The Keyframe Editor

The Keyframe Editor is used for graphic editing of parameters for visual effects, such as position, size, rotation or color. For this purpose the objects must be provided with an appropriate control track with individual parameter objects. An object with a combined control track can be recognized by the yellow line. In such a case it can be converted. With In-Screen Editing enabled , click an object (image, video, etc.) in the screen and the Keyframe Editor opens automatically, provided the object has got an appropriate control track. See also In Screen Editing.

In addition to this, the Keyframe Editor can be handled like this:

Open ...by clicking the control track of the appropriate object. Following this, the object is highlighted on the screen.
Close ...by clicking in the empty space of a track above the yellow line of the Keyframe Editor.
Change location of the Keyframe Editor ...by dragging the yellow line in vertical direction.

The Keyframe Editor usually opens automatically below the object to be edited. This behavior can be changed, i.e. it can be made to open always at the bottom edge of the timeline. See Options - Global Options - In Screen Editing.

Control tracks with parameter objects

If the desired effects cannot be implemented in combined control tracks, you can use control tracks with a number of parameter objects. In this case, you can use a ramp band for every parameter, which can be edited independently. Such control tracks can be set up in the object at the very beginning or the available combined control track be converted into one with individual parameter objects at a later time.

Converting the combined control track ...by right-clicking the combined control track in the Keyframe Editor and selecting Convert into single tracks. Of course, you can continue using In-Screen Editing and the keyframes will be automatically created in the appropriate parameter objects at the Locator position. Important: Control tracks with parameter objects can no longer be reconverted into combined control tracks!
Editing the ramp band of parameters ...works the same way as for other objects. However, there are no nodes, but keyframes only, which can be edited just like nodes. Key frames are therefore set by double-clicking the parameter objects. See also Editing the ramp band.
Open/close control tracks ...by double-clicking the track head of a control track. All the tracks of a parameter group, i.e. position, zoom or rotation will always close down together. If you want to open or close all control tracks, you need to hold the Shift key additionally while double-clicking. If you want to open the tracks of one parameter group only and close all the others, press the Ctrl key additionally.
Adjust the height of control tracks ...by grabbing and dragging the separation line in the track head. To do this the control track needs to be open.

When converting combined control tracks into single tracks, no tracks for the rotation center are set up. Thus, you should not convert effects that require this parameter into single control tracks.
Please note that enabled tools influence keyframe creation. They may cause values to be copied to other keyframes or enable different ramp properties. See Toolbar and In Screen Editing.
During In-Screen Editing, the edited image or video, etc. can be displayed partly transparent to facilitate aligning with other objects. The degree of transparency can be controlled by pressing the following number keys during editing: 1 = 25 %, 2 = 50 %, 3 = 75 % and 4 = 100 % opacity. Entry of 0 gets the transparency based on the object ramp band.
You can now choose whether new objects are to be created with control tracks for keyframes or not. See Objects - Global Options - Objects.
Keyframes in combined control tracks can also be edited via the Keyframe Editor. In that case, the keyframes located in the dissolve area between two objects can also be edited. This option can be selected under Global Options - In Screen Editing.
The keyframes of the objects usually refer to the screen, i.e. they have absolute character. However, you can also use relative keyframes referring to the screen field. If you move the screen field or change its size, all objects with a control track for size and position output to this screen field are also modified in terms of size and position. See Properties of Picture tracks, Text tracks or Video tracks.