topic Re: Copy paste position keyframes in 3ds Max Forum

Copy paste position keyframes

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 01:48:08 GMT

Hi, I've searched the forum and Google for this, and I can't figure this out.

I have 2 cameras. One camera has its position animated. I want to copy the last position keyframe (not all of them) from the first camera to the 2nd camera. I've tried selecting it in the timeline and hitting Ctrl+C, then selection the other camera and CTRL+V, but CTRL+V always wants to create a copy/instance of the camera itself. I've tried right clicking on the keyframe in the timeline, but there is no copy option. I've also tried doing this in the Curve Editor with no luck. I selected all 3 keyframes (xyz) and in the Edit dropdown menu, Copy is grayed out. Right clicking a keyframe brings up a value editor for that specific keyframe. I'm sure it's something simple, but I can't seem to find the answer. Thanks for the help.

Re: Copy paste position keyframes

irishman_team_kilber — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 11:42:52 GMT

press and hold the shift key with the key selected and drag the key across max will copy the key

Re: Copy paste position keyframes

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 14:36:04 GMT

That works for copying a keyframe on the same camera. I need to copy it to a different camera. If I try to shift+drag the keyframe, it stays locked to the timeline. I can't seem to drag it to my other camera. Unless I'm missing something.

Re: Copy paste position keyframes

irishman_team_kilber — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 15:31:07 GMT

Go to your keyframe mode and then unlock it, if you can upload the scene then someone can take a look at it, due to I having a lower version of 3ds max and won't be able to help you maybe @DarrenP help help once you upload the file if there is a copyright issue then i would get autorisation from the company.

Re: Copy paste position keyframes

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 17:12:27 GMT

I can't upload the project, it's a work project.

I'm not sure what you mean by unlocking keyframe mode. I'm not using auto keyframes, if that's what you're referring to. I already have the position keyframe created on Cam 1. I need to copy it to Cam 2.

I found a workaround, and that involved selecting cam 1, going to that keyframe, and individually copying and pasting the values for X Y and Z into a new keyframe on Cam 2. It took a while, but it worked. I'm just surprised that this isn't a lot simpler.

Re: Copy paste position keyframes

jon.bell — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 01:46:22 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

You can do this in the Track View > Dope Sheet easily. (Although a quick and dirty way to do it would be to just turn on the Animate button, click on Camera02, and then Align it to pivot point/align all axes to that frame). What you want to do is copy the Controller for the first camera's keyframes to the second one.

Open the Curve Editor and switch to Dope Sheet.
Select Camera 01.
Go to the last keyframes and select them.
Now, click on the Camera01 Transform > Position entry to highlight it, then click on Edit > Copy.
Select Camera02, go to the desired target frame, highlight it, then click on its Transform > Position controller.
Go to Edit > Paste.
The Camera01's selected frame Position key values are copied to the Camera02 selected frame Position values.
Do the same thing with Rotation, if necessary.

Please let us know if this helps!

Re: Copy paste position keyframes

Diffus3d — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 21:09:11 GMT

Lots of replies here, but here's one more. What I would try:

Look through the camera you want the view/position from.
Press P. (Changes it to a perspective view that matches that camera)
Select the camera you want to match to that view. (Make sure that you don't change viewports)
Press control-c (Matches that camera to the current perspective view.)
Set a key normally.

That should do it.

Best Regards,