Easing Point Level Animations

How to Add Easing to Point Level Animation in Cinema 4D

Point Level Animation (PLA) in Cinema 4D allows you to animate individual points (vertices) of an object. This makes it incredibly useful for morphing shapes, creating organic deformations, and building custom animated transformations that go beyond standard position, scale, and rotation animation.

However, one common frustration with PLA is that it does not provide traditional interpolation controls like other animation tracks do. In this tutorial, we’ll look at how to solve that limitation using a powerful and flexible tool: the Time Track.

What Is Point Level Animation (PLA)?

Point Level Animation records changes made directly to an object’s points over time. Instead of animating an object’s transforms, you animate its geometry itself.

To create PLA:

1. Convert your object to Editable.
2. Disable Position, Scale, and Rotation recording.
3. Enable the Point Level Animation (PLA) record option.
4. Set a keyframe at frame 0.
5. Move points at a later frame.
6. Set another keyframe.

Cinema 4D now records the vertex positions between those frames. But when you open the Timeline, you’ll notice something missing.

The PLA Interpolation Limitation

Unlike standard animation tracks, PLA tracks do not expose typical interpolation options such as Linear or Spline in the same way Position or Rotation tracks do.

You may see a Bias parameter that allows a basic ease-in or ease-out effect. While helpful, it offers limited control and does not allow full spline-based customization.

If you want precise easing control for your point animation, you need a different approach.

Using a Time Track to Control PLA

The solution is to add a Time Track to your object and use it to drive the PLA animation.

With your object selected:

Create → Add Special Tracks → Time Track

This creates a new Time parameter in your Timeline. By default, the Time Track spans the entire length of your project.

Next, locate your PLA track in the Timeline. You’ll see a Time field available. Drag the newly created Time Track into that field. Now, your PLA animation is being driven by the Time Track instead of playing directly through the timeline.

Adding True Easing to PLA Animation

Once the Time Track is connected, open its curve in the Timeline.

Set its interpolation to Spline. Then right-click the curve and choose:

Auto Tangents → Classic

Now you have full easing control.

• Create smooth ease-ins
• Create smooth ease-outs
• Adjust tangents manually
• Exaggerate acceleration or deceleration
• Fine-tune timing exactly how you want

Your PLA animation now behaves like any other spline-driven animation.

Advanced Timing Control with Time Tracks

Because the animation is being remapped through a Time Track, you gain additional flexibility beyond simple easing.

• Stretch the animation to make it longer
• Compress it to speed it up
• Slow down certain portions
• Create slow motion effects
• Reverse time entirely

By adjusting the curve so that it rises and then falls, you can even reverse the animation from 100% back to 0%. This gives you creative control that would otherwise be impossible directly within the PLA track.

Why Time Tracks Are So Powerful

Time Tracks are not limited to Point Level Animation. They can be used to remap almost any animated parameter in Cinema 4D.

• Add easing where none exists
• Modify timing without changing original keyframes
• Create complex timing effects
• Maintain clean animation data while experimenting freely

Once you understand how Time Tracks work, they become one of the most powerful animation tools available in Cinema 4D.

When to Use This Method

This technique is especially useful when:

• Creating morph animations
• Animating organic deformations
• Building stylized transitions
• Needing smooth ease-in and ease-out motion
• Wanting advanced control over animation timing

Point Level Animation is incredibly powerful, and when combined with Time Tracks, it becomes fully customizable in terms of easing and timing. This small adjustment unlocks much greater creative control over your animations in Cinema 4D.