Animate on twos and threes for a hand-made, stop-motion feel

Smooth motion isn't always the look you want. Hand-drawn animation usually holds each drawing for two frames ("on twos"), and stop-motion or paper cut-outs often hold for three. That little stutter is a big part of why they feel made by hand.

Kubrick can do this to any layer.

How to use it

Select a layer, or several. In the properties panel, open the ⋯ menu on the Animation header and choose Animate on:

• Every frame: smooth, a new pose every frame (the default)
• On twos: each pose holds for 2 frames, like hand-drawn animation
• On threes: each pose holds for 3 frames, choppier, like stop-motion

Once it's set, a chip shows in the Animation section so you can see which layers are stepped.

Everything inside the layer steps together: its keyframes, its effects, and any video or rig it holds. Your timing doesn't change, only how often the picture updates.

Where it works well

• Mix smooth and stepped. Keep the camera move smooth and put the characters or type on twos. The contrast reads as a deliberate style rather than a slow computer.
• Paper and collage. Cut-out shapes on threes look like they're being nudged under a camera.
• Anime effects. Flat lightning, smoke and speed lines look right when they pop between drawings instead of gliding.