Editing Key frame (section)

{{Short description|Drawing that defines the starting and ending points of any smooth transition}}
{{For|key frames in video compression|I-frame|Video compression picture types}}
{{refimprove|date=February 2025}}

In [[animation]] and [[filmmaking]], a '''key frame''' (or '''keyframe''') is a drawing or shot that defines the starting and ending points of a [[Inbetweening|smooth transition]]. These are called ''frames'' because their position in time is measured in [[Film frame|frame]]s on a strip of [[film]] or on a [[digital video editing]] timeline. A sequence of key frames defines which movement the viewer will see, whereas the position of the key frames on the film, video, or animation defines the [[Comic timing|timing]] of the movement. Because only two or three key frames over the span of a second do not create the illusion of movement, the remaining frames are filled with "[[Inbetweening|inbetweens]]".<ref>{{cite book |last=Webster |first=Chris |date=2005 |title=Animation: The Mechanics of Motion |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EgpLtpZDGCYC |publisher=[[Focal Press]] |page=23-32 |isbn=9780240516660 |access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref>