CGTalk - Align to Path

View Full Version : Align to Path

NFA

08-23-2004, 09:34 AM

I have a simple butterfly object aligned to its own motion path using the motion options/controller and limits/heading controller/align to path feature. I want the butterfly to stop at the end of the path and just sit there. Unfortunatly the butterfly jumps from its alignment position when the path ends. This also happens when I hold the butterfly in the same position using 2 keyframes for say 5 seconds and then make it fly off again. Is there a way to stop this from happening? i.e even though the motion path has ended or become stationary the butterfly just sits there still aligned?

Thanks

uncommongrafx

08-23-2004, 02:19 PM

Don't be afraid/hesitant/nervous about animating past the point of your animation and only rendering what you need.

Not much you can do about that ending position tic, thus the reason for the above statement. Add a motion after the stop point you desire to be able to augment the last position of the butterfly.

Take a moment to read up on the Graph Editor as it will save you a bit of sanity in the short term. ;) Basically, you have spline interpolation going on in those short stops. Looking in the graph editor will give you a visual of the bump this creates in your motion.

The manual is a friend not to be overlooked.

Padmus

08-23-2004, 02:42 PM

I bet if you were to bake the motion you could keep it in place pretty easily

NFA

08-24-2004, 05:57 AM

opps multiple post

NFA

08-24-2004, 07:36 AM

Opps yet another accidental double posting...

NFA

08-24-2004, 07:56 AM

Thanks for the advice people but unfortunatly neither suguestion worked. I am definatly still a newbie but luckly I understand the fundamentals of the graph editor. I tryed stopping the spline interpolation by making the incoming curves linear where I wanted the object to stop...which works fine if the object isn't aligned to path.. ie I can make the object come around its curved path and slow down and stop for x amount of time and then gently take off again on its path... the problem starts when the object is aligned to path... regardless of Graph editor adjustment there is always a movement tic when the object hits its "slow down" keyframe and again when it hits it "move on again" key frame.... and if I am to smooth out the in and out points by making those keyframes bezier then there is inherently some movement of the object between the frames due to spline interpolation... If anyone can help I would really apprieciate it...

Thanks

uncommongrafx

08-24-2004, 12:46 PM

Would you mind posting a blank scene with a null on the path you desire? Many of us would happily pick it apart for you. ;)

NFA

08-27-2004, 01:50 AM

Hi uncommongrafx,
Thanks heaps for the offer but after much head scratching re: align to path I have decided to take another route. I am just going to use manual key frames to do the job. Thanks again for the help and expect me to take you up on the offer when another stalemate occurs...
Cheers

CGTalk Moderation

01-19-2006, 02:00 AM

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.