Relative/absolute keyframes when trimming

Question

Hi,
I'm using some motion templates for titles in FCPX. Sometimes I just want to shorten the title in the timeline. By doing that the animation in the motion/titles template speed up. It does not seem to matter whether I use the trim or the blade tool.
Is there a way to keep absolute keyframes rather than relative one ?
Is there a setting in FCPX or Motion 5 to chose how the keyframes behave when the clip is being trimmed?
Thanks for you feedback.
/Max

Answer 1

To keep keyframes "absolute" for FCPX templates, you need to add a project marker, either Build In, Build Out (or both); or Project Loop End.
To add one of these markers: In Motion, click on the Layers List anywhere NOT on an object (deselect all layers). Move the playhead to the point in the project you want the animation to end and type 'M' to add the marker and command-option-m to pop up the dialog to set the type. (The "Optional" versions will provide a checkbox in FCPX that will allow the user to turn on or off the marker behavior.)
Build In will run the animation from the beginning to the marker and then "hold" if the clip has been lengthened or be truncated if shortened. (Build In markers are typically *past* the last keyframe)
Build Out will run the animation from the marker to the end of the project, "holding" at the beginning if the clip is lengthened and truncating (from the front end) if shortened. (Build Out is typically just before the first keyframe - or the beginning of the project)
You can use Build In and Build Out together, the space (or time) in between the two markers will be "expandable" or expendible (on resizing the clip).
Project Loop End will run the animation, truncating if shortened and looping if lengthened. (Project Loop should always be the best "looping point" in a project -- everything past this marker is **ignored** in FCPX, which is a rather important distinction. Project Loop will not have a specific effect while playing the project in Motion)