While looping animation keyframes or sequences infinitely often involves specific techniques like duplicating keyframes, using loop expressions in After Effects via Dynamic Link, or nesting sequences, a fundamental way to repeatedly review a section of your timeline that contains animation is by looping playback. This allows you to watch the animated segment over and over to fine-tune its timing and appearance.
Looping Playback for Animation Review
Premiere Pro offers a simple method to loop the playback of a specific portion of your timeline. This is especially helpful when you're working on an animation and need to see how it looks in repetition without manually stopping and restarting playback.
According to helpful tips, you can set specific points in your timeline to create an infinite playback loop.
Steps to Loop Playback Using In and Out Points
To loop a section of your timeline in Premiere Pro, follow these simple steps:
- Set your In point: Navigate your playhead to where you want the loop to begin on your timeline. Press the
Ikey on your keyboard. This marks the start of your playback loop area. - Set your Out point: Move your playhead to where you want the loop to end. Press the
Okey on your keyboard. This marks the end of your playback loop area. - Start Playback: Press the spacebar or click the play button. Premiere Pro will now play the segment of your timeline located between the In and Out points you set.
Once playback reaches the Out point, it will automatically jump back to the In point and start playing again. This creates an infinite loop between these two points, as described in the reference provided.
Why This Helps with Animation
Looping playback using In and Out points doesn't automatically make your animation repeat endlessly within the video export itself (that requires different techniques). However, it is an invaluable tool for the editing process. By looping a section containing your animation, you can:
- Analyze timing and flow
- Spot subtle issues or glitches
- Make precise adjustments to keyframes or effects
- Get a feel for how the animation repeats if it were eventually looped using other methods
This method provides a quick way to see your animation in action repeatedly, aiding the refinement process significantly.
