Clock Time Modifier
Updated: 14 Aug 2025
Converts the system time as a modifier.
Clock Time Modifier
Method #
This node converts the system time of the current machine and outputs it as a modifier. Useful for making rotational or digital clocks which update based on current time.
Use the Value Mode property to choose which part of the time you want to extract.
In some cases, [Clock Time To Text][(/docs/reference/nodes/text-fx/clock-time-to-text/) node may also be useful.
Parameters
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
Parameter Details Time Mode
Choose which time is used for the modifier.
- System Clock Time : Time is based on the system clock of the PC used.
- User Set Time : A time set by the user.
- Looping Set User Time : The same as Set User Time, but is looped back to User Time once the layer ends.
Value Mode
Choose how the value of the time is output.
- Seconds As Rotation : Seconds are output as radian values.
- Minutes As Rotation : Minutes are output as radian values.
- Hours As Rotation : Hours are output as radian values, following a 12 hour clock.
- Seconds As Value : Seconds are output as their numerical value.
- Minutes As Value : Minutes are output as their numerical value.
- Hours As 12-Hour Value : Hours are output as a numerical value.
- Hours As 24-Hour Value : Hours are output as a numerical value.
Scale
Scale the output modifier.
Operation
What operation is done to the modified attribute.
- Add : adds the current value to where its input.
- Subtract : subtracts the current value to where its input.
- Multiply : multiplies the current value to where its input.
- Replace : replace the value where its input by the current value.
User Time
Choose when the user time starts.
User End Time
Choose when the user time ends.
User Date
Change the date for the User Time.
The properties control the time at which the node is active. See Timeline for editing time segments.
Parameter Details Duration
Control the duration of the node’s time segment.
- Composition Duration : Use the length of the composition for the node’s time segment duration.
- Custom : Set a custom duration for the node’s time segment.
Node Time
The custom start and end time for the node.
Duration (Timecode)
The length of the node’s time segment (in time).
Duration (Frames)
The length of the node’s time segment (in frames).
Time Segment Enabled
Set whether the node’s time segment is enabled or not in the Timeline.
Inputs
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Time Mode |
Choose which time is used for the modifier.
|
| Value Mode |
Choose how the value of the time is output.
|
| Scale | Scale the output modifier. |
| Operation |
What operation is done to the modified attribute.
|
| User Time | Choose when the user time starts. |
| User End Time | Choose when the user time ends. |
| User Date | Change the date for the User Time. |
The properties control the time at which the node is active. See Timeline for editing time segments.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration |
Control the duration of the node’s time segment.
|
| Node Time | The custom start and end time for the node. |
| Duration (Timecode) | The length of the node’s time segment (in time). |
| Duration (Frames) | The length of the node’s time segment (in frames). |
| Time Segment Enabled | Set whether the node’s time segment is enabled or not in the Timeline. |
There are no inputs for this node.