Motion path on rotated ellipse?

Hi, I'm an experienced animator (with Flash) but relative newbie to Motion, and so finding some things very frustrating but also empowering. I've got a series of ellipses kind of like an atomic symbol which I'm trying to rotate small objects (spheres) around in 2D - pretty basic - just three orbits. At first I tried drawing a path and then attaching to the sphere graphic (as in Flash) but then found Add Behaviour > Basic Motion > Motion path which was actually much easier and powerful than Flash. But now I have an 'angled' ellipse (45 degrees) but I can find no way to rotate the motion path to match the angle. I can adjust each of the circular path's axis, but no way to rotate about a central point. All I want is an angled elliptical path! Is there any easy (or difficult) way to do this? Thanks for any help.
Chris

You're going to love how easy this is:
Add Behavior/Basic Motion/Motion Path to your sphere. In the behaviors tab, change the path shape to Geometry. Drag the elipse layer into the Shape Source well and make sure the Attach to Shape button is checked.
Now the sphere will follow around the elipse no matter how it's positioned. And if you change the shape of the elipse, it'll update in the motion of the sphere.
Also, in the behavior you'll see areas to change the interpolation of the motion, as well as a Looping parameter for multiple orbits.
Hope this helps.
Andy

Similar Messages

Motion path changes gets larger when copied to Shape Position parameter

Hello There,
Richard Gerard has been helpful, and well as other people.
I have sorta figured out how get a stroke to follow a motion path.
I (so far) am unable to get a shape to follow the same motion path.
My shape is a small ellipse commonly known as a circle!
I have seen this post - http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/2/959085, which is interesting,
but does not work. My shape layer consists of name, "Blue Circle", and two properties below that:
Contents and Transform. If i copy the path into the Transform-Position property the path is about 2
times bigger than the path I want to use, and does not start at the correct spot.
After reviewing the post above - I added a "path" to the ellipse in the "Contents" area, I can see the path, it is the correct size,
but the circle does not follow this path. If I try to copy this path to one of the position properties, no dice,
the path completely displaces the shape to the wrong coordinates.
I must be missing something basic here, but have yet to find out.
Any tips will help.
Thanks,
eholz1

The position path is offset because your Black Solid with the mask isn't in the default position. Both Anchor Point and Position must be reset. Parenting can also foul this up. Here's how to fix it.
First of all, before you copy and paste the path remove parenting and return the solid with the mask to it's default position by resetting Anchoe Point and Position. Now when you paste the path to your Blue Ball it will exactly match the path on the solid layer. Once the path is set you can redo the parenting and reposition the layers but you must include the blue ball. If it were me I'd create a null and make that the parent of the Black Solid, the Blue Ball, and the Map. Now you can animate the position of the null to scroll across the map and the blue ball will follow.
To match the timing of the stroke to the blue ball you simply drag out the right most diamond keyframe on the blue ball position until it matches the last position of the stroke.. That's all there is it. Your timeline should look something like this:
One last question. You have a non-standard composition size. It may not render correctly. What is the reason for the odd size. NTSC D1 Widescreen should be 872 X 486, It's acceptable to also have a comp that's 872 X 480. MPEG compression requires an even number of pixels so your 853 dimension is very likely to cause problems or be automatically resized to a standard frame size.

