Graph editor

The graph editor shows the animation's bone channels as curves of value over time, with draggable keys and Bézier handles. Use it to shape easing precisely, fix pops and see the rhythm of a motion. Switch to it with Graph at the right of the timeline controls.

#What it shows

A curve per keyed bone channel of the selected bones (all keyed bones when none is selected): rotate, and the X and Y parts of translate, scale and shear.
Keys are dots on the curves; the selected key shows its Bézier handles.
The channel list on the left: click a channel to hide or show its curve.

#Navigating

To	Do
Zoom the values	Mouse wheel over the graph.
Pan the values	`Shift`+wheel.
Zoom time	`Ctrl`+wheel, around the cursor.
Pan time	`Alt`+wheel.
Fit everything	Double-click.
Move the time cursor	Click or drag in the ruler.

The time range is the whole animation until you zoom or pan it.

#Editing curves

To	Do
Select a key	Click it. `Ctrl`+click adds to the selection.
Move keys	Drag them: left and right changes time, up and down changes value. Hold `Shift` to move along one axis only.
Shape the curve	Drag a key's Bézier handles. The opposite handle mirrors the slope, so the motion stays smooth through the key.
Break the handles	Hold `Alt` while dragging a handle to move it on its own, for a sharp change of direction (a bounce, a hit).
Set a preset curve	Right-click: Linear, Ease in-out, Ease in, Ease out, Stepped.

Curves are stored per segment as a cubic Bézier between two keys (as in CSS cubic-bezier()), which is what the skeleton formats and runtimes use, so what you see is what games play.

#Reading curves

Shape	Means
Flat	The value holds.
Steep	Fast change.
S-shape	Ease in and out: slow, fast, slow.
Sharp corner	An abrupt change of direction: intentional for impacts, a pop otherwise.
Overshoot past the next key's value	The motion goes past and comes back: good for settling, a bug if unintended.

Tip

Fix a "floaty" motion by making the curve steeper in the middle, and a "mechanical" one by easing into and out of the keys.