Modifying Tangents to Reshape the Animation Curve

To modify the tangents of an animation curve:

1. From the Tangents box, select Auto.

2. From the Interpolation box, select an interpolation type. Only animation curves that use Bézier, Hermite, or Natural interpolation have keyframes with tangent handles.

3. From the Tools box, choose Select and move the tangent handles.

   As you move the handles, the slope on each side of the keyframe is modified independently.

   Note: You must break tangent handles to move them independently. From the Tools box, select Break Tangents and click the tangents you want to break.

To modify the tangents of an animation curve:

1. From the Interpolation box, select an interpolation type. Only animation curves that use Bézier, Hermite, or Natural interpolation have keyframes with tangent handles.

2. From the Tools box, choose Select and move the tangent handles.

   As you move the handles, the slope on each side of the keyframe is modified independently.

   Note: You must break tangent handles to move them independently. From the Tools box, select Break Tangents and click the tangents you want to break.

If the tangents are not visible:

• Select Interpolation box Bezier / Hermite / Natural. Keyframes set to Linear or Constant interpolation do not have tangents.

To reset tangents to their default:

1. From the Tools box, select Auto Tangent.
2. Click the handle of the tangent you want to reset.

Modifying Multiple Tangents

You can modify the shape of an animation curve by rotating its keyframe tangent handles.

To rotate a keyframe's tangent handles:

1. Select a channel or group of keyframes.

2. From the Curve Functions box in the Keyframe tab, select Tangent R to rotate each right tangent handle or Tangent L to rotate each left handle.

   Note: Tangent R and Tangent L only work on curves and keyframes that use Bézier, Hermite, or Natural interpolation. Select your option from the Interpolation box.

3. Enter a value in the Curve Value field.

   A negative value rotates each tangent counter-clockwise. A positive value rotates each tangent clockwise.

   The tangent handle first breaks into two and then the handles are rotated.

More on Tangents

The control handle of a tangent tells you if its a Fixed (filled handle) or Smooth (empty handle) tangent.

Fixed Tangent handles

Smooth Tangent handles

While its true that Linear and Constant interpolations do not display tangents, a keyframe displays a mix of tangent types when the interpolation changes from one type to another.