---
title: "Key Properties"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/CKDATA-ID_CKEY_PROPERTIES.html"
section_path: "Animate > Timeline > Menu > Create > Add Property Tracks > Value Key > Key Properties"
element_id: "CKDATA"
group_id: "ID_CKEY_PROPERTIES"
description: "The key properties available here belong to special, animated elements (e.g., several color gradient settings such as knot interpolation)."
---

## Key Properties

The key properties available here belong to special, animated elements (e.g., several color gradient settings such as knot interpolation).

### Key Time

Parameter ID: `ID_CKEY_TIME`

The key is shown in this frame of the animation.

### Lock Time

Parameter ID: `ID_CKEY_LOCK_T`

This option fixes the key at the current time and thus protects it against unintentional movement, for example.

### Breakdown Color

Parameter ID: `ID_CKEY_BREAKDOWNCOLOR`

See [Breakdown Color](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/CKVALUE-ID_VKEY_PROPERTIES.html.md).

### Interpolation

Parameter ID: `ID_DKEY_INTER`

See [Type](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/CKVALUE-ID_VKEY_PROPERTIES.html.md).

### Mute

Parameter ID: `ID_CKEY_MUTE`

This mutes the key, which means that none of the stored values of these keys are evaluated in the time intervals between these muted keys. Instead, the values of the neighboring keys that are not **muted** continue to be evaluated. The effect is therefore as if the muted keys were not there at all. This can be used, for example, to temporarily deactivate the secondary movements of an animation in order to concentrate on the key poses of the remaining active keys and, for example, to be able to fundamentally examine their timing.

### Breakdown

Parameter ID: `ID_CKEY_BREAKDOWN`

See [Breakdown](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/CKVALUE-ID_VKEY_PROPERTIES.html.md).

### Other Parameters

Here you will occasionally find different settings listed (e.g., for an animated color gradient) that correspond to the respective animated elements.