Apple Motion 3 User Manual
Page 414
414
Chapter 5
Using Behaviors
 Open Spline: The default shape, a straight path defined by two points at the
beginning and end of the path. You can choose to work with Bezier or B-Spline
control points. Option-click (or double-click) anywhere on the path to add points.
 Closed Spline: A closed path in which the last point is in the same location as the
first point. You can choose to work with Bezier or B-Spline control points. Option-click
(or double-click) anywhere on the path to add points.
 Shape Type: When Path Shape is set to Open Spline or Closed Spline, this pop-up
menu allows you to choose one of two ways to manipulate the shape of the
path: Bezier or B-Spline.
 Bezier: Lets you manipulate the keyframe curve manually by dragging the
handles.
Note: For more information about creating and adjusting Bezier curves, see “
 B-Spline: B-Splines are manipulated using only points—there are no tangent
handles. The points themselves do not lie on the surface of the shape. Instead,
each B-Spline control point is offset from the shape’s surface, pulling that section
of the shape towards itself as if it was a magnet, in order to create a curve. B-
Splines are extremely smooth—by default, there are no sharp angles in B-Spline
shapes, although you can create sharper curves, if necessary.
Note: For more information about working with B-Spline curves, see “
 Circle: A simplified version of Closed Spline, in which the X radius or Y radius can be
adjusted to create a circle or an ellipse.
 Radius: When Circle is the defined path shape, this slider allows you to change the
size of the circular path. Click the disclosure triangle to individually adjust the X
radius and Y radius.
Note: When the Motion Path behavior is selected, you can also use the onscreen
control points to resize the circle. Press Shift to resize the X and Y radii uniformly.
 Rectangle: A closed path in which the width and the height can be adjusted to
create a square or a rectangle.
Use the outer control
points to resize the
circle or rectangle
motion path shape.