CP5 - W7 - TIPS - Motion paths

I want to give back a little to this community, I got a lot of answers on my questions. And I am greatfull for the help.
I wanted to animate an image to come up from the bottom, but could not find the right animation path. So...
Follow this guide to learn how.
You can do your own motion paths!
Import an image
Go to Effects
press the f(x) symbol at the bottom right corner of the effect
go to browse
motion paths
right-click on LeftToRight.xml and choose copy
paste it in again and you will have something like LeftToRight-copy.xml
right-click on LeftToRight-copy.xml and chose to edit, preferebly in notepad
The code you will see
<Motion duration="60" xmlns="fl.motion.*" xmlns:geom="flash.geom.*" xmlns:filters="flash.filters.*">
<source>
<Source frameRate="30" x="51.7" y="75.2" scaleX="1" scaleY="1" rotation="0" elementType="movie clip" instanceName="abc" symbolName="Symbol 1">
   <dimensions>
    <geom:Rectangle left="-97" top="-50" width="97" height="50"/>
   </dimensions>
   <transformationPoint>
    <geom:Point x="0.5025773195876289" y="0.505"/>
   </transformationPoint>
</Source>
</source>
<effect_config effect_type="motion_path">
</effect_config>
<Keyframe index="0" tweenSnap="true" tweenSync="true">
<tweens>
   <SimpleEase ease="0"/>
</tweens>
</Keyframe>
<Keyframe index="59" tweenSnap="true" tweenSync="true" x="400." y="0">
<tweens>
   <SimpleEase ease="0"/>
</tweens>
</Keyframe>
</Motion>
The code you easy can undestand
In the begining it says duration="60"
<Motion duration="60" xmlns="fl.motion.*" xmlns:geom="flash.geom.*" xmlns:filters="flash.filters.*">
More below in the code you see:
<Keyframe index="0" tweenSnap="true" tweenSync="true">
<tweens>
   <SimpleEase ease="0"/>
</tweens>
</Keyframe>
<Keyframe index="59" tweenSnap="true" tweenSync="true" x="400." y="0">
<tweens>
   <SimpleEase ease="0"/>
</tweens>
</Keyframe>
0 to 59 is 60 steps
You can by altering these values choose how long an object should move.
Examples:
Left to right: tweenSync="true" x="400." y="0"
Right to left: tweenSync="true" x="-400." y="0"
Top to bottom: tweenSync="true" x="0." y="400"
Bottom to top: tweenSync="true" x="0." y="-400"
Mov to left lowe corner : tweenSync="true" x="400." y="400"
Continue with task
Change the settings in your file LeftToRight-copy.xml and choose to save and close.
Rename LeftToRight-copy.xml to for instanse TopToBottom.xml
choose that path and animate your image
Preview in browser (F12)
Thats it you can do it!
// Daniel

DPZ,
That is awesome, I was kinda curious about exporting/importing effect XMLs. Thanks for the tutorial.
I too wrestled with getting objects to animate the way I wanted. However, I found a different way to achieve what I think is the same thing, and it was all from the interface rather than the XMLs. There is shockingly spare information online and in help about the Cp5 effects, so I'll share this too in case it's helpful...
First, from the Effects tab I did Add Effect (fx symbol) > Motion Path > LeftToRight. In my example below I added it to a text caption.
Second, if you look closely at the object amongst the resize handles, you'll see a very small teal box in the lower-right corner. Click on it and you'll see a red arrow appear on top of your object (see below).
That red arrow represents the start and end points of your motion path. So lastly, you can click on either the red "begin point" square and place it where you want, or click on the green "end point" arrow and place it where you want. Dragging the animation duration in the effects timeline will set how long it takes to complete the motion.
So far in my experience, this works with any effect that is motion-based. I used it quite a bit on the Entrance and Exit set of effects.

Particular 2.1.1. motion path + obscuration layer

Obscuration layer works fine when i use with particles that are coming from an animated emitter (light with animated path), but not when use the same path as motion path with a still emitter (which is at the same point as the starting point of the motion path). It looks good when i rotate the camera around. The 3d layer is in the middle of the particles, yet it wont obscure.
Am i doing something wrong, or is it just a bug?

Aaargh. *slams fist on the keyboard*
Seems like another one of those "set it to off, then turn it on again and it works fine" behavior Particular is known for.
Close it

Motion 5 Crashes when applying motion path

Hello all,
heres my scenario and being new to Motion 5 maybe Im doing something wrong...
I have an image in my project....I bring in another image...I have tried this using one and two groups doesnt matter...
I apply flop to both images to rotate.....then grow shrink....then I set both on a motion path by selecting both and using the bezier tool...hit enter when I am done making the path I hit enter and the path is created....I select path fro the group and goto inspector change path shape to geometry and then apply the bezier path....at this point Motion 5 crashes and I lose all
work...I have saved the file up to this point now...but what am I doing wrong...
Thanks!

Make sure the shape you are using in the behavior is not inside the group you are trying to animate, put it in a seperate group.

Animation with motion path like flash

Hi at all,
is it posible to animate an object in circle move like motion path in flash?

