Modifying Motion Path in time?

	Modifying Motion Path in time? by Pablo Garcia on Jul 14, 2008 at 1:00:10 pm I'm trying to animate a walking ant linear path that become a curvy path in time. I've tried pasting Mask Path animation into the Position value but it didn't work correctly. Any help? Thanks Respond to this post   •   Return to posts index

	Re: Modifying Motion Path in time? by Dave LaRonde on Jul 14, 2008 at 3:07:36 pm [Pablo Garcia] "I've tried pasting Mask Path animation into the Position value but it didn't work correctly." Please specify HOW it didn't work correctly. Was the path distorted? Did the ant move too quickly or slowly? With more information, we can help you more. Dave LaRonde Sr. Promotion Producer KCRG-TV (ABC) Cedar Rapids, IA Respond to this post   •   Return to posts index

	Re: Modifying Motion Path in time? by Dave LaRonde on Jul 15, 2008 at 5:46:31 pm The additional information helps. You pasted the Mask information into the Position property correctly. However, After Effects has a default condition for the Position keyframes it creates: the motion path is two seconds long, and the keyframes created are Roving Keyframes. Roving keyframes are used to create a constant speed for the moving layer. You can change the Roving keyframes by highlighting all of them, then going Keyframe>Rove Across Time. This will turn the Roving keyframes off, and you can move then as you wish. Dave LaRonde Sr. Promotion Producer KCRG-TV (ABC) Cedar Rapids, IA Respond to this post   •   Return to posts index

	Re: Modifying Motion Path in time? by Dave LaRonde on Jul 15, 2008 at 6:50:36 pm [Pablo Garcia] "I'd just like to know how to do it in AE." • Paste the mask shape into the ant's position property • Highlight all the position keyframes and turn off the rove across time attribute • Move the keyframes along the timeline until you get the desired speeds you need Dave LaRonde Sr. Promotion Producer KCRG-TV (ABC) Cedar Rapids, IA Respond to this post   •   Return to posts index

	Re: Modifying Motion Path in time? by Dave LaRonde on Jul 15, 2008 at 7:35:09 pm [Pablo Garcia] "When I paste the mask shape into the position property, that Mask Path animation get lost." Oh! Here's why that happens: the layer containing your mask and your ant layer aren't the same size. Both layers must have the identical number of horizontal and vertical pixels, and both layers must have the same pixel aspect ratio. How do you do that with a tiny ant? Put the ant layer into its own composition. This new ant composition must be the same size as the layer containing the mask. Now put the new ant composition into the original composition, and paste the mask shape into the ant composition's position property. You should now see your position keyframes precisely where they should be. Dave LaRonde Sr. Promotion Producer KCRG-TV (ABC) Cedar Rapids, IA Respond to this post   •   Return to posts index

	Re: Modifying Motion Path in time? by Dave LaRonde on Jul 16, 2008 at 5:24:34 pm [Pablo Garcia] "...I insist that it is a matter of how to link an animated path (not just a path) to the position property of a layer. It seems to be impossible..." You are correct. Trying to paste two or more Mask Shape keyframes into another layer's Position property IS impossible. Dave LaRonde Sr. Promotion Producer KCRG-TV (ABC) Cedar Rapids, IA Respond to this post   •   Return to posts index

	Re: Modifying Motion Path in time? by Dave LaRonde on Jul 16, 2008 at 7:28:01 pm You don't have to. You are making this more difficult than it has to be. This kind of animation isn't rocket science, and you don't need to work with keyframed mask shapes to do it, either. There is NOTHING in your description of the animation that prevents you from simply animating the position of the ant layer using simple position keyframes. Poof! You have a motion path! You can also modify your keyframes' spatial interpolation to Bezier, giving you Bezier handles to modify the curve of the path. To get the ant to follow the motion path, you simply highlight the ant layer and go Layer > Transform > Auto-Orient > Orient Along Path. Your ant now turns as the motion path turns. Use the ant layer's Rotation property to adjust the layer until it is right. And that is all you need. Stop overthinking this very simple animation. Dave LaRonde Sr. Promotion Producer KCRG-TV (ABC) Cedar Rapids, IA Respond to this post   •   Return to posts index

	Re: Modifying Motion Path in time? by Dave LaRonde on Jul 16, 2008 at 8:20:04 pm Oh, for heaven's sake! Are you working with more than ONE ant layer, which you never said anything about? NO! YOU DO NOT NEED TWO MOTION PATHS! YOU SIMPLY NEED ONE MOTION PATH WHICH IS STRAIGHT IN ONE SECTION OF THE PATH AND CURVED IN THE OTHER SECTION! DON'T YOU GET IT? YOU CAN MAKE THAT IN AFTER EFFECTS! If they sell After Effects training materials in Spanish, I STRONGLY suggest that buy as many as you can. Start with the beginner's material first. You need it. Dave LaRonde Sr. Promotion Producer KCRG-TV (ABC) Cedar Rapids, IA Respond to this post   •   Return to posts index