Datapath Keyframes Add-on

Easily Create Repeating/Looping Animations:

The purpose of this add-on is to reduce the time spent on creating repeating animations. Simple animations can add life to a project, whether they loop in the background or are the main focus. My goal with this add-on is to make the process simple and with few limitations. Datapath Keyframes covers a wide range of data types. If it can be animated, it should be able to be repeated/looped with this add-on.

Multiple Data Types Supported:

• Floats
• Integers
• Booleans
• Percents
• Angles
• Colors
• Enums

Different Repeat Methods:

• Reset: Each set of keyframes moves from min to max.
• Pingpong: Each set of keyframes moves from min to max to min.
• Incremental: Starts with a base value, with each set applying a mathematical operation (add, subtract, multiply, divide) using the ending keyframe of the previous set and the incremental value defined in the panel (clamp min and max, reverse option to move the values between the clamps).

Example Properties:

• Shapekeys
• Material colors
• Geometry node properties
• Modifier properties
• Camera properties
• Light properties
• Any property with a white dot indicating that it can be animated

Example Use Cases (proper rig, modifiers, or shapekeys required):

• Character Breathing: Create a subtle breathing animation for characters.
• Robotics: Animate pistons, conveyors, and other mechanical movements.
• Background Animations: Add life to scenes with looping background elements like moving clouds, water, vehicles, etc.
• Blinking Lights: Animate lights to blink or pulse in a repetitive pattern.
• Door Opening and Closing: Create animations for doors that open and close repeatedly.
• Fan Blades: Animate rotating fan blades or other continuously spinning objects.
• Pendulum Swing: Create a swinging motion for pendulums or other objects.
• Walking or Running Cycles: Animate repetitive leg movements for walking or running characters.
• Water Waves: Simulate repetitive wave movements in water.
• Heartbeat Monitors: Create a pulsing animation for heart monitors or other medical devices.
• Bouncing Balls: Animate balls or other objects that bounce up and down repeatedly.
• Windmills: Animate rotating windmill blades or similar structures.
• Traffic Lights: Create a sequence of changing traffic lights.
• Machine Levers: Animate levers or switches being flipped repeatedly.
• Clock Hands: Create a continuous movement for clock hands or similar mechanisms.

Steps to Use:

1. Paste the full data path to the property you want to animate.
2. Select the type of data the property is from a dropdown in the panel.
3. Set the min value and max value (start and end values).
4. Set the start and end frame for the initial animation.
5. Click the toggle to enable repeat functionality.
6. Set the repeat count and repeat offset.
7. Select the repeat type (reset, pingpong, incremental).
8. Click Create Keyframes.

Since I set this add-on up to work with the python from Blenders UI, it should be fine with any properties that can be animated. Tested and found that it works on cameras, lights, compositing nodes, geometry nodes, rigs, material nodes, particle systems, physics, modifiers, and so on. Additional uses include properties in other add-ons that can be animated, just copy the full data path just the same. If you find any issues or want something handled more efficiently, let me know and I'll get to work on it. Thanks.

- OffTheClock Studios

OffTheClock Studios (artstation.com)

*If using with versions of Blender prior to 4.1, there will be a message indicating that this addon was made for 4.1. This is a Blender courtesy info message. The addon should still install and run just the same.