Editing Storyboard Pro Timeline Cookbook (section)

== Keyframes ==

=== Animating a transformation on a layer ===

* Click figure icon to the right of layer thumbnail in '''Stage View'''
* Change the icon to "running man" icon
* With the layer selected, now a channel is displayed in the '''Timeline''' for its keyframes. 
* Insert a keyframe on the layer to maintain the current size & location at that frame.
* Select the '''Transform''' tool (a square with 9 control points).
* Move to a new frame and transform the layer to create a new keyframe. The values will transition smoothly between the two keyframes by default.

<div class="alert alert-warning">As of SBP 6 there is no support for animating transparency.</div>

=== Ease in, ease out ===

* Select the '''Transform''' tool selected and a layer with keyframes selected in '''Stage View'''.
* ''''Tool Properties''' tab > '''Keyframes''' group > '''Function Editor''' button (S-shaped bezier curve with two dots at its ends)

=== Creating a stop-motion keyframe ===

A "stop-motion," or "hold," keyframe is one where there is no transition in values between two keyframes. The translation, rotation, or scale value stays remains at what it was at the first keyframe until the 2nd keyframe is reached, then the value shifts abruptly to the new value. <ref>[https://docs.toonboom.com/help/storyboard-pro-6/storyboard/reference/views/function-editor-view.html?Highlight=stop-motion%20keyframe Function Editor View] Storyboard Pro User Guide</ref>

* Apply two keyframes in the '''Timeline'''.
* With the '''Transform''' tool selected (square with 9 control points), '''Tool Properties''' tab > '''Keyframes''' panel > '''Open Function Editor''' button (an S-shaped bezier)
* Make sure the desired transform is selected under '''Functions''', e.g. `Angle_z` if working on a rotation.
* Select the first keyframe in the transform.
* Click the '''Stop-motion keyframe''' button (red flat horizontal line with two dots at its ends)

=== Looping keyframes ===

For looping keyframes within one panel, the quickest thing is probably to copy and paste two keyframes in the '''Timeline'''.

To loop keyframes across multiple panels, use [[#Spread_layer_motion|Spread Layer Motion]]

=== Spread layer motion ===

'''Spread layer motion''' is the mechanism for animating a transformation on a layer over multiple panels.

* In the '''Timeline''' click on the first panel (or panel group) of the series of panels over which the animated transform will occur.
* In the '''Camera View''' select the layer in the panel that will be animated. Make sure "animate" is toggled on (the yellow running figure icon).
* In the '''Timeline''' create a keyframe on the first frame of the panel. The first keyframe must be on the first frame.
* Go to the last frame of the panel. (The 2nd keyframe must be on the last frame of the panel.)
* Use the '''Transform Tool''' to move, scale or rotate the Layer, and another keyframe will be added in the '''Timeline'''.
* Delete or hide corresponding layers in following panels.
** If desired, rename the layer in the first panel so it doesn't conflict with the naming of the layer on subsequent panels.
** The corresponding layer (by name) on the subsequent panels can be deleted from those panels.
** When '''Spread Layer Motion''' is applied a new layer with the same artwork as the source panel will be added to the following panels. 
* '''Layer''' > '''Spread Layer Motion...'''
** Choose the number of panels to spread the transformation over.
** The keyframe will remain where it was, but the transform will take plane over multiple panels.
** The layer being transformed shouldn't be visible in any panels beyond the first panel.

There is no way to tweak the transition after applying '''Spread Layer Motion'''. If the length of the panels are changed, the time of that segment of the transition will change with it. The ending keyframe on the first panel will no longer correspond to its initial value. The initial value will be found on the ending keyframe of the last panel in the transition.

'''Layer''' > '''Reset Transform''' will set the Layer back to wherever it was before the '''Transform Tool''' was used to manipulate it.