2009

■ Use the Graph Editor’s Tangents menu items to change the adjacent
curvature. This is the operation you’ll use in the next step.
5 In the Graph Editor, select Tangents > Linear.
This changes the curvature around the key point from rounded to
cornered. Specifically, the setting you select specifies how the key point
tangent handles lie at this key point. This affects the type of interpolation
between key points.
6 Play the animation and you’ll see the ball bounce more sharply.
To sharpen the bounce more, you need to edit the positioning of the
tangent handles to steepen the curvature approaching the key point.
7 Select one of the tangent handles.
8 Use the Move Tool and the middle mouse button to drag it upwards a
little so you can see the how the curvature at the key point changes.
By default, when a pair of tangent handles share a key point, they work
as a unit. Move one and you move the other in an opposing direction.
This is often desirable in an animation curve, because it ensures the
curvature at that point stays symmetrical. Symmetrical curvature often
helps prevent unusual animation shifts.
In this case, however, you want to steepen the curvature’s approach
toward the curve point in the same direction on both sides. You therefore
need to break the symmetrical interdependency between the two tangents.
9 Undo your previous move of the tangent handle.
10 Select the key point at frame 50 (not a tangent handle).
11 In the Graph Editor, select Keys > Break Tangents.
This lets you move each tangent handle independently.
194 | Chapter 6 Animation