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Timeline Menu
Click Jumps to Time
Deselect this option to keep the time position stationary while manipulating cues and tween points. The state of this mode is reflected by the color of the current time indicator.
HINT: Turn off this option to use the current time indicator as a ruler for aligning cues and tween points. See “Snap” for more details.
Add Play / Pause Control Cue
Adds a Control cue at the current time and selected layer. When reached during playback, the cue will perform its programmed action (see “Control Cue”).
HINT: When using Control cues, dedicate a layer rather than mixing them with other cues. This makes them easier to find and prevents them from getting obscured by other cues.
Adding and Removing Layers
Choose “Append Layer” to append a layer to the timeline, or choose “Insert Layer” to insert a layer in front of the current layer. Choose “Delete Layer” to delete the current layer. A layer containing cues can not be deleted.
Layer Settings
Opens a dialog box that allows you to rename the layer as well as set various layer attributes (see “Layer Name and Attributes”).
Open up a gap in time along a timeline, or to remove unwanted time, as specified by the “Insert/Delete” option.
Time
The amount of time to insert or delete. When deleting, the specified amount will be deleted starting from the current timeline position and forward.
CAUTION: When deleting time, any cues or tween points falling within the deleted time range will be shortened or deleted.
Active Cues
If “Adjust Durations“ is selected, the duration of cues within the range of insertion or deletion will be adjusted accordingly. Deselect to only move the starting point of cues starting later along the timeline.
Tween Points
If “Adjust Positions” is selected, then also move or delete tween points ahead in time within active cues. Deselect to leave tween points where they are.
Timeline Settings
Choosing this command while the Main Timeline Window is active will display the settings associated with the main timeline.
Duration. Determines the length of the timeline, and must always encompass all cues on the timeline. It is extended automatically as more cues are appended.
HINT: Typing a value into the “Time Position” field jumps to that time. This is often more accurate than trying to click a specific time in the time ruler.
Auxiliary Timeline Settings
Choose the “Timeline Settings” command to displays the settings for an active auxiliary timeline window.
Name. The name of the auxiliary timeline (shown in the Task window).
Time Position. Enter a new value here to jump to specified time position.
Duration. Determines the length of the timeline, and must always encompass all cues on the timeline. It is extended automatically as more cues are appended.
Stacking Order; Task List Order
This is the default stacking order. In this mode, multiple active auxiliary timelines render their images in the order in which they are listed in the Task window. You can change this order by dragging tasks up or down in the Task window, thereby affecting how multiple, active and overlapping auxiliary timelines interact on screen.
Stacking Order; Always on Top
In this mode, the auxiliary timeline will render its images on top of all other auxiliary timelines set to “Task List Order” or “Always on Top” when activated. This is useful, for example, when you have a group of mutually exclusive timelines, where each new timeline started should supersede the previous one.
HINT: You can then use a Control cue to stop the previous auxiliary timeline in the group (see “Control Cue”).
Stacking Order; Above Edge Blend
In this mode, the auxiliary timeline will render its images on top of all other timelines when activated. Furthermore, no edge blend will be applied to its images. This is useful in two specific cases:
- When displaying line-up images. During line-up you want to see the full image all the way out to the edge to make sure that the image fits precisely onto the display chip in the projector.
- When showing a live video image on a display partially intersecting other displays that are lacking capture cards for this live video input. Putting this live video image on an auxiliary timeline set to render above the edge blend avoids the feathered edge that would otherwise be applied to the intersecting areas.
Restrict Rendering to Stage Tiers
If selected, the timeline will be restricted to rendering onto selected stage tiers (see “Using Stage Tiers for Complex Display Arrangements”). This is similar to the corresponding setting for a timeline layer (see “Stage Tiers”), but affects the entire timeline.
IMPORTANT: Tier restrictions are cumulative in that a composition or timeline layer can only restrict rendering further. It can not remove any restrictions applied at a higher level.
Composition Settings
To displays its settings, choose “Timeline Settings” while a composition’s timeline window is active.
Name. The name of the composition (shown in the Media window).
Time Position. Enter a new value here to jump to specified time position.
Duration. Determines the length of the composition timeline. Set this to exactly match the active part of the timeline if you want to loop the composition, since the end of the composition determines the looping point (see “Looping”).
Lock Duration
When selected, the composition’s duration will not be automatically extended. This option is useful for compositions designed to be looped. Often such a loop is designed with a particular cycle time in mind, set as the duration of the composition. In this case, check this option to avoid having the duration extended accidentally as cues are added or edited.
Reference Frame
By default, the reference frame is set to enclose all displays on the current stage tier when the composition is created. You can set the reference frame to any size you want, but it is generally a good idea to make it about the same size as its content. This frame is displayed as a gray rectangle in the Stage window while the composition’s timeline window is active. Furthermore, it is used to select and manipulate the composition as a whole when used as a media item on other timelines.
NOTE: The reference frame doesn’t constrain or clip the content of the composition. Images may extend outside the reference frame if desired.
Restrict Rendering to Stage Tiers
If selected, the timeline will be restricted to rendering onto selected stage tiers (see “Using Stage Tiers for Complex Display Arrangements”). This is similar to the corresponding setting for a timeline layer (see “Stage Tiers”), but affects the entire timeline.
IMPORTANT: Tier restrictions are cumulative in that a composition or timeline layer can only restrict rendering further. It can not remove any restrictions applied at a higher level.