@resdesign
If you were right, the example below won't work ;-)
Rotation is rotating an object around its origin. If the origin is outside the object, it moves in a circle.
Here is the example: http://mcmm.com/edge/circular/circular.html
It has been done like in my description above.
All objects in the example are simply animated with rotation. The earth rotates around its origin and the planets do the same.
The only difference between earth and planets is that the earth has its origin untouched while the planets have their origin outside.

Making a balloon deflate and follow a motion path?

So I drew a balloon in Motion... I applied the wriggle parameter to the rotation and position to make it look a little like it's floating in place (though I do find the movement a little too sharp)... Anyhow that's not really the problem I am facing...
Next I drew a path with the paintbrush tool... To the balloon group, I added the Motion Path behavior (changed the shape to Geometry and applied the path I drew to the well) and then Snap alignment to Motion behavior...
However, my balloon is now horizontal rather than starting off vertically...
Anyhow, this is just not working....
Any ideas or tips on how to get it to work so it actually looks like a balloon that is deflating?
Thanks

Here is what I ended up with... balloons are at the beginning and the end... (hope you don't mind it's in Spanish)
http://youtu.be/8qQBYM6dg3M
Ah, and I did use my handy dandy "How to Cheat in Motion" book... I used some of the techniques from the Bubbles tutorial (Random Motion & Gravity)

Keeping object perpendicular on motion path?

Hello:
I was wanting to see how to keep an object perpendicular to the motion path. I applied a curved motion path to a small photo and of course the photo travels on the path but always in the upright position. I would like the rotation to adjust to stay perpendicular to the path.
Suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Jeff in Palmetto, FL

You can use the Orient Along Path option.

I am trying to use motion tracking to have text follow a section of the background.The text box follows the motion path, but the text just sits there. What am I doing wrong?

I am trying to use motion tracking to have text follow a section of the background.The text box follows the motion path, but the text just sits there. What am I doing wrong?

Motion basically looks at the the source footage and it's timing (in the timing section of the Inspector) when analyzing for tracking. Filters are basically ignored by the tracker. Retiming actions, like time re-mapping, or retiming behaviors that are applied before the tracker should be used by the tracker. Did you change the timing after doing the tracking? If so this would also require you to re-track the shot. Understanding that you found a workaround, describing the effects you applied would help to explain why you ran into problems.
Cheers!

How can I mass move symbols with their motion paths without creating new keyframes?

I want to move a lot of symbols all at once if they are off centered or just need to be moved around to see differenr styles across the document, but I can't seem to move a lot of the symbols at once, only one at a time slexting their motion paths. It's rather annoying when I have items coming in at different times and have to re line everything up one by one if I want to move things even over by 1 px. Every time I slecect all my symbols and try to move them it just creates a new keyframe that they follow. Is there any tool or certian way to select the symbols and/or thier motion paths and move them without creating new key frames?

Hi,
There's no direct way of moving all the symbols/ motion tweens begining at different frames altogether, but the following steps should help you do it -
1. Select a motion path on stage, goto Properties panel > Options menu (top left corner) and enable - Always show Motion Paths.
2. Enable - Edit Multiple Frames option in the Timeline.
3. Adjust the frame-markers in Timeline to show all your symbols, motion paths etc.
4. Now that you see all your symbols and motion paths together, Select-all and Move them together. Or, use Shift + click to selectively select the Motion paths/objects and move them.
Let me know if you have any doubts..
Regards,
Nipun

Motion Tween w/ Rotation Dropping on the Y Axis

Is there a way to prevent a motion tween w/ rotation from dropping on the Y axis? Basically I used Free Transform to change the angle of a line, but it always lowers itself on the Y axis when I insert a motion tween in it.

Hey there,
The properties shouldn't be changing when you insert a motion tween. Could you either attach a file with the object *before* you create the tween, or let me know all the properties of the object before you insert the tween so I can try and reproduce internaly? (X, Y, rotation, scale X/Y, skew X/Y).
Thanks!
Jen.

