Play an animated sequence
Play, pause and go through the steps of an animated sequence in a 3D model.
Some 3D models come with an animated sequence: a volcano that erupts, a machine that puts itself together, a plate that drifts. The sequence is cut into steps, each with its own name, and a bar plays it like a video.
The sequence waits, paused, until it is played. Some 3D models start it by themselves.
Where the bar is
| Device | Place of the bar |
|---|---|
| iPhone | Above the cards |
| iPad, web | At the bottom of the screen, over the scene |
| Apple Vision Pro | Under the dock |
Under the title of the 3D model, a line names the step under way.
Play, pause, change step
| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| Previous step | Goes back to the start of the step under way, or to the step before when the sequence is less than a second into it. |
| Play | Plays the sequence. While it plays, the button becomes Pause. At the end, it becomes Replay. |
| Next step | Goes to the start of the next step. |
The track
The track shows one segment per step, as wide as the step is long. The segment of the step under way fills up as it plays.
Tap the track to jump to that moment.
Drag along the track to move through the sequence, forward or back.
With a mouse, a bubble over the track shows the step and the time. The bubble also follows a drag.
The sounds and effects of a sequence only come when it plays forward, never while dragging the track or going back.
Options
The … button at the end of the bar opens the sequence options.
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | From 0.25× to 2×. |
| Loop | Starts the sequence again at the end. |
| Step by step | Pauses at the end of each step. Play goes on with the next one. |
| Steps | Lists the steps, with the time each one starts. Choosing one goes there. |
A 3D model can leave out some of these options, or show only a small capsule with the play button and the time.
Several sequences
A 3D model can hold several sequences. A Sequences capsule above the bar then picks the one to play.
Changing sequence starts it from the beginning. The Guide goes to the card of the step under way.
Cards that play their step
A card of the Guide can go with a step of the sequence. When the card comes up, the sequence plays that step, then pauses at its end. The other segments of the track dim.
A card can also bring its own sequence into the bar, for as long as the card stays on screen.
Dragging the track into another step takes the Guide to the card of that step, once the drag ends. A tap on the track and the step buttons leave the Guide where it is.
With a keyboard
| To | Mac, iPad, iPhone | Windows, Chromebook |
|---|---|---|
| Play or pause | K | K |
| Previous step, next step | J or L | J or L |
| Fine step back, forward | ⇧ + J or ⇧ + L | Shift + J or Shift + L |
The fine step moves by a tenth of a second, unless the 3D model sets another one, and pauses the sequence. Space stays with the Guide.
In the player's settings, the Single-key shortcuts switch turns off K, J and L, with or without ⇧ (Shift).
Every key of the player: Keyboard shortcuts.
VoiceOver and Reduce Motion
VoiceOver reads the track as Sequence progress, then the time out of the total length and the step under way. Swiping up or down goes to the next or the previous step.
With Reduce Motion on, a sequence never starts by itself, and the changes of scene become short fades.
In a shared session
The host plays the sequence for everyone, and every screen follows. A guest who joins late lands at the right moment.
On the guests' screens, the bar is dimmed and cannot be used. It says: "The host plays the sequence for everyone."
Next: Take the quiz.