Timeline, Control-click a clip’s

keyframe graph to access its shortcut

menu (Figure 14.23).

2.

From the list of all the parameters for

each effect currently applied to the clip,

choose the name of an effect parameter

to display its keyframes in the clip’s

keyframe graph.

To display keyframes for a selected

effect’s parameter in a Filters bar or

Motion bar:

1.

In the Timeline, Control-click the Filters

or Motion bar to access its shortcut

menu (Figure 14.24).

2.

From the list of all the parameters for

each filter currently applied to the clip:

◆

Choose the name of a parameter to

display its keyframes in the Timeline.

◆

Choose a filter name to display all the

parameters for that filter.

✔ Tips

■

Double-click a Filters bar or a Motion

bar with a Selection tool to open that

effect in the Viewer, with the correct tab

already displayed.

■

You can slide a whole set of keyframes

in a clip’s Filters and Motion bars. Use

the Selection tool to drag the bar, and

the keyframes will slide left or right

(Figure 14.25).

■

Any time you’re working with the Selection

tool, the fastest way to a Pen tool is to

press Option. The Selection tool switches

to Pen tool mode as long as you’re hold-

ing down the Option key.

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Chapter 14

Working with Keyframes in the Timeline

Figure 14.23 Control-click a clip’s keyframe graph to

access its shortcut menu, and then choose the name

of an effect parameter to display its keyframes in the

clip’s keyframe graph.

Figure 14.24 Control-click a clip’s Filters or Motion

bar to access and choose from a list of parameters

to display.

Figure 14.25 Slide a whole set of

keyframes in a clip’s Filters and Motion

bars by dragging the bar with the

Selection tool.

To adjust keyframe graph height:

1.

Position the Selection tool over the right

edge of the Timeline track control area.

The Selection tool turns into the Resize

pointer when it’s in position.

2.

Drag the Resize pointer up or down to

adjust graph height (Figure 14.26).

To move keyframes in the Timeline:

◆

In the sequence clip’s Filters and Motion

bars, click and drag the effect keyframe

left or right to adjust its timecode location.

If snapping is on, the keyframe snaps to

other keyframes and markers to help you

align keyframes to particular points in

the sequence.

To display keyframe overlays in

the Timeline:

◆

In the Timeline, click the Clip Overlays

control in the lower-left corner

(Figure 14.27).

To add an overlay keyframe to a track:

1.

From the Tool palette, select the Pen tool.

2.

On the selected clip’s overlay keyframe

graph, click where you want to place the

keyframe (Figure 14.28).

A new keyframe is added to the overlay.

✔ Tip

■

Did you just add one keyframe too many?

Press Option, and your Pen tool toggles

to Pen Delete mode. Click on that extra

keyframe to delete it; then release the

Option key.

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Compositing and Effects Overview

Working with Keyframes in the Timeline

Figure 14.26 To adjust graph height, drag the Resize

pointer up or down in this narrow column on the right

edge of the Track control area.

Figure 14.27 Click the Clip Overlays

control in the Timeline window to toggle

the display of keyframe overlays.

Figure 14.28 Use the Pen tool to add a

keyframe to a clip’s keyframe overlay

graph.