Dope sheets

You can use the dope sheet view to make detailed adjustments to the keys of an individual object. You can add, copy, delete, and adjust the timing of keys in a dope sheet.

Dope sheet timeline

The dope sheet timeline is synchronized with the main timeline. The minimum time value in the dope sheet is determined by the start time of the object's container on the main timeline.

Presentation of keys

Each key in a dope sheet is represented by a circle. The individual keys for position, rotation, and scale parameters are arranged in a hierarchy. An example of this hierarchy is shown in the following image:

The top level of the hierarchy is the object - which in this example is a Wolf IFX. Each purple circle on the top row indicates that one or more parameters have a key at that point in the timeline.

The next level of the hierarchy is the transform type - Position, Rotation, and Scale. A white circle in any of these rows indicates that one or more parameters of that transform type have a key at that point in the timeline.

The lowest level of the hierarchy are the individual parameters for each transform type. A circle in any of those rows indicates that there is a key for that specific parameter at that point in the timeline. In the example below, there are keys for Position.x and Position.z at 0:05, and a key for Position.y at 0:10.

Adjusting keys

The selection that you make determines which keys you adjust. When you select a circle for a key, you also select all child keys. Selected keys change color to orange. Use this to identify which keys you will adjust.

  • Move: To move a key, drag it horizontally to a new position.

Selecting multiple keys

Looping an animation

In the dope sheet, you can set an animation to loop. It will then loop between the first and last keys that you define for as long as the object is visible on the timeline.

  • To set an animation to loop, select the loop icon next to the object's name.

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