FCE HD, confused by Motion Path (I want to change the speed of movement)

I am a huge FCE noob, let's get that out of the way. I have also been a member here since May of last year, but for some reason it now shows that this is my first post. (????) Anyway, I have figured out how to use a motion path, including curving the path, but I can't figure out how to alter the speed that a "motion path" video enters, or leaves, the screen.
While I'm here, I also want to learn how to use shapes (as in a circle/triangle/custom shaped border to a video clip) and I have not been able to find that info. I have Lisa Brenneis's "Final Cut Express HD for Mac OS X" book and have not been able to find the answers to these two questions there.
Thanks in advance for your useful help!!
BILL

The first and last keframes can have Ease In/Ease Out applied to smooth the start or stop action.
Clicking between two keframes on a a motion path should give you Bezier Handles. There a four blue dots on them, the inner two will control speed. Dragging an inner dot along the handle either slows or speeds the action.
Al

Tween or Motion path for blank keynote with animated stars?

I create star particle effect from this tutorial: http://www.schoolofflash.com/2008/03/flash-cs3-particle-effect/ and got help from this discussion: http://forums.adobe.com/message/5518425 in order to get what I wanted. My code is:
var starsArray:Array = new Array();
var myTimer:Timer = new Timer(50);
myTimer.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, addStars);
myTimer.start();
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, moveStars);
function addStars(e:TimerEvent):void
          var star:Stars = new Stars();
          star.x = stage.stageWidth / 2;
          star.y = stage.stageHeight / 2;
          star.alpha = Math.random() * .8 + .2;
          star.scaleX = star.scaleY = Math.random() * .8 + .2;
          star.xMovement = Math.random() * 10 - 5;
          star.yMovement = Math.random() * 10 - 5;
          starsArray.push(star);
          addChild(star);
          star.cacheAsBitmap = true;
function moveStars(e:Event):void
          for each (var star:MovieClip in starsArray)
                    star.x += star.xMovement;
                    star.y += star.yMovement;
                    star.alpha -= .01;
                    star.scaleX = star.scaleY -= .01;
                    if (star.scaleX <= 0)
                              kill(star);
function kill(star:MovieClip):void
          starsArray.splice(starsArray.indexOf(star), 1);
          removeChild(star);
However, I wanted to move the star particles around. The problem is that the star isn't on the screen, but is called in the actions in the blank keynote. I don't know what I should do next to get the result. I looked up online for tweens and motion paths but all i see is that they required the star to be right on the screen, I think? I also heard something about the compiled clip but I don't know how I should go about creating one and using it to move around the stars while it's animated with all the actionscript. All I wanted is for the star particles to float around the screen (on a path that I can draw out if possible).....

Each star is created in the addStars function. Its position is set in the first two lines:
     star.x = stage.stageWidth / 2;
     star.y = stage.stageHeight / 2;
So, to move each star to a new location when it appears on the stage, you'll need to change the x and y property values for each star. One simple way to do that is to use that same Math.random() function.
Try changing those first two line to:
          star.x = Math.random() * stage.stageWidth;
          star.y = Math.random() * stage.stageHeight;

FR: Ability to move entire Motion Path (as in After Effects)

If you like this Feature Request, please copy/paste on Adobe's Feature Request page to get your voice heard: www.adobe.com/go/wish
*******Enhancement / FMR*********
Brief title for your desired feature: Ability to move entire Motion Path (as in AE)
How would you like the feature to work?
The same way it currently works in After Effects: ability to move an entire motion path by selecting all of the motion path's keyframes before click-moving one of the selected keyframes in the Canvas/Program Monitor.
Why is this feature important to you?
This feature makes it so much more efficient to move a motion-animated asset to a new location without inadvertently changing the motion path. This tremendous workflow efficiency works wonders in AE and could work equally well in Premiere Pro.

When previewing, make sure that you're using RAM preview to get real-time playback:
http://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/previewing.html#use_ram_preview_to_play_video_a nd_audio
See this regarding the issue with your output file stuttering:
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/684381
Most important, start here to learn the basics:
http://adobe.ly/AE_basics

Errors with interactive pdf containing motion paths

I have created an interactive pdf in indesign with simple motion paths. In the preview in indesign it works perfect, but the animations do not work in the exported pdf. This is created in CS6 and I have the creative suite standard installed.

I have tested with both Acrobat Pro X (10.1.1) and Acrobat Reader XI (11.0.0.). Due to IT restrictions I am unable to use such "transfer files" providers, so I am bit stuck. I have tried to put the different animations in layers and in one layer only, with same results. I am
beginning to think that there are internal restrictions that make this happen

Motion path on rotated ellipse?

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