Entering Animate Mode

Click the Animate button in the mode switcher at the top of the interface, or press Ctrl+2.

The interface rearranges when Animate Mode is entered:

• -The timeline expands to occupy the lower half of the screen
• -Property tracks become visible for all animated elements
• -The playhead becomes the primary focus of interaction
• -The Properties Panel collapses to show only animation-relevant properties

Record Mode is what makes property changes create keyframes automatically.

• -Record Active (red dot): Every property change made to any selected element is captured as a keyframe at the current playhead position.
• -Record Inactive: Property changes update the element globally, without creating keyframes. Use this to make baseline adjustments that affect the element across the entire timeline.

Toggle Record Mode:

• -Click the Record button (red circle) in the timeline transport controls
• -Press Ctrl+Alt+R

Default behavior: Record Mode is automatically activated when Animate Mode is opened (configurable in Application Settings).

The playhead is the thin vertical line running the full height of the timeline. It represents the current time position.

• -Position: Shown in the timecode display as HH:MM:SS:FF (hours, minutes, seconds, frames)
• -Moving the playhead: Click anywhere in the timeline ruler to jump to that time. Drag the playhead handle for precise scrubbing.
• -Keyboard navigation: Left Arrow / Right Arrow for frame-by-frame stepping. Home / End for start/end of the sequence.