HD

722 Part IX Effects
Keyframing Tools in Final Cut Express HD
Three tools in the Tool palette allow you to add, modify, or remove keyframes on a
parameter’s keyframe graph line in the keyframe graph area.
 Pen: Allows you to add keyframes to a parameter in the Motion tab or Timeline
keyframe graph by clicking it (you can also press the P key).
 Pen Delete: Lets you delete a keyframe from a parameter by clicking the keyframe
itself (you can also press the P key twice).
 Pen Smooth: Allows you to smooth a keyframe’s interpolation by clicking the
keyframe itself (you can also press the P key three times).
Pen Smooth tool
Pen tool
Pen Delete tool
Keyboard Modifiers for the Pen Tool
To use the Pen tool most efficiently, use these keyboard modifiers:
 Press the Option key while the Selection tool is active to temporarily enable the
Pen tool, then click a parameter in either a keyframe graph area or in the Timeline
to add a keyframe at that point.
 To remove the keyframe with the Pen Delete tool, hold down the Option key and
click an existing keyframe.
 Control-click a keyframe and choose Smooth from the shortcut menu to add Bezier
handles to the keyframe. See “Smoothing Keyframes” on page 734 for information
on Bezier handles.