In a time history animation ABAQUS/CAE creates the images in the sequence by redrawing the deformed shape, contour, symbol, or material orientation plot for every specified frame found in the output database for the active steps and frames. Each image in a time history animation displays actual analysis results. The deformation scale factor remains constant for each image in a time history animation. Result frames can be drawn sequentially or selected from the active frames based on time intervals.

If you are animating a contour plot, the display of the field output values depends on options you select. The default behavior is for the values within the legend to be fixed based on the minimum and maximum values for the first and last animation frame. To learn how to set contour limits, see “Setting contour limits,” Section 26.4.7.