9

Exclude Right End Point 571
segment in your animation. To create a smo oth
looping animation, you need to exclude either the
firstorlastkeyofthecopiedblocktopreventkeys
from doubling up at the ends.
The key to be excluded must be at the exact start
time of the copied block of time.
Note: By default, the Extras: Dope Sheet toolbar
doesn’t appear in the Dope Sheet Editor. You’ll
find a method for displaying it in the following
procedure.
Procedure
To animate a loop by copying a nd pasting k eys:
1.
In Dope Sheet mode, high lig ht one or more
item labels in the Controller windo w to specify
tracks for time editing.
2. Use Select Time (page 2–566) to specify a
block of time.
At least one track in the block should start with
a keyframe. Also, for a s mooth loop, the first
and last frame of the selection should be the
same.
3. Right-click an empty section of the toolbar
area and choose Show Toolbars > Extras: Dope
Sheet.
TheExcludeLeftEndPointandExcludeRight
End Point buttons appear.
4. On the Track View toolbar, click E xclude
Left End Point.
5. On the Track View toolbar, click Copy
Time.
The select ion is copied to the clipboard, minus
the first fr ame.
6. Click to define an inser tion point in the keys
window.
The last position key should be your insert
point.
7. Click Paste Time.
The Paste Time dialog appears.
8. InthedialogchoosePasteAbsoluteorPaste
Relative. For an animated loop choose Paste
Absolute, then click OK.
The time, including keys, is pasted.
9. Play your animation to observe the effect.
Ex clud e Right E nd Poi nt
Track View > Dope Shee t > Extras: Dope Sheet toolbar >
Exclude Right End Point button
Ifyoupastethesameblockoftimerepeatedly,one
blockfollowingtheother,youcancreatealooping
segment in your animation. To create a smooth
looping animation, you need to excl ude either the
first or last key of the copied block to prevent keys
from doubling up at the ends.
The key to be excluded must be at the exact end
time of the copied block of time.
Note: By default, the Extras: Dope Sheet toolbar
doesn’t appear in the Dope Sheet Editor. You’ll
find a method for displaying it in the following
procedure.
Procedure
To animate a loop by copying and pasting k eys:
1.
In Dope Sheet mode, highlight one or more
item labels in the Controller window to specify
tracks for time editing.
2. Use Select Time (page 2–566) to specify a
block of time.