AfterEffects

Edit keyframe values using a spreadsheet

You can copy and paste keyframe data as tab-delimited text for use in a spreadsheet (such as Microsoft Excel) or other text-editing program. This allows you to take advantage of the powerful features of spreadsheet programs, either for numerical analysis of keyframe data or for the creation or editing of keyframe values.

You can copy and paste most properties, including the Transform properties (such as Position and Opacity), Material Options properties, and motion trackers.

You can use the motion tracking tools to track the motion of an object in a layer, and then paste the tracker data into a spreadsheet to perform numerical analysis on the data.

You can copy keyframes from only one layer at a time as tab-delimited text.

  1. In the Timeline panel, select keyframes for one or more properties on the same layer. To select all keyframes for a property, click the property’s name.
  2. Move the current-time indicator to the first selected keyframe. Write down the time of this keyframe. (When you paste the edited data back in, you will need to paste it at this time.)
  3. Choose Edit > Copy.
  4. Paste keyframe data into the spreadsheet. Assuming that the first column in the spreadsheet is labeled A and the first row is labeled 1, you should paste into cell A1. Frame numbers appear in column B. Property values appear in columns C, D, and E, depending on the dimensions of the property. (Position in a 3D layer has values in all three columns; Opacity has only a value in column C.)
  5. Edit the numerical information for the keyframes. Do not change any text other than frame numbers and property values.
  6. Select the cells that contain your data. The top-left cell in your selection should be A1. The bottom row of your selection should be the row that contains the text End of Keyframe Data.
  7. Copy the data from the spreadsheet.
  8. In After Effects, move the current-time indicator to the time at which you want to paste the new keyframe data. This will usually be the time of the first keyframe that you selected and copied at the beginning of this procedure.
  9. Choose Edit > Paste.