Tween motion along a path

Motion guide layers let you draw paths along which tweened instances, groups, or text blocks can be animated. You can link multiple layers to a motion guide layer to have multiple objects follow the same path. A normal layer that is linked to a motion guide layer becomes a guided layer.

In this example, two objects on separate layers are attached to the same motion path.

For a video tutorial about motion tweens, see www.adobe.com/go/vid0125.

For a tutorial about motion tweens, see Create a Timeline Animation on the Flash Tutorials web page at www.adobe.com/go/learn_fl_tutorials.

For samples of animation, see the Flash Samples page at www.adobe.com/go/learn_fl_samples. The following samples are available:

  • Animated Drop Shadow: Download and decompress the Samples zip file and navigate to the Graphics\AnimatedDropShadow folder to access the sample.

  • Animation and Gradients: Download and decompress the Samples zip file and navigate to the Graphics\AnimationAndGradients folder to access the sample.

Create a motion path for a tweened animation

  1. Create a motion-tweened animation sequence. If you select Orient To Path, the baseline of the tweened element orients to the motion path. If you select Snap, the registration point of the tweened element snaps to the motion path.
  2. Do one of the following:

    • Select the layer containing the animation, and select Insert > Timeline > Motion Guide.

    • Right-click (Windows) or Control‑click (Macintosh) the layer containing the animation and select Add Motion Guide.

      Flash creates a new layer above the selected layer with a motion guide icon to the left of the layer name.

      Motion guide layer above selected layer

  3. Use the Pen, Pencil, Line, Circle, Rectangle, or Brush tool to draw the desired path.

  4. Snap the center to the beginning of the line in the first frame, and to the end of the line in the last frame.
    Note: For best snapping results, drag the symbol by its registration point.
  5. To hide the motion guide layer and the line so that only the object’s movement is visible while you work, click in the Eye column on the motion guide layer.

    The group or symbol follows the motion path when you play the animation.

Link layers to a motion guide layer

  Do one of the following:

  • Drag an existing layer below the motion guide layer. The layer is indented under the motion guide layer. All objects on this layer automatically snap to the motion path.

  • Create a new layer under the motion guide layer. Objects you tween on this layer are automatically tweened along the motion path.

  • Select a layer below a motion guide layer. Select Modify > Timeline > Layer Properties, and select Guide.

Unlink layers from a motion guide layer

  Select the layer to unlink and do one of the following:

  • Drag the layer above the motion guide layer.

  • Select Modify > Timeline > Layer Properties, and select Normal as the layer type.

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