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Ease In/Out

For a more precise way to adjust the length of Bézier direction handles attached to selected keyframes, you can use the Spline Ease dialog. To show the dialog, select a keyframe in the graph, and then choose Edit > Ease In/Out from the graph’s contextual menu or press T on the keyboard.

The Ease In/Out controls appear above the graph area. You can drag over the number fields to adjust the length of the direction handles or enter a value in the fields.


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The Ease In/Out controls above the graph area


Clicking the Lock In/Out button will collapse the two sliders into one, so any adjustments apply to both direction handles.


Importing and Exporting Splines

Spline shapes can be imported and exported from or to an ASCII text file. This makes it easier to save complex spline curves for later reuse, or to transfer tracking, path, and animation data from one application to another. Exported splines are assigned the file extension .spl for easy identification.


To export a spline:

1 Select the active spline in the Spline Editor.

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2 Right-click on the spline in the graph area to display the contextual menu and select Export.

3 Choose from three format options in the submenu.

4 Enter a name and location in the file browser dialog, and then click Save.


Exporting a spline gives you three options. You can export the Samples, Key Points, or All Points. Samples adds a control point at every frame to create an accurate representation of the spline. Key Points replicates the control point positions and values on the spline using linear interpolation. All Points exports the spline as you see it in the Spline Editor, using the same position, value, and interpolation.


To import a spline:

1 Add an animation spline for the parameter.

2 In the Spline Editor, right-click on the animation spline and select Import Spline from the contextual menu.

3 In the File Browser dialog, select the spline curve .spl file, and then click Open.


Importing a new curve will replace any existing animation on the selected spline.