You can set the following preferences in the Time Slider category of the Preferences window.
To return to the default factory settings, choose
in this window. Note that this resets the preferences in every category in the Preferences window.Frame selections include: 2 fps, 3 fps, 4 fps, 5 fps, 6 fps, 8 fps, 10 fps, 12 fps, 15 fps, 16 fps, 20 fps, 23.976 fps, 24 fps (Film), 25 fps (PAL), 29.97 fps, 29.97 df (drop frame), 30 fps, 40 fps, 47.952 fps, 48 fps (Show), 50 fps (PAL Field), 59.94 fps, 60 fps (NTSC Field), 75 fps, 80 fps, 100 fps, 120 fps, 125 fps, 150 fps, 200 fps, 240 fps, 250 fps, 300 fps, 375 fps, 400 fps, 500 fps, 600 fps, 750 fps, 1200 fps, 1500 fps, 2000 fps, 3000 fps, 6000 fps, 44 100 fps, and 48 000 fps.
By default when you change the current time unit, the times for any existing keys are modified so that playback timing is preserved. For example, a key set at frame 12film changes to frame 15ntsc when the current time unit is changed to NTSC, since they both represent a key at 0.5 seconds. When this option is on, it leaves the key at 12ntsc that was originally at 12film. The default setting for this option is off. The option turns on once the current Time unit is changed above.
Activate this setting to retain whole frame values whenever frame rates change. Sometimes changing the frame rate in Maya converts current frame, frame range, and animation range numbers to decimal value numbers.
This option is active by default. Disable it if you want frame numbers to be precise after changing the frame rate, for example, 24.80.
Specifies playback range start and end times. The playback start and end times specify the Time Slider playback range. The playback range is always within the animation range. You can also specify the time units. See Edit animation preferences.
Specifies animation range start and end times. The animation start and end times specify the Range Slider range. The playback range always stays within the animation range, so changing the animation start and end times can also change the playback start and end times. Default animation start time is 1.00. Default animation end time is 48.00. You can also specify the time units. See Edit animation preferences.
Lets you set how Grease Pencil frames display in the Time Slider. Default is Active, so that Grease Pencil frames display for the current camera only.
Set to None if you don't want Grease Pencil frames to display in the Time Slider, or set to All if you want to see all Grease Pencil frames regardless of the active camera. See also Control display of Grease Pencil frames in the Time Slider.
Specifies how the line markers that indicate keys appear on the Time Slider. Click None, Active, or Channel Box. Default is Active.
Change the thickness of ticks that represent keyframes in the Maya Time Slider. Key thickness is measured in pixels. Click 1x (default width), 2x (double width), or 3x (triple width).
When on, synchronizes your selections in the Channel Box to the Time Slider so that the Time Slider displays only keys for those selected channels. When you set a keyframe (press S or select Key > Set Key), only channels selected in the Channel Box are keyed. If nothing is selected in the Channel Box, the Time Slider displays keys for selected objects as usual.
When on, synchronizes your selections in the Channel Box to also display in the Graph Editor. If no channels are selected in the Channel Box, the Graph Editor displays curves for selected objects as usual.
When on, keys snap to the nearest whole frame when they are moved or scaled. When scaling, if two keys snap to the same frame, they merge together into one key. This preference is off by default. You can also right-click the Time Slider and select Auto snap keys.
Specifies the speed at which your scene plays. Select Play Every Frame, 24fps x 1, 24fps x 0.5, 24fps x 2, or Other, which activates a field where you can enter a custom playback speed. Playback speed uses the frame rate set in the Working Units section of the Settings preferences. The default is Play Every Frame.
You can also specify the playback time units. See Edit animation preferences.
When selected, all the frames in your scene play, updating each before displaying the next. The speed depends on how long it takes your workstation to compute and draw each frame. You can specify the playback frame increment in the Playback by field. For example, a Playback value of 2.0 plays only every other frame.
When selected, your scene plays at the frame rate set in the Working Units section of the Settings preferences. (The default fps is Maya is 24 frames per second). Maya may not display all frames, depending on your workstation’s capabilities, the scene’s complexity, and the display mode (for example, wireframe or smooth shading).
When selected, your scene plays at half the speed set in the Working Units section of the Settings preferences.
When selected, your scene plays at twice the speed set in the Working Units section of the Settings preferences.
When selected, your scene plays at the custom playback speed specified with the Other Speed setting.
Available only when Playback Speed is set to Other.
Let you set a custom playback speed (in frames per second) for your scene. For example, if you specify an Other Speed value of 72, animation plays back at 72 fps.
Specifies playback increments if Playback speed is set to Play Every Frame. For example, if you enter 4, Maya plays only every fourth frame (or time). Default is 1.000. You can also specify the playback time units.
Lets you clamp the animation playback speed by specifying a value the speed cannot exceed. This is useful when working with scenes that have fluctuating levels of heavy CPU activity, such as a scene with a complex particle effect.
Specifies no Max Playback Speed.
Specifies that the overall playback speed of your scene’s animation is as fast as possible, but it does not exceed 24 fps.
Specifies that the overall playback speed of your scene’s animation is as fast as possible, but it does not exceed 12 fps.
Specifies that the overall playback speed of your scene’s animation is as fast as possible, but it does not exceed 48 fps.
If your workspace layout includes several views (for example, selected from Panels > Layouts), you can improve performance by having the scene play in only the currently active view. Click Active or All. Default is Active.
Scene plays only in the current, active view.
Scene plays in all the workspace views.