Path Tool

The Path toolprovides an additional method of adding movement to objects, by defining points through which the object will pass.

To draw a path, select an object and click the path tool button or press and hold down the P key. Insert new points by right-clicking in the edit area and select the relevant path point.

Timeline

An object path will show in the Timeline, click the small arrow next to the object to show a timeline view of the path:

The vertical lines in the timeline view show where the path points are positioned. Click on a path point in the edit area to modify its position and angle.

When the mouse pointer is a move pointer () drag downward to create a pause on a path point. The empty space corresponds to the time the object is not moving and instead pausing on the path point.

Timeline Context Menu

Right-click on the path in the timeline view to open the path timeline context menu:

• Auto adjust path timing - Adjusts the time intervals between path points based on the distance between them. This has the effect of maintaining a constant speed throughout the path movement. This will include the pauses on path points.
• Setup path intervals - Opens a dialog in which to enter the time in between each path point - the same time will be used regardless of the distance between the points.
• Setup path pauses - Opens a dialog where you may enter the amount of time to pause on each of the points in the path.
• Delete path pauses -  Delete any and all pauses on path points.

Dialogs

The Path context menu: Right-click the edit area to bring up the path context menu.

• Add curve point - Ctrl+left click can be used.
• Add line point - Ctrl+Shift+left click can be used.
• Delete point
• Point type:
  • Lines - Make the point a hard corner point.
  • Curves - Make the point a curve point.
  • Symmetry - If unchecked, allows for independent control of the curve entering the point as well as the exiting curve.
• Movement:
  • Linear - Maintains a constant speed during the interval in between this point and the next.
  • Accelerate - Increases speed during the interval.
  • Slow down - Decreases speed during the interval.
• Copy path.
• Paste path.

• Save path - Save the path to a file on disk. The file extension for a saved path is .disepath.
• Load path - Load a path from disk.
• Delete path -Delete the entire path.
• Special:
  • Collapse path points - Retains the points but puts them all at the starting point.
  • Distribute path points - Retains the points but puts them in a line from the start to the end point.
  • Invert path points - Switches position of the points so that the last point is the first and so on.
  • Copy path to all objects - Copies the current path to all objects in the scene.

Path Settings

The Path settings tab in the top menu holds the properties for a selected point in a path:

• Point type:
  • Lines - Make the point a hard corner point.
  • Curves - Make the point a curve point.
  • Symmetry - If unchecked, allows for independent control of the curve entering the point as well as the exiting curve.
• Point time on path - The exact time on the timeline the point will be passed.
• Pause time at point - The exact time on the timeline to pause on the point.
• Point position - Specify the position in space (X,Y,Z) of the point .
• Point angle - The object, when passing, will have to rotate to angle up. The angle is defined in degrees for X, Y and Z.

• Speed type - Adjusts the type of speed of the object along the path.
  • Speed up - Increases speed during the interval.
  • Linear - Maintains a constant speed during the interval in between this point and the next.
  • Slow down - Decreases speed during the interval.