Path Modifier

Path replaces classic keyframe animation (which often gives straight trajectories or tangents that are hard to control) with a visual spline drawn in the viewer. The target parameter follows that spline, at a speed defined by a progression curve.

You can have several vertices with Bezier handles for smooth curves. The position along the path is animated with the Displacement parameter (0 = start, 1 = end). Animate Displacement instead of the position directly.

• Right-click a 2D parameter (Position, Center, etc.) → Modify With → Path.
• The path can be edited directly in the viewer.

Polyline

Straight segments between vertices. For angular, robotic trajectories.

Bezier (smooth)

Vertices with tangent handles. Smooth parametric curves. The standard for organic motion graphics.

XY Path (XSpline)

A variant with continuous control of the curvature. More flexible than Bezier for some uses.

B-Spline

Smooth spline with global control. Built-in smoothing with no handles to manipulate.

Logo animation following a curve:
Logo Transform.Center → Path
   1. Draw the spline in the viewer
      (click to add vertices)
   2. Animate Displacement from 0 to 1 over 60 frames
   = a logo that follows the drawn trajectory

With tangent rotation:
Path (Heading = On)
   = the logo automatically turns to face the
     direction of the trajectory

Custom easing:
Path Displacement → Bezier curve in spline editor
   (start slow, fast in middle, slow at end)
   = trajectory with acceleration/deceleration

Multi-segment with a hold:
Displacement keyframes:
   frame 0  → 0    (start)
   frame 30 → 0.5  (halfway)
   frame 60 → 0.5  (HOLD halfway)
   frame 90 → 1    (arrival)

Displacement (default: 0)

Position along the path. 0 = start, 1 = end. Animate this parameter to follow the trajectory.

Path Type (default: XSpline)

Spline type: Polyline, Bezier, XSpline, B-Spline.

Heading (default: Off)

Enables tangent rotation: the object automatically turns to face the direction of the trajectory (useful for vehicles, arrows, character heads).

Heading Offset

Angular offset on the Heading. Lets you adjust the orientation relative to the tangent (e.g. a vehicle looking sideways).

Closed Path (default: Off)

When enabled, the path closes: the last vertex connects to the first = a looping trajectory.

• Logo intro / outro - a logo that appears by following a curved trajectory = pro motion graphics.
• Virtual 2D camera move - the subject seems to move through a 2D scene along a trajectory the camera could not follow in a straight line.
• Complex trajectories (plane, car, ball) - follow a path with heading = an object that reorients itself with the direction.
• Animated lower thirds - text that slides along a soft curve instead of a straight slide.
• Particles on a path - pPosition modified by Path = particles following a predefined trajectory.
• Animation loop - Closed Path + linear Displacement animated in a cycle = a perfect loop.

• XSpline for smooth curves - the best default for motion graphics. Polyline for robotic effects.
• Heading + Heading Offset - for vehicles, Heading = On + Offset = 0. For an arrow pointing along the trajectory, Offset = 0. For a character looking in profile, set Offset to 90°.
• Displacement easing in the Spline Editor - switch to the Spline Editor to adjust the Displacement curve (Ease In/Out for a soft start/arrival).
• Visually editable path - add / remove vertices in the viewer by clicking. Adjust the Bezier handles by dragging.
• Closed Path for cycles - for an infinite loop animation, Closed Path = On + Displacement from 0 to 1 repeated.
• Multiple paths on the same parameter - not directly, but you can switch paths by chaining two Path modifiers.
• Non-uniform speed - by default, a linear Displacement = linear speed. For variable speed, use a non-linear curve on Displacement.
• For trajectories that follow a subject, consider the Tracker modifier, which links a parameter to an existing track point.