Software Engineering vocabulary · Architecture, Design Patterns and Graphics

Keyframe

Meaning in software engineering, with examples

/ˈkiːfreɪm/nounCommon term

In software engineering, keyframe means: A frame in an animation where the animator sets an important pose or value; the software then fills in the movement between keyframes automatically.

In Turkish: anahtar kare, keyframe

How it is used

Animators set, add, move and delete keyframes on a timeline. Filling in the frames between them is called interpolation or in-betweening. Keyframe animation is the opposite of motion capture, where movement is recorded from real actors.

Example sentences

  1. Move the contact keyframe two frames earlier so the punch feels faster.

  2. All the creature animations are keyframed by hand; we didn't use motion capture.

Common collocations

  • set a keyframe
  • keyframe animation
  • add a keyframe
  • animation timeline

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Architecture, Design Patterns and Graphics

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: