Keying Sets

The Active Keying Sets data ID in the Timeline.

Keying Sets are a collection of properties. They are used to record multiple properties at the same time.

Now when you press I in the 3D Viewport, Blender will add keyframes for all the properties in the active keying set.

There are some built-in Keying Sets and, also custom Keying Sets called Absolute Keying Sets.

To select and use a Keying Set, set the Active Keying Set in the Keying popover in the Timeline Header, or the Keying Set panel, or press Shift-Ctrl-Alt-I in the 3D Viewport.

Keying Set Panel

Reference

Editor

Properties editor

Panel

Scene ‣ Keying Set

This panel is used to add, select, manage Absolute Keying Sets.

The Keying Set panel.

Active Keying Set

The List View of Keying Sets in the active Scene.

Add +

Adds an empty Keying Set.

Properties

Description

A short description of the keying set.

Export to File

Export Keying Set to a Python script File.py. To re-add the keying set from the File.py, open then run the File.py from the Text Editor.

Keyframing Settings (General Override)

These options control all properties in the Keying Set. Note that the same settings in Preferences override these settings if enabled.

Only Needed

Only insert keyframes where they are needed in the relevant F-curves.

Visual Keying

Insert keyframes based on the visual transformation.

XYZ to RGB

For new F-curves, set the colors to RGB for the property set, Location XYZ for example.

Active Keying Set Panel

Reference

Editor

Properties editor

Panel

Scene ‣ Active Keying Set

This panel is used to add properties to the active Keying Set.

The Active Keying Set panel.

Active Keying Set Paths

A collection of paths in a List View each with a Data Path to a property to add to the active Keying Set.

Add +

Adds an empty path.

Properties

Target

ID-Block

Set the ID Type and the Object IDs Data Path for the property.

Data Path

Set the rest of the Data Path for the property.

Array All Items

Use All Items from the Data Path or select the array index for a specific property.

F-Curve Grouping

This controls what group to add the channels to.

Keying Set Name, None, Named Group

Keyframing Settings (Active Set Override)

These options control individual properties in the Keying Set.

Only Needed

Only insert keyframes where they are needed in the relevant F-curves.

Visual Keying

Insert keyframes based on the visual transformation.

XYZ to RGB

For new F-curves, set the colors to RGB for the property set, Location XYZ for example.

Adding Properties

Reference

Menu

Context menu ‣ Add All/Single to Keying Set

Hotkey

K

Some ways to add properties to keying sets.

RMB the property in the User Interface, then select Add Single to Keying Set or Add All to Keying Set. This will add the properties to the active keying set, or to a new keying set if none exist.

Hover the mouse over the properties, then press K, to add Add All to Keying Set.

Whole Character Keying Set

The built-in Whole Character keying set is made to keyframe all properties that are likely to get animated in a character rig. It is also implicitly used by the Pose Library system.

In order to determine which bones to add keys for, and which bones to skip, the keying set uses the bone names. The following bone name prefixes will be skipped:

“COR”, “DEF”, “GEO”, “MCH”, “ORG”, “VIS”