Keyframe animation
Also known as: keyframing, animation keyframes, parameter keyframes
Setting values for position, scale, opacity, speed or effects at specific points on the timeline, so the editor animates smoothly between them.
Updated
What it means
In editing software, a keyframe in this sense marks a value at a moment in time. Set the scale of a clip to 100 percent at one keyframe and 120 percent at a later one, and the software creates a smooth zoom between them. Any parameter can be animated this way: position, rotation, opacity, color, audio volume or playback speed.
This is a different meaning from the keyframe in video compression, which is a complete frame stored in the file. Both share the name because both mark important points in time.
Keyframes are behind most motion in edits that does not come from the camera itself: slow push-ins, moving titles, speed ramps and fades.
How it works in practice
Use keyframes for a gentle Ken Burns style zoom on a still or a static shot, for punch-ins that follow the action, and for volume changes that lower music under speech. Speed keyframes create time remapping and speed ramps.
Easing makes animation feel natural. Instead of moving at constant speed, eased keyframes accelerate and decelerate gently. Most editors offer ease in and ease out options or curve editors.
Keep the number of keyframes low, since every extra point is one more thing to adjust later. Two or three well-placed points usually give smoother results than many small adjustments.
What to watch out for
Linear keyframes without easing create robotic motion that starts and stops abruptly. Add easing for most animations, and preview them at full speed rather than scrubbing.
Animating scale on low-resolution footage reveals softness as the image enlarges. Record at higher resolution, such as 4K, if you plan to zoom in during editing.
Too much movement in an edit, every clip zooming or sliding, distracts from the content. Use animation only where it adds meaning or energy, and leave strong shots alone. Good footage rarely needs extra motion to hold attention.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip delivers a finished edit without manual keyframing: the AI picks the moments, cuts them to music and adds transitions. If you want extra animation, use the 4K version of your highlight as a sharp starting point.