Is there a way to view/edit keyframes in the timeline outside the in and out points of a composition?

[CameronFoxly]

I find that often I drag my keyframes outside the edges of the timeline but still want to edit them, but can't directly view or edit them in the timeline or graph editor because they are off the "edge" of the window. This is true of keyframes before 0 or after the end of the composition. There are workarounds to access those keyframes, like clicking the "next keyframe" button next to the stop watch (putting my timeline into negative numbers) and copying and pasting that keyframe from outside of the timeline, or making by my composition longer and then cropping it with a "Trim comp to work area" when I'm done working on those keyframes. But I would love to be able to keep them outside of the comp and still be able to edit bezier handles in the graph editor. Is there some method to access those keyframes without changing the length of a comp that I'm not thinking of?

If not, why not!?

[Roei Tzoref]

you can't manipulate them comfortably when they are outside the timespan. another workaround for bringing them back in case you need it is that you could go to the next keyframe by using the arrows next to the stopwatch like you wrote, and bring them back by using the shortcut for shifting keyframes Alt+left/right arrow. add shift to move in 10 frame increments.

[CameronFoxly]

I can't believe I've never used the shift keyframes shortcuts, thanks for that!

Still, seems like a feature request issue.

[Roei Tzoref]

wish it want it do it!

[kinn555]

If you are talking about position keyframes, then sorta. As long as your layer in (or out) point goes to the keyframe thats off the timeline you should be able to see it and its handles up in the comp window.

Other option is to precomp it and move all attributes into new comp, and make that timeline long enough to hold all your keyframes.

[Roland Kahlenberg · Accepted solution]

You can accurately adjust the Keyframe Velocity or value of ONE keyframe outside of ONE of the in/out points of a layer.

1) Select all KFs for a property by clicking on the property label/name in the Timeline.

2) Hold down Shift and marquee select the viewable, selected KFs. This action in effect deselects these keyframes; leaving only the keyframe outside of view, as the only selected keyframe.

3) Hit CTRL+SHIFT+K to invoke the Keyframe Velocity dialog window. Punch in your desired values for either the In-coming or out-going Speed property and its respective Influence property.

Unfortunately, you can't adjust velocity in the Graph Editor. However, the Keyframe Velocity does a similarly task without providing a graphic UI. The other downside is being able to adjust only a single keyframe that resides outside of either the in or out point, based on the Timeline's span. IOW, only one keyframe, per property, should exist out side the viewable Timeline span.

Lastly, you shouldn't have more than one keyframe, per property, before the Timeline span - similarly for having more than one keyframe after the Timeline span. The only real issue arises should you have one keyframe, on each side of the in-out points, relative to the Timeline.

To overcome this, a user needs a way to select keyframes when the Current Time Indicator resides over it. This is where your Feature Request (FR) should hone in on.