NLA Editor
Non-Linear Animation editor for blending, layering, and combining animation actions.
Animation
No shortcutAdvanced14 min readQuick Reference
NLA Editor
BlenderKeyboard Shortcut
N/A
Toolbar Location
Blender 3D Viewport toolbar
Best Used For
- ▸Refer to the tutorial content for specific use cases
- ▸Practice with sample projects to build experience
- ▸Combine with other tools for advanced workflows
Advanced⏱ 1–2 hours to master
Key Settings
Add track:Add action:Blend:Edit:
The NLA Editor (Non-Linear Animation) lets you blend and layer multiple animation actions. It is essential for combining walk cycles with idle animations, or layering upper-body actions over lower-body movement.
Where to Find It
Select NLA Editor from the Editor Type dropdown, or use the Animation workspace.
How to Use
- Add track: Click Add Track to create a new NLA track for an object.
- Add action: Drag an action from the Action Editor onto a track.
- Blend: Adjust blending settings between stacked actions for smooth transitions.
- Edit: Tab into an action strip to edit it in the Graph Editor.
Pro Tips
- Use NLA for combining a walk cycle with a wave animation — layer them on separate tracks.
- Enable Auto-Blend for automatic blending between adjacent animation strips.