# Editing Functions in the Function Editor

When you animate changes to the properties of an element over time, you create a function. A function maps the values of an effect over time.

The Function Editor uses plotlines (graphs) to represent changes to properties over time. With the Function Editor, you can edit the values of each function (rotation, horizontal and vertical scale, skew, velocity, field-of-view, motion path and pivot path).

- Along the x-axis (horizontal axis) are the frame numbers.
- Along the y-axis (vertical axis) are the values for the effect you are editing.

When you edit the function for rotation, skew, scale and field-of-view, the shape of the Function Editor represents the velocity of the effect.

When you edit the function of a motion or pivot point path, you map the motion of a peg in a 3-dimensional space or a pivot point in 2-dimensional space, one dimension at a time. When you are working with these two functions, you must select the dimension you want to work on.

For example, let's say that you want your character to jump up and down in place. It would be difficult to create a jumping motion path in the Camera View window because the path would repeat on top of itself. To create a jumping motion, it would be easier to edit the motion path of the peg using the Function Editor.

See Also
Adding Keyframes and Changing their Value
Reshaping the Plotline in the Function Editor
Changing Your View of the Function Editor