Adobe After Effects CS3 - Manual (Page 210)

AFTER EFFECTS CS3
User Guide
205
Motion path interpolation
A. Linear B. Auto Bezier C. Continuous Bezier D. Bezier E. Hold
Note: In some cases, the Auto Bezier spatial interpolation for Position keyframes can cause undesired back-and-forth
(boomerang) motion between two keyframes with equal values. In such a case, you can change the earlier keyframe to
use Hold interpolation or change both keyframes to use Linear interpolation.
See also
“About changes in speed” on page 210
“Work with the Graph Editor” on page 184
“Shortcuts for keyframes” on page 650
“Shortcuts for showing properties in the Timeline panel” on page 647
Keyframe interpolation methods
In layer bar mode, the appearance of a keyframe icon depends on the interpolation method you choose for the
interval between keyframes. When half of the icon is dark gray
, the dark half indicates that there is no keyframe
adjacent to that side, or that its interpolation is overridden by the Hold interpolation applied to the preceding
keyframe.
By default, a keyframe uses one interpolation method, but you can apply two methods: the incoming method applies
to the property value as the current time approaches a keyframe, and the outgoing method applies to the property
value as the current time leaves a keyframe. When you set different incoming and outgoing interpolation methods,
the keyframe icon in layer bar mode changes accordingly. It displays the left half of the incoming interpolation icon
and the right half of the outgoing interpolation icon.
To toggle between keyframe icons and keyframe numbers, select Use Keyframe Icons or Use Keyframe Indices from
the Timeline panel menu.
Examples of keyframe icons in Timeline panel in layer bar mode
A. Linear B. Linear in, Hold out C. Auto Bezier D. Continuous Bezier or Bezier E. Linear in, Bezier out
A B
C D E
A B C D E