Convert behaviors to keyframes

Convert behaviors to keyframes

Behaviors are best suited for fluid effects in which precise timing is not necessary. However, there might be projects in which you want finite control over the animated effects created with behaviors. If necessary, several of the behaviors can be baked into keyframes. This means that the animation curves created by the behaviors (which have no keyframes) can be converted into keyframed animation curves. You can then modify the keyframes in the Keyframe Editor to meet more precise timing requirements.

Because many (though not all) behaviors affect shared object parameters, when you convert a behavior to keyframes, all other behaviors applied to the same object are also converted into keyframes. The keyframes are applied to the individual parameters that the behaviors originally affected. Additionally, when behaviors applied to other objects affect the object being converted (for example, the Attractor or Repel behavior), their effect is baked into the object’s resulting keyframes value. The original behaviors remain applied to the other objects, but the resulting effect is not doubled as a result of the keyframes combining with the behavior.

Convert behaviors to keyframes

  1. Do one of the following:

    • Select an object that has behaviors to convert.

    • In the Inspector, select a behavior to convert.

  2. Choose Object > Convert to Keyframes (or press Command-K).

    A dialog prompts you to confirm the conversion to keyframes.

  3. Click Convert.

    All behaviors are converted into keyframes, even if some of the behaviors fall outside of the object’s time range.

    Converting a behavior to keyframes can result in a very large amount of keyframes. You can simplify your keyframes using the Reduce Keyframes command. For more information, see Simplify a keyframe-heavy curve.

    Note: You cannot selectively convert individual behaviors. The Convert to Keyframes command converts all behaviors applied to an object.

You cannot convert many of the Simulation, Replicator, Particle, or Text behaviors into keyframes. Simulation behaviors such as Vortex can affect the parameters of all objects in a project, and baking such a behavior would create an overwhelming amount of keyframes. Such behaviors are designed to create very complex motion that would be too time-consuming to keyframe manually.

If a behavior (or an object with applied behaviors) can be baked, the Convert to Keyframes command appears in the Object menu when the behavior or object is selected. If the Convert to Keyframes command is dimmed, keyframes cannot be generated from the behavior.