Certified Animation Professional (CAP) Practice Test

Key frames are created in which of the following intervals?

1. Centimeters

2. Inches

3. Minutes

4. Seconds

The correct answer is: Seconds

Key frames are crucial in animation as they define specific points in time at which a particular change occurs in the animation. This timing is generally measured in seconds because the animation's flow and pacing are based on how long a scene or action takes to unfold. When animators set key frames, they are essentially determining when certain movements or transformations occur within a defined time, usually represented as frames per second (FPS). A common standard in animation is 24 frames per second, meaning that changes are often made at intervals of seconds—each second includes multiple frames. The other options, such as centimeters and inches, refer to measurements of distance and are not relevant in the context of timing or duration in animation. Minutes may also be considered, but they are too large of a time frame for the precise adjustments typically represented by key frames. Therefore, seconds provide the correct measurement for the intervals at which key frames are created during the animation process.