Stop or loop animation playback using time marks

Add global or take marks to the timeline to stop or loop playback at specified frames or to highlight frames of interest. Global marks are active in all the takes of the scene, while take marks are only active in takes. The steps for adding a global and take mark are similar.

Add global or take marks to the action timeline

  1. Determine if you want to add a Global Mark or Take Mark, and then do one of the following:
    • Right-click a frame on timeline and select Time Mark > Add.
    • To add a mark at the position of the timeline indicator, right-click on the timeline and select Time Mark > Add to Current Time.

      • See Transport Controls context menu.

    Global marks display on the timeline with this icon and take marks this icon .

After creating a mark, you can configure it to stop or loop playback as well as name it and change its color.

Stop or loop playback using marks

You can set an action on a mark so that the timeline playback either stops at the mark or loops between the start frame and a mark or between two marks.

  1. Double-click a mark, and from the Action list in the dialog box that appears, do one of the following:
    • Select Stop to stop the timeline playback at the mark's location.

      The mark displays with a square () to indicate that it now stops playback.

    • Select Loop on the marker that's at the end frame of the segment you want to loop.

      The mark displays with an arrow () to indicate that it now loops the playback.

  2. Click OK.

Name or change the color of a mark

  1. Double-click the mark, and in the dialog box that appears, do the following:
    • To name the marker, type besideName.
    • To change the color of the marker, beside Color, and then either set the RGB values color, or click this icon to access the Color chooser.
  2. Click OK.

Move a mark

  1. Move the timeline indicator to the frame you want to move the mark to.
  2. Right-click the mark on the timeline.
  3. Select Move Mark to Current Time from menu that appears..

    The mark moves to the new frame.

    4. Note: You can also move a marker, by double-clicking it, and in the dialog box that appears, and typing a new frame number beside Time.

Delete a mark

  1. Right-click on the mark you want to delete.
  2. Select Delete or Delete All from menu that appears.

Related topics

Parent topic: Basic Keyframe Animation