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Exporter Guide

Animation Export

Use the Export Animation controls to decide whether the exporter writes scene keys, sampled motion, or Time Editor clips.

Open Exporter Overview Install the Plug-in View Supported Features

  • None

    No animation output. Best for static look-dev exports.

  • Scene Keys

    Uses authored scene curves. Good for final keyed animation and usually produces smaller files.

  • Sampled

    Samples the final motion over the timeline. Safer for rigs, constraints, and complex setups.

  • Time Editor Clips

    Exports clip structure directly from Maya Time Editor. Best choice for importer round-trip workflows.

Scene Keys

  • Use the keys already on your objects
  • Usually gives smaller files than Sampled
  • Best when your objects already have the animation you want to export

Sampled

  • Captures the final motion over the timeline
  • Useful for rigs, constraints, or more complex setups
  • Usually gives larger files than Scene Keys

Time Editor Clips

  • Export clips directly from Maya Time Editor
  • Best choice for importer-to-exporter round-trip workflows when the importer created clip structure for you
  • The exporter performs clip isolation and sampling so each clip is written as its own glTF animation
  • When visibility animation is present, the exporter emits KHR_node_visibility and uses KHR_animation_pointer to target the /nodes/{i}/extensions/KHR_node_visibility/visible pointer path. Light intensity animation is also written via KHR_animation_pointer targeting KHR_lights_punctual. These are the only two pointer paths currently emitted - general-purpose attribute targeting through KHR_animation_pointer is not supported.
  • Turn off Export Animation when you want to export without animation.
  • Use Time Editor Clips to preserve imported clip organization.
  • Use Sampled when you want the final motion from the timeline.
  • Use Scene Keys when your objects already contain the keys you want to export.