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3D animation consists of varying properties of a 3 dimensional scene defined in numerical quantities. A 3D model can change properties such as position, rotation, shape and surface style. An animated 3D scene is defined by the change of these numerical properties through time. Apart from 3D objects, a scene contains a camera (point of view) and lights which can also be animated. In order to create an animation each "state" of the 3D scene needs to be rendered to create a frame. The playback of these individual renderings at a certain rate (24, 25 30 frames per second) creates the illusion of animation. As all properties are defined numerically, one can take advantage of various processes for automating the process of generating different "states" for each frame. A central notion to animation is the use of "key frames"; with its origin in classic (paper-based) animation; keyframes allow for the definition of the main "states" in a particular movement or action while the continuity between these states is generated. In classic animation these in-between frames would be drawn by "junior" animators. In 3D animation and other forms of computer animation, these frames are generated by interpolating between the numerical values that are defined in any two consecutive keyframes. Typically, in 3D animation this interpolation takes the form of 3 dimensional Bézier curves (paths) which are constructed as a series of control points, allowing for the interactive manipulation of smooth 3D curves.