User Manual

Types of Motion Paths
There are three types of motion paths: Polyline paths, XY paths, and 3D motion paths
for 3D scenes.
 A Polyline path is generated by applying the path modifier. It uses two splines to define
the path; one for the shape of the path displayed in the viewer, and a Displacement
spline for the speed of the object along the path, displayed in the Spline Editor.
The Polyline path is the default type of path modifier, and most documentation in this
chapter assumes that this type is used.
 The XY path modifier employs a spline for the X position of the point and another
for the Y position. The XY path modifier is explained in detail later in this chapter.
 3D motion paths pertain only to positional controls within 3D scenes.
Polyline Path
Polyline paths are the easiest motion paths to work with. You can use the spline shape in the
viewer to control the shape of the path, while a single Displacement curve in the Spline Editor is
used to control the acceleration along the path. The most obvious way to create a Polyline
motion path is by keyframing the Center X/Y parameter of a Transform node in the Inspector.
To create a Polyline motion path using the Center X/Y parameter in the Inspector:
1 Position the playhead on the frame where the motion will begin.
2 In the Inspector, click the gray Keyframe button to the right of the Center X and Y
parameters.
This action applies the path modifier in the Modifiers tab in the Inspector.
3 Adjust the Center X and Y for the first keyframe position.
4 Position the playhead on the frame where the motion should change or stop.
5 In the Inspector, change the Center X and Y parameters to set a keyframe for the new
location automatically.
6 In the viewer, modify and refine the motion path by selecting a control point and using
any of the spline controls in the viewer toolbar.
7 Open the Spline Editor and adjust the Displacement spline to control the speed of the
object along the path.
Keyframing Center X/Y is not the only way to apply the path modifier. An alternative method is
to apply the path modifier to the Center X/Y parameter either in the Inspector or using the
coordinate control in the viewer.
To apply a Polyline path to the Center X/Y parameter:
1 Position the playhead on the frame where the motion will begin.
2 Position the center coordinate control for the object, or effect, at its starting position.
3 Right-click the onscreen center coordinate control in the viewer (or over the Center
X and Y parameter in the Inspector), and choose Path from the contextual menu for
that control.
Chapter – 62 Animating with Motion Paths 1246