The process of animating one or more objects moving along a defined three-dimensional path through the scene is known as path animation. The path is called a motion path, and is quite different from a motion trail, which is used to edit animations. Path animations can be created in two ways:
- Create a path with a curve tool or identify an existing path, and attach the object to the path.
- Move the object through a series of locations in the scene, creating a path through these locations.
The animated object by default maintains a consistent orientation to the path along the full length of the path. After creating the basic path animation, you can refine it in various ways, as follows:
- Reshape the path.
- Change the orientation of the object to the path along the whole path, or in specific parts of the path.
- Animate the object so that it deforms (bends) around curves in the path.
- Change the object's speed of movement along the whole path, or in specific parts of the path.