Animating with Motion Paths

Once you create two (or more) keyframes for a layer, you can adjust the way the layer moves by changing the shape of the motion path.

To create a motion path for a layer in a composite:

1. In the Workspace panel, select the layer you want to animate.
2. Use the playback controls to move to the first frame (or press Home).

The motion path starts here.

3. Enable the Animate button (A).



4. Click the Toolbar tab, and then click the Arrow tool .
5. In the active viewport, drag the selected layer to its starting position.
6. Use the playback controls to move to the frame where you want to create a second keyframe.



7. Drag the layer to its new location (you can also rotate, scale, or adjust any other channel).

A keyframe is created, and the layer's motion path appears.

8. Advance (or go back) to another frame, and move the layer again to create another keyframe.

The keyframes are joined by a motion path.



9. Continue adding keyframes until you achieve a result you like.
10. To change the shape of the motion path between keyframes, drag the tangent handles at a keyframe.

You can also adjust the speed along the motion path using the Speed channel.