To copy keyframes in Fusion, you typically select the keyframes you want to duplicate within the Spline Editor or Keyframes Editor and use standard copy and paste functions.
Working with keyframes is essential for animating parameters in Fusion compositions. Whether you're animating text flying across the screen, like the example showing a 'left keyframe', 'center keyframe', and 'right keyframe' for text movement, or adjusting node parameters, copying keyframes can save significant time.
Here are the general steps to copy keyframes within the Fusion page:
Using the Spline Editor
The Spline Editor provides a graphical view of your keyframe curves, offering precise control over animation easing and timing.
- Open the Spline Editor: Select the node containing the keyframes you want to copy. In the upper right corner of the Fusion page, click the "Spline" button to open the editor.
- Select Parameters: Check the boxes next to the parameters you want to see and edit keyframes for (e.g., Center, Size, Angle).
- Select Keyframes: You can select keyframes in a few ways:
- Click and Drag: Draw a selection box around the keyframes you want to copy.
- Ctrl+Click (Cmd+Click on Mac): Select individual keyframes.
- Select All: Press Ctrl+A (Cmd+A on Mac) to select all keyframes for the currently visible parameters.
- Copy Keyframes: With the keyframes selected, press Ctrl+C (Cmd+C on Mac).
- Move Playhead: Position the timeline playhead where you want to paste the keyframes. The pasted keyframes will maintain their relative timing from the paste point.
- Paste Keyframes: Press Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac). The keyframes will appear starting from the playhead position.
Using the Keyframes Editor
The Keyframes Editor gives you a list view of keyframe values at specific frames.
- Open the Keyframes Editor: Select the node containing the keyframes. Click the "Keyframes" button next to the Spline button.
- Select Parameters: Expand the parameters to reveal the keyframe markers on the timeline view.
- Select Keyframes: Click and drag a selection box around the keyframes displayed on the timeline within the editor.
- Copy Keyframes: Press Ctrl+C (Cmd+C on Mac).
- Move Playhead: Position the timeline playhead where you want the first copied keyframe to be pasted.
- Paste Keyframes: Press Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac).
Important Considerations
- When pasting, the keyframes maintain their relative spacing. If you copy keyframes at frame 10 and frame 20 (10 frames apart), pasting them at frame 50 will result in keyframes at frame 50 and frame 60.
- You can copy keyframes from one node and paste them onto a compatible parameter of another node.
- Pasting keyframes will overwrite any existing keyframes for that parameter at the paste location and subsequent frames covered by the pasted keyframes.
By utilizing the Spline or Keyframes editor, you can efficiently manage complex animations, such as duplicating a movement pattern like the "left keyframe, center keyframe, right keyframe" sequence shown in the reference video.
Summary Table
| Method | Editor Used | Selection Tool | Copy Command | Paste Command | Paste Behavior |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Copy/Paste | Spline or Keyframes | Drag Box, Ctrl/Cmd+Click | Ctrl/Cmd+C | Ctrl/Cmd+V | Relative timing maintained from paste point |
Understanding how to copy keyframes is a fundamental skill in Fusion, enabling faster iteration and consistency in animations.
