Enable AutoKey

Activates the autokey feature. Autokey registers the parameter values you enter for the selected frame.

You can also activate the autokey feature by clicking the auto button in the Animation panel, which is in lower-right corner of the main window. The auto button changes color when activated.

Select one of these options to determine the autokey behavior:

• On Any Value Change: Sets a key whenever you change any properties.

When you autokey with this option, the auto button turns red.

• On Existing Keys Only: Generates a new key when a parameter is changed only if there’s already a key for that parameter at the current frame. This makes it easy and safe for editing existing keys, allowing you to work in a mode similar to traditional animation.

When you autokey with this option, the auto button turns light orange.

• On Existing Fcurves Only: Generates a new key when a parameter is changed only if the parameter already has an fcurve. New keys are added regardless of whether or not there’s already a key at the current frame.

When you autokey with this option, the auto button turns dark orange.

Autokey Modified Parameters Only

Sets keys only on modified parameters that already have fcurves instead of setting keys on all parameters. This is on by default.

Save Key Command

• Key Marked Parameters sets keys only on marked parameters. This is the default method for working in XSI.

For more information, see Keying Marked Parameters in the Animation guide.

• Key All Keyable sets keys on all parameters that are displayed in the keying panel for the selected object. These parameters are known as keyable parameters.

If you’re using the QWERTY Interaction Model (choose File > Interaction Model > QWERTY from the main menu), this option is on by default.

For more information, see Keying Keyable Parameters in the Animation guide.

• Key Marked Keyable sets keys only on keyable parameters that you have marked in the keying panel. This is mixture that lets you set keys on the intersection of parameters that are both keyable and marked.

• Key Character Key Set sets keys only on parameters in the current character (or subcharacter) key set.

For more information, see Keying with Character Key Sets in the Animation guide.

Save Keys on Modified Parameters Only

Sets keys only on modified parameters that already have fcurves instead of setting keys on all parameters. This is off by default.

Curve Style

These options determine the curve style when function curves are created.

• XSI (Free Length Slopes): Sets the default function curve style to the XSI style (default), where function curves are drawn with slope handles (tangents) whose length can be changed.

• SI3D (Fixed Length Slopes): Sets the default function curve style to be the same as in SOFTIMAGE|3D, where the function curve slope handles remain a fixed length. You can also convert existing function curves to this style with the Curves > SI|3D command in the fcurve editor.

When Adding Keys Use

Determines which settings are used when adding keys to function curves.

• Curve Creation Settings: Uses the fcurve’s preference settings that were in effect when the fcurve was created.

• Current Preference Settings: Uses the current preference settings as defined in this preferences property editor.

Interpolation for Inserted Keys

Determines the interpolation between key points (keyframes) on function curves.

For more information, see Choosing a Function Curve Interpolation Type in the Animation guide.

• Automatic: Sets the interpolation of an inserted key automatically to the same interpolation as the neighboring keys.

• Constant: Repeats the value of a key point until the next one. The movement is characterized by sudden changes at key points and static positions between key points.

• Linear: Connects key points by straight line segments. The movement is constant (no acceleration or deceleration) with sudden changes at each key point.

• Spline: Results in a smooth transition. Spline interpolation accelerates and decelerates to ease into and out of each key point. The degree of acceleration and deceleration before and after the key point is determined by the tangent handles associated with the key point.

Slope Computation Constraint

Determines the default slope of function curves when they are created.

• None: Sets the slope of an inserted key automatically using the slopes of neighboring keys. Does not affect the slope of these neighboring keys.

• Automatic: Sets the slope of an inserted key automatically to the slopes of neighboring keys. This mode affects the slope of neighboring keys.

Slope Orientation Constraint

Determines the default slope’s orientation when the function curves are created.

For more information, see Setting the Slope’s Orientation (Angle) in the Animation guide.

• None: The slope’s orientation is free to be modified by you, and/or it will get automatically calculated based on neighboring keys.

• Plateau: Sets the slope of an inserted key automatically to 0 if the next key has the same value or if that key is a local minimum or maximum. A local minimum/maximum is a key point where both previous and next keys have either smaller (maximum) or larger (minimum) values. This is useful to hold key-point values to prevent the automatic interpolation from going above of below your keyed values.

• Zero Orientation: Constrains the slope at key points to 0. The slope handles remain horizontal so that only the slope tension can be modified.

Slope Length Constraint

These options determine the default slope’s handle (tangent) length when the function curves are created.

For more information, see Controlling the Length of the Slope Handles in the Animation guide.

• None: The slope’s length is free to be modified by you, and/or it will get automatically calculated based on neighboring keys.

• Zero Slope Length: Creates sharp points (break points) on the curve, allowing you to manipulate the handles independently.

• Unified Length: Keeps the length for the slope handles equal on both sides of the key point.

Apply to All Parameters When Nothing Is Marked

If a property set is keyed, this option applies the changed values to all parameters if no individual parameters are marked. This option is on by default, meaning that all parameters in a property editor are keyed if nothing is marked.

Global In/Out

Sets the start/end frame for the time range when you create a new scene.

in Seconds

The values of the keys at the current frame appear to change.

in Frames

The fcurves are scaled to compensate for the change in frame rate.