Bake Keyframes
Bake procedural values to keyframes on the downstream parameter.
What it does
Bake Keyframes sits inline between a procedural source, such as an Oscillate node or an Expression, and the parameter being driven. Triggering it steps through a frame range, samples the upstream value at each frame, and writes the results back as real keyframes on the downstream parameter. The write target is read from the node's own output connection, so there is no separate target field.
The passthrough output keeps the value flowing live during setup, so the procedural result is previewable before it is committed to keyframes.
When to use it
Hand-editing a procedural motion (noise, oscillation, an Expression-driven value) after the fact.
Simplifying a busy animated curve down to fewer keyframes.
Locking in a result so it no longer depends on the upstream network, or so the procedural source can be deleted.
Merging a baked pass into existing keyframes rather than overwriting them.
| Parameter | Type | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
input | Any | — | Value to bake — connect a procedural source (e.g., Oscillate) |
write_mode | String | "Replace" | How to combine with existing keyframes: Replace, Merge, or Punch. One of: Replace, Merge, Punch. |
handle_type | String | "Auto Clamped" | Handle type for created keyframes: Auto, Auto Clamped, or Linear. One of: Auto, Auto Clamped, Linear. |
reduce | Boolean | false | Enable curve simplification to reduce keyframe count |
reduce_tolerance | Number | 0.010 | Simplification tolerance (lower = more keyframes, higher = smoother) |
start_frame | Number | 0 | First frame of the bake range |
end_frame | Number | 100 | Last frame of the bake range |
bake | Boolean | false | Bake keyframes from the input value |
Gotchas
Only the frames between Start Frame and End Frame are sampled. If the source animation runs longer than the range, the tail is silently left un-baked. Widen the range first.
Write Mode decides what happens to keyframes already on the target. Replace clears the range first, Merge blends the new samples in alongside existing ones, and Punch overwrites only where new samples land.
Bake is a trigger, not a live setting. Nothing is written until you press it.
Turn on Reduce for a keyframe-dense source such as raw noise or a fast oscillator. Lower Reduce Tolerance keeps more keyframes and hugs the original curve closely; raise it for a sparser, smoother result.
Worked example
Wire a procedural source (e.g. Oscillate) into Input.
Connect Output to the parameter you want to animate.
Set Start Frame and End Frame to cover the range you want baked.
Optionally enable Reduce and dial in Reduce Tolerance to cut down keyframe count.
Press Bake. The sampled values are written as keyframes on the downstream parameter using the chosen Write Mode and Handle Type.