Is there a way to smooth out movement?

[jertuukka]

im trying to move a clip using keyframes, but right now it looks really stiff when it comes to a stop. is there a way to smooth it out?

[MusicalBox]

Hi @jertuukka

Read this Documentation page:

Keyframe Types and Easing

Keyframe Types Hold A hold keyframe makes the value not change until possibly the next keyframe. Also, there is NO transition between the previous video frame’s values and the time on this keyframe. Essentially, it introduces a hard cut to a new value and sustains it until otherwise. If you think about it in terms of video transitions; this is the hard or jump cut. Linear Linear is a straight line between keyframes like / or . Sometimes this is called a ramp. It is a simple way to adjust valu…

[notsmoothsteve]

Have a look at the different easing options for keyframes. By default, Shotcut changes the value linearly from one keyframe to another, so if (for instance) you have two keyframes with values like this:

----------10----------20----------

the value will be a constant 10 from the left to the first keyframe, then will increase linearly to the 20 keyframe, and remain 20 afterward. Easing changes it so that it’s something other than linear, and there are lots of options available. One really simple one is smooth: basically, it accelerates and decelerates like a thing would do in real life. In the above example, just past the 10 it would smoothly accelerate, then maintain its speed until just before the 20, where it would smoothly decelerate again.

For an example, watch the train moving on the bottom track of this video at about 4:10 as it smoothly decelerates and comes to a stop; that was done with easing.

[rogerknight]

Yes, what you’re looking for is easing. Instead of using linear keyframes, change them to ease in and ease out so the motion gradually slows down before stopping.

Most editors let you right click the keyframe and choose something like Ease Out, Easy Ease, or adjust the velocity curve in the graph editor. That will remove the stiff stop and make the movement feel much more natural.