Timeline

Timeline  -  Timelines allow for easy playback, cutting, and editing of video layers, as well as animation of layers and their parameters, editable with the Timeline Editor .

There are many ways to animate in Smode, such as using Function Cue and Exposed Parameter . Timelines are a common method for animating parameters or bringing life to a 2D or 3D composition.

Smode has two types of timelines:

• The Main Timeline is embedded inside a composition and functions like in any classical animation software.

• The Timeline Cue works like a Function Cue and is placed inside an Animation Bank .

Main Timelines

When create a composition [CTRL+N], you can choose to include a main Timeline.

These choices can be reverted or added after the composition creation.

A Main Timeline can be added to each composition. Inside each composition, click the designated button:

The timeline is then accessible within the Timeline Editor below the Viewport when selecting the timeline or the composition. Selecting the timeline will give you access to its parameters through the Parameters Editor :

• Lock the Timeline Editor on the current timeline by activating the lock button (circled in red in the image).

• The name of the currently displayed timeline is shown in the top left part of the Timeline Editor (underlined in red).

Drag and drop a composition inside the main timeline to have every animation within it driven by the newly created matching track:

If a composition with a timeline is placed under a Brother or Child Timeline instead of a Parent Timeline, an “out of scope” icon will appear. The timeline hierarchy must follow the Element Tree hierarchy:

Timeline Cues

A Timeline can also be created as a cue or standalone animation, that you can use in an Animation Bank or Cue List (for Smode Station), similar to any standard cue:

Here is how to create Timeline cues: