Animation timing

framechart has two timing controls in the Chart group: Animation Duration (s) and Animation Delay (s). Both default to 0 (Auto). Understanding their interaction is the key to hitting exact timing in a cut.

Animation Duration (s)

0 = Auto — the animation fills the rest of the clip after the delay. The last animated element settles exactly at clip end. This is the recommended default.

Set a value greater than 0 to fix the animation to an exact number of seconds. The chart then holds its final frame for the remainder of the clip.

For race charts (Bar Race, Line Race): Duration is the total seconds the race plays through every time step. Each step gets an equal share of that time. At 0 (Auto) the race fills the clip.

For static charts (Bar, Line, Table): Duration scales all animation blocks (intro, stagger, settle) proportionally so the last element finishes at exactly this many seconds. At 0 (Auto) the blocks play at their preset pace.

Animation Delay (s)

Seconds to hold the initial (pre-animation) frame before the animation begins. Default 0.

Useful when you composite the chart over a background: the delay lets the background settle before the data starts moving. The delay is subtracted from the available time before Duration's Auto fill kicks in — so a 5 s clip with 1 s delay gives 4 s of animation in Auto mode.

Chrome vs data — what Duration controls

framechart splits animation into two independent tracks:

Chrome
Axes, grid lines, title, axis labels. Plays at its own preset pace — not affected by Animation Duration. Chrome intro completes early in the clip so the structural frame is readable before data starts moving.
Data
Bars, lines, value labels, data points, race entity names. Animation Duration controls exactly this track.

In practice: if your cut gives you 8 s for the chart clip and you want bars to settle at exactly 6 s, set Duration to 6 and Delay to 0. The axes fade in at their preset pace (usually 0.5–1 s) and the bars drive to the 6 s mark.

Easing

Available on Bar, Line, and Table. Not available on race charts (each race step has its own implicit easing).

Auto (preset) keeps the per-block easing from the default preset — typically Quart Out for bars (fast start, settle) and Ease Out for lines. Override with a global curve if you need all elements to share one easing. The most useful overrides are Cubic Out (natural deceleration) and Back Out (slight overshoot for a bouncy, energetic feel).

Recipes

Bar chart that fills a 10 s clip
Leave Duration at 0, Delay at 0. Extend your clip to 10 s in the timeline.
Bar chart that settles at 6 s, holds to 10 s
Set Duration = 6. Place a 10 s clip. The bars drive in for 6 s, hold for 4 s.
Race that plays for exactly 30 s
Set Duration = 30 on a Bar Race or Line Race. Clip must be ≥ 30 s.
1 s hold before animation (logo sting)
Set Delay = 1. Bars/lines begin at t=1 in the clip. Use with Duration = 0 to auto-fill the rest.