How Do You Copy and Paste a Single Animation Key in Maya?

You can copy and paste a single animation key in Maya directly on the Time Slider using keyboard shortcuts or a context menu.

Animation keys define the pose or state of an object at a specific point in time. Copying and pasting them allows animators to duplicate actions or poses quickly. Based on the provided reference, here are the methods for handling a single key.

Methods to Copy a Single Key

Maya offers a couple of straightforward ways to copy a single animation key from the Time Slider. These methods involve selecting the key you wish to duplicate and then using a command to copy its data.

Method 1: Using Ctrl + Right-Drag on the Time Slider

This method allows you to quickly duplicate and reposition a key directly on the Time Slider.

1. Hold Ctrl on your keyboard.
2. Right-drag the selected animation key to the desired new position on the Time Slider.

This action simultaneously copies the key's data and pastes it to the frame where you release the mouse button, leaving the original key in place.

Method 2: Using the Context Menu

This is a standard copy-and-paste workflow accessible via a right-click menu.

1. Right-click on the selected animation key on the Time Slider.
2. From the menu that appears, select Copy.
3. Once copied, you can then paste the key to a new frame using a paste method (note: the provided reference only describes the copy step, not the paste). You would typically use Right-click > Paste or go to Key > Paste on the Time Slider or Graph Editor, but the reference specifically mentions Select Key > Copy as an alternative way to initiate the copy command after selecting the key via right-click and choosing Copy.

The reference states you can "Select Key Copy" as an alternative to the right-click menu copy. This refers to selecting the key first, then potentially using a menu path like Key > Copy which performs the same action as right-clicking and selecting Copy. The most direct method for copying a single key from the reference is the right-click method or the Ctrl + Right-drag method.

These methods ensure that the selected key's timing and value are accurately copied, ready to be placed elsewhere in your animation timeline.