Copy and paste keyframes and curves

Copy and paste keyframes and curves

With the Edit Keyframes tool (above the parameter list) selected, you can copy and paste keyframes and animation curves. This technique is useful for copying a keyframed effect from one object to another, for moving a keyframe segment earlier or later in the same parameter, or for creating keyframes in one parameter and applying them to another.

Keyframe Editor showing Edit tool

Copy and paste keyframes

Use this technique to copy and paste a segment of an animation curve from one parameter to another, or from one object to another.

  1. Select keyframes by doing one of the following:

    • In the graph area of the Keyframe Editor, drag a selection rectangle around the keyframes.

    • In the graph area, Shift-click the keyframes you want to select.

    Note: If the curve appears white but the keyframes do not, the keyframes are not selected.

  2. Copy or cut the selected keyframes by doing one of the following:

    • Choose Edit > Copy (or press Command-C).

    • Choose Edit > Cut (or press Command-X).

  3. To paste the keyframes to a different parameter, do the following:

    1. Select the destination parameter in the parameter list (on the left side of the Keyframe Editor).

    2. Place the playhead at the point where you want the keyframes to begin.

    3. Choose Edit > Paste (or press Command-V).

      The keyframes are added to the new parameter.

      Note: Pasted keyframes might not make a curve identical to the original if the parameter scales are different.

Copy and paste an animation curve

Use this technique to copy and paste an entire animation curve from one parameter to another, or from one object to another.

  1. Select an animation curve by doing one of the following:

    • Select a row in the parameter list of the Keyframe Editor.

    • Shift-click or Control-click in the parameter list of the Keyframe Editor to select multiple rows.

  2. Choose Edit > Copy (or press Command-C) to copy the selected curve.

    Note: You cannot use the Cut command on a complete curve.

  3. To paste the curve to a different parameter, do the following:

    1. In the parameter list of the Keyframe Editor, select the destination parameter.

    2. Choose Edit > Paste (or press Command-V).

      The curve is added to the new parameter.

      Note: Pasted animation curves might not make a curve identical to the original if the parameter scales are different.