Motion on a Guided Path

Objectives:

• to examine motion tweening on a circular (elliptical) path
• to review the use of Motion Guides
• to use a Radial Gradient fill

Basics:

• each object created is to be on a separate layer
• objects must be converted to symbols
• keyframes must be included on the last frame used in the timeline
• a Motion Guide is created on a separate layer and has a name of Guide and the layer with which it is associated. The associated layer is indented.
• it is important to lock the background and Motion Guide layers
• gradient fills require the use of both House Shaped Icons in the Color Mixer Panel
• gradient fills are selected by selecting the Color Swatches Panel from the Window Menu
• motion of an object can be clockwise and counter clockwise.

Exercise:

Layers:

• Create four layers and use the following labels for the layers: background, Planet, Moon and Satellite
• Click on Frame 30 and select this frame for each of the layers by holding down the shift key and then insert frames for all the layers (Insert Menu/Frame or shortcut F5).

a) Background Layer

• set the Stroke Color Well and Fill Color Well to black
• use the rectangle tool and draw a background covering the entire stage.
• lock the layer

b) Planet, Moon and Satellite Layers

select either the Circle Tool or Rectangle Tool from the Toolbox click on the Stroke Color Well and set the Stoke Color to none by selecting the icon made up of a circle with the diagonal red line. This icon is found in the upper right hand corner of the color palette. select the Color Swatches Panel from the Windows Menu and click on the red gradient fill (third icon from the left) found in the lower left hand corner of the Swatches Panel to draw the Planet (refer to labeling in Tutorial Four) Click on the House shaped icon in the middle left hand side (Gradient Selectors) of the Color Mixer panel. Click on a red color from the Color Palette in the Color Mixer that you would like for the inner part of the planet. Move the color slider on the right hand palette (Fine Color Adjustment) to fine tune your selection

Click on the House shaped icon in the middle right hand side (Gradient Selectors) of the Color Mixer panel. Click on a dark red to black from the Color Palette in the Color Mixer that you would like for the outer edge of the planet. Use the slider on the right hand palette (Fine Color Adjustment) to fine tune your selection. The gradient created can be viewed in the Gradient View Panel. Using the circle tool draw a planet with W= 160 and H = 160 Convert to Symbol and then use the Black arrow from the Toolbox and position the planet at X = 210 and Y = 180 To draw the Moon click on the green gradient fill (fourth icon from the left) found in the lower left hand corner of the Swatches Panel follow the procedure for creating a Planet but using a yellow color gradient Using the circle tool draw a planet with W= 30 and H = 30 Convert to Symbol and then use the Black arrow from the Toolbox and position the planet at X = 440 and Y = 93 To draw the Satellite click on the blue gradient fill (fifth icon from the left) found in the lower left hand corner of the Swatches Panel follow the procedure for creating a Planet but using a blue color gradient Using the circle tool draw a planet with W= 20 and H = 20 Convert to Symbol and then use the Black arrow from the Toolbox and position the planet at X = 100 and Y = 210

For each of the Moon and Satellite layers click on the Motion Guide button. click on the Circle Tool change the Stroke Color Well to a contrasting color (yellow for example) click on the Fill Color Well and change it to none by selecting the icon made up of a circle with the diagonal red line. This icon is found in the upper right hand corner of the color palette. select the Guide Moon layer and draw an ellipse that surrounds the planet. The shape of the ellipse can be changed by selecting the White arrow in the Toolbox and then clicking on the elliptical path. Select a block indicator and pull the edge to its desired shape. Selecting and pulling other blocks may be required to get the desired shape.

• select the Erase Tool from the Toolbox
• the default setting may be to large so select the third Eraser setting by clicking on the pop-up menu found in the Options part of the Toolbox.
• use the Eraser to remove a small segment of the elliptical path in the area of the Moon.
• Lock the Guide Moon layer
• select the Moon layer
  • Select frame 1 and drag the Moon to reposition its center point (the small white circle inside the graphic) directly over the right hand starting part of the path (You will be able to see the path inside the circle).
  • Select frame 30 and reposition the Moon directly over the left hand end of the path. This positioning should result in a clockwise rotation
  • Select the Properties panel from the Window menu and double click on frame one and select Motion tween, Orient to Path and Snap.
• select the Guide Satellite layer and draw an ellipse that surrounds the planet and inside the Moon's elliptical path. The shape of the ellipse can be changed by selecting the White arrow in the Toolbox and then clicking on the elliptical path. Select a block indicator and pull the edge to its desired shape. Selecting and pulling other blocks may be required to get the desired shape.
  • select the Erase Tool from the Toolbox
  • the default setting may be to large so select the second Eraser setting by clicking on the pop-up menu found in the Options part of the Toolbox.
  • use the Eraser to remove a small segment of the elliptical path in the area of the Moon.
  • Lock the Guide Moon layer
• select the Satellite layer
  • Select frame 1 and drag the Satellite to reposition its center point (the small white circle inside the graphic) directly over the lower starting part of the path (You will be able to see the path inside the circle).
  • Select frame 30 and reposition the Satellite directly over the upper part of the path. This positioning should result in a counter clockwise rotation
  • Select the Properties panel from the Window menu and double click on frame one and select Motion tween, Orient to Path and Snap
• play your movie.
• to view the movie without the guide paths save your movie and then select Test Movie.
• See the diagram below for an example of what the Onion Skin would look like.

Planet Movie