Sequence band
The Sequence band is a set of tracks in the Animation panel that control which camera, environment preset, and layer configuration is active at each point in time. It is on by default.
What the Sequence band is
The Sequence band appears above the channel rows in the Animation panel. Tracks appear only once they have content. Each track has a + button to add content.
| Track | Controls |
|---|---|
| CAM | Which camera is active at each frame |
| ENV | Which saved environment preset is active at each frame |
| LAYER | Which saved layer configuration is active at each frame |
Each track holds a timeline of blocks. A block is a contiguous span during which a particular camera, environment, or layer is active. At the boundary between two adjacent blocks you can place a transition that blends between them.
A summary rung at the top of the band can collapse it to a one-line view.
The Sequence band works with the per-comp starting state. Each composition sets a starting camera, environment, and layer (see Compositions) that takes effect before any track cut overrides it.
Adding cuts
Open the Sequence menu in the Animation panel's filter row (or from the More controls menu when the panel is narrow) and choose a cut type:
- Camera cut at playhead — places a cut in the CAM track at the current frame.
- Environment cut at playhead — places a cut in the ENV track.
- Layer cut at playhead — places a cut in the LAYER track.
Each cut item shows a submenu of targets. A cut requires a destination:
- Camera cut: With no cameras, the message reads "No cameras yet — save the Free Cam in the Camera panel, then add a second." With one camera (need two): "Add a second camera — a cut needs somewhere to cut to."
- Environment cut: With no saved environment presets: "Save a second environment preset — a cut needs somewhere to cut to."
- Layer cut: With no layers: "No Layers — make one in the Layers panel."
The Sequence menu also holds Group selected rows (Ctrl+G, with the Animation panel focused) and Ungroup (Ctrl+Shift+G) when Animation folders are enabled.
Editing a block
Right-click a block in the sequence band:
| Entry | Effect |
|---|---|
| Set camera / Set environment / Set Layer | Changes what this block uses |
| Split at playhead | Divides the block at the current frame; the playhead must be strictly inside the block |
| Delete block | Removes this block; the first block cannot be deleted |
| Transition to next ▸ | Opens the transition type menu for the cut at this block's end; disabled on the last block |
Warning: Double-clicking a block (except the first block) converts the cut at its leading edge to a Dissolve transition. Press Ctrl+Z immediately to undo if that was not your intention. To open a transition's popover, double-click the transition lozenge (not the block itself).
Move a cut
- Hover over the boundary between two blocks in the CAM, ENV or LAYER track. A pin appears over the cut.
- Drag the pin horizontally to move the cut, or drag the boundary line itself. Dragging the block body only selects the block.
- Release at the required frame. The two adjacent blocks update their shared boundary. The cut cannot pass a neighbouring cut; hold Ctrl during the drag to bypass snapping.
- Use Ctrl+Z to undo the move if needed.
For an exact destination, place the playhead at the desired frame and use Edit cut… (move to playhead) from the cut's menu.
A click on the pin without dragging opens the existing transition, or requests a Dissolve where there is only a cut. Use a deliberate horizontal drag when your intention is to move the cut.
Transitions
At the boundary between two blocks you can place a transition that blends between the outgoing and incoming states.
Adding a transition: Double-click a block (except the first) to convert its leading cut to a Dissolve, or right-click a block and choose Transition to next ▸ (type).
Transition types by track
Available types depend on the track:
CAM track:
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Cut | Instantaneous switch — the default; no transition object |
| Dissolve | Cross-fade between outgoing and incoming cameras |
| Dip to colour | Transition through a solid colour |
| Hold | Holds the outgoing state, then snaps to incoming |
| Camera move | Smooth camera motion from the outgoing to the incoming position |
| Image transition | Uses an image-effect layer |
ENV track:
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Cut | Instantaneous switch |
| Env dissolve | Dissolves between two environment presets |
| Dip to colour | Transition through a solid colour |
| Image transition | Uses an image-effect layer |
LAYER track:
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Cut | Instantaneous switch |
| Material fade | Cross-fades materials |
| Dip to colour | Transition through a solid colour |
| Hold | Holds the outgoing state, then snaps to incoming |
Notes: Whip pan and Zoom have no menu entry and cannot be created from the UI. Effect fade comes from a Motion Stack slot's Fade in/out, not from the transition menu.
Editing a transition
Double-click the transition lozenge to open its popover. The band's right-click menu (and the Sequence button) provide:
| Entry | Effect |
|---|---|
| Add transition here ▸ | Convert the cut at this point to a transition |
| Type ▸ | Change the transition type |
| Duration… (edit transition) | Set the transition length in frames |
| Alignment ▸ | Centred on the cut / Starts at the cut / Ends at the cut |
| Easing… | Open the ease picker for the transition's progress curve |
| Reverse | Swap the direction of the transition |
| Delete transition | Remove the transition; the cut marker remains |
| Edit cut… (move to playhead) | Move the cut to the playhead |
"Custom" alignment is a dragged state, not a menu choice.
Inside the popover:
| Entry | Available when |
|---|---|
| Image effect | Image transition type only |
| Use easing preset | Any transition with easing |