The Path tool provides 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. You may also press and hold down the p key. You can now insert new points by right-clicking in the edit area and select for instance Add curve point.
Timeline
Whenever an object has a path, this will show in the Timeline. Clicking the small arrow next to the object will show a timeline view of the path.
The vertical lines in the timeline view shows where the path points are positioned. If you click on a path point in the edit area, it will be selected and you can then modify its position and angle.
When the mouse pointer is a move pointer () you can 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.
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
Right-click the edit area to bring up the path context menu.
Add curve point
- You may also use Ctrl+left click.
Add line point
- You may also use Ctrl+Shift+left click.
Delete point
- Deletes the selected path point.
Point type
- You may also use the corresponding buttons in the Path movement dialog.
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Lines
- Make the point a hard corner point.
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Curves
- Make the point a curve point.
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Symmetry
- If unchecked, allows for independent control of the curve entering the point as well as the exiting curve.
Movement
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Linear
- Maintains a constant speed during the interval in between this point and the next.
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Accelerate
- Increases speed during the interval.
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Slow down
- Decreases speed during the interval.
Copy path
- Copies the path to the clipboard.
Paste path
- Pastes a copied path.
Note: This will overwrite an existing path on the object.
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
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Collapse path points
- Retains the points but puts them all at the starting point.
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Distribute path points
- Retains the points but puts them in a line from the start to the end point.
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Invert path points
- Switches position of the points so that the last point is the first and so on.
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Copy path to all objects
- Copies the current path to all objects in the scene.
Note: This will overwrite any existing paths.
Path settings
The Path settings tab in the top menu holds the properties for a selected point in a path. For instance, further specify for how long the object's path should pause on the selected point.
Point type
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Lines
- Make the point a hard corner point.
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Curves
- Make the point a curve point.
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Symmetric curves
- 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.
Note: You may enter a value of over 360, in which case the object has to rotate several times to angle up!
Speed type
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Linear
- Maintains a constant speed during the interval in between this point and the next.
- Speed up
- Increases speed during the interval.
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Slow down
- Decreases speed during the interval.