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Legend
August 27, 2022
Answered

Evenly distribute keyframes?

  • August 27, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 14554 views

A general how to question, not project specific, and I'm not experiencing any issue at the moment.

 

As an example, in a recent project, I needed to put a string of hold keyframes on a layer (they were on a mask path, but really it could be anything). What I wondered is: if I know I need the first keyframe to occur at X timecode, and then I need the animation to be finished at Y timecode, is there a function that will mathematically/automatically distribute all my keyframes at even intervals between those two points? Is this maybe done better with an expression instead of keyframes? I found myself having to just eyeball the keyframes on the timeline and keep nudging them left.... no a little to the right... oops too far... until I finally fit them all in between the start and end point and they looked somewhat evenly spaced to my eyes. But I would love a way to 1) do this much faster and 2) more precise.

 

Thanks!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Rick Gerard

Drag all your keyframes together so they are precisely one frame apart. It's easy to do if you zoom into the timeline. Move the CTI (Current Time Indicator to where you want the last change to happen. That would be your Y time code. 

 

Now select all keyframes, hold down the Alt/Option key and drag the last one to the CTI. The keyframes will be evenly distributed between the first and last keyframes. 

 

When I know I am going to want to do this, start by setting the keyframes one frame apart or 1 second apart, so I won't have to slide things around. As long as they are evenly distributed, when you start holding down the Alt/Option key and dragging the last keyframe will evenly distribute all keyframes.

3 replies

ShiveringCactus
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 28, 2022

It might be worth checking out Rove Across Time as an option when you right-click on the keyframes.  

 

But the other option is to highlight all your keyframes and hold down the ALT key, then as you drag the last keyframe the others stretch out proportionally

Joost van der Hoeven
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 28, 2022

I would also point to Rove Across Time:

Rick GerardCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
August 27, 2022

Drag all your keyframes together so they are precisely one frame apart. It's easy to do if you zoom into the timeline. Move the CTI (Current Time Indicator to where you want the last change to happen. That would be your Y time code. 

 

Now select all keyframes, hold down the Alt/Option key and drag the last one to the CTI. The keyframes will be evenly distributed between the first and last keyframes. 

 

When I know I am going to want to do this, start by setting the keyframes one frame apart or 1 second apart, so I won't have to slide things around. As long as they are evenly distributed, when you start holding down the Alt/Option key and dragging the last keyframe will evenly distribute all keyframes.

Mylenium
Legend
August 27, 2022

I'm sure there's soem script for that on AEScripts.com, so check it out.

 

Mylenium

cre8vimpAuthor
Legend
August 27, 2022

Thanks, I will!

P.M.B
Legend
August 27, 2022

Yes check out the scripts Rift, Sortie & Keysmith by Michael Delaney.  One of them will do what you want.  And you can pay whatever you'd like for them, there's no set price

~Gutterfish