TechNote (Archived)

Motion path animation doesn't follow path

Issue

A tweened animation using a motion path moves in a straight line rather than along the designated motion guide.

Reason

Typically, this occurs if the registration point of the object being tweened hasn't been "snapped to" the motion guide at one or both ends of the animation. This problem can also be caused if the motion path line has been moved or edited without re-snapping the objects in each keyframe to the path.

Solution

There must be a keyframe at the beginning of the animation, and another at the end. In the first frame, snap the object's registration point to one end of the motion guide. In the last frame of the interpolation, do the same thing at the other end of the motion guide. Once the object is snapped to each end of the motion guide in both keyframes, the animation should follow the motion path.

An object's registration point is indicated by a cross hair (+). Click and drag the cross hair to the motion guide so that it snaps in place. You will know when it snaps because the cross hair becomes a circle as you are dragging, and it gets larger and bolder when it is in a snap position. If you use another type of object and you drag from the center of the object, it will also display the circle when you drag it. It will become larger and bolder when you are in a snap position.

It is easiest to use symbol instances when creating a motion path animation because their registration points are easiest to find, but you can use text, grouped or bitmap objects, too.