What Tangents in the Graph Editor Do You Typically Use-- Clamped, Splined, Linear, or Plateau?

I’ve tried all of the above but have always come back to the trusty old splined. I feel I can control the most with spline and get some little finessing with it as well. Plus, I’m old and don’t like to change too much.

Kidding aside, I do also use plateau for some eases. Not too much because I look at the camera the most and not the graph editor. When I work, I stay in stepped as long as possible. I add a ton of keys through the process and am not as skilled at massaging the curves. When I do look at the GE, as all the hip animators call it, it’s during the polish phase. I do so only when there is something wonky in the camera. If there is a weird hitch or an arc isn’t as smooth as it should be. I’ll go through the keys and occasionally try a different tangent. Linear works on holds and plateau for some slow eases.

So the short answer is: Splined.

Guest Blogger Mike Gasaway