keyframes: For any animation, time is converted into frames by means of a conversion formula based on the frame rate of presentation called the frames per second or FPS. Therefore to locate a specific point in time inside our animated scene, we will actually identify a frame number along our scene’s time line. The recording of a specific type of attribute value (scale, position, rotation, or skew) to control how the vector art will be rendered at a specific point in time is called a keyed frame value. This is often shortened and referred to in discussions as just a keyframe. This term is merely being used to show that a specific attribute manipulation value has been recorded to be applied to a specific piece or pieces of art work at a specific point in time. The value (scale, position, rotation, or skew) has been keyed, locked down and registered, to a specific frame number, a point in time.

Important conceptual note: The term keyframe is not always singular and most often is used to represent a set or group of multiple attribute types all keyed to the same object or objects at the same frame. Remember that a graphical object has many different attribute types that can be manipulated simultaneously. In Toon Boom Studio we can set keyed frame values one at a time or in groups. The term keyframe is used for the setting of these values and actually can and does refer to multiple values of different types together as a group (scale, position, rotation, and skew values). Toon Boom Studio provides track indicators at a single frame to show which types of values have been keyed to that specific frame. So please be aware that when you read the word keyframe you need to understand the context of how it is being used, either to refer to a single keyed value type or to refer to a set of multiple value types all in a group at that specific frame. This has proven to be a major source of confusion for many people.


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