# F14 — Timeline · Animation

> SkinLayer Studio **1.3.x Standalone** UI reference.  
> Practice: EP00–EP12 · Features: **F01–F17** (order 50+).

> Check poses with the bottom **time slider**, and  
> quickly save/load test animations with **Save / Load Animation**.

---

## How to use it for skinning tests

After painting weights, you do not need to re-pose in DCC every time:

1. Prepare a test anim once in DCC → cache with **Pick-only Ani**  
   or **Load** directly from **Templates** / **My Animations**
2. Scrub · play on the timeline to check deformation
3. Save frequently used test anims with **Save Animation** into the **internal library** for reuse

| Store | Use |
|-------|-----|
| **My Animations** | Test anims you saved (user library) |
| **Templates** | Product-bundled templates (e.g. Body Pose Test) — **load immediately for skinning checks** |

---

## Timeline bar (bottom of screen)

![Timeline · : menu](anim_timeline_menu.png)

Layout zone **#10**. → [UI layout](/guide/skin-layer-studio/ui-layout-overview?lang=en)

| UI | Description |
|----|-------------|
| **⬇ Pick-only Ani** | Bake **bone animation only** from DCC into cache (does not touch mesh · weights · bind) |
| **▶ / ■** | Play / stop cached anim |
| Cache label | e.g. `Set fit at 30fps` / `No Cache` — bake · load status |
| Ruler · frame numbers | Scrub · current frame |
| **S / E** (or range) | Animation start · end frames |
| **:** menu | Set SLS to DCC · Load / Save / Clear Animation |

File menu also has **Load Animation...** / **Clear Animation**.

### : menu

| Menu | Description |
|------|-------------|
| **↑ Set SLS to DCC** | Match SLS current frame · range to DCC |
| **Load Animation...** | Open Animation Library |
| **Save Animation...** | Save current cache to **My Animations** |
| **Clear Animation** | Clear cache |

---

## Save Animation — store a test anim internally

With a cache present, **Save Animation...**

![Save Animation — List](anim_save_dialog_list.png)

![Save Animation — Hierarchy + Bone Set](anim_save_dialog_hierarchy.png)

| UI | Description |
|----|-------------|
| **Animation Name** | Save name (e.g. `walk_cycle`, `pose_test_arm`) |
| **List / Hierarchy** | How the bone list is shown |
| **Bone Set** | Preset (e.g. **Skin Standard (Body)**) — save only selected regions |
| **Save Set...** | Save current selection as a bone set |
| **Search** | Bone name filter (`*` wildcard) |
| **Select All** / checks | Bones to include |
| Bottom | `N / M bones selected` · bones not in Skin are skipped |

**Save** → stored in the user anim library (**My Animations**).  
Next time, Load alone reuses the same test motion.

---

## Load Animation — templates / your anims

**Load Animation...** → Animation Library

![Animation Library — Templates](anim_library_templates.png)

| UI | Description |
|----|-------------|
| **My Animations** | Test anims you Saved |
| **Templates** | Bundled templates (pose/clips for skinning checks) |
| Thumbnail list | Select then **Load** (double-click also works) |
| **Open User Data** | Open the user anim folder in Explorer |

Pick something like `Body_Pose_Test…` under **Templates** to  
**load a skinning-test motion immediately** without making a custom anim.

If axis settings differ from the saved clip, you may see an Axis Mismatch warning — check before Load (distortion possible).

---

## Recommended flow (fast skinning test)

```
A) Test immediately with a template
   Load Animation → Templates → pick item → Load
   → scrub timeline / ▶ play → check · fix weights

B) Reuse your own test anim
   DCC anim → Pick-only Ani (cache)
   → Save Animation (name · Bone Set)
   → later Load → My Animations again

C) Match frames with DCC
   : → Set SLS to DCC
```

---

## Related docs

| Doc | Contents |
|-----|----------|
| [UI layout guide](/guide/skin-layer-studio/ui-layout-overview?lang=en) | Timeline #10 |
| [Hierarchy — Pick-only Bones](/guide/skin-layer-studio/ui-hierarchy?lang=en) | Refresh bone transforms only (different family from anim) |
| [Tools panel — Scene](/guide/skin-layer-studio/ui-tools?lang=en) | Viewport display |

---

*Images: `anim_timeline_menu.png` · `anim_save_dialog_list.png` · `anim_save_dialog_hierarchy.png` · `anim_library_templates.png`*  
*Written: 2026-07-26*