Creating Animation > Tweening motion along a path |  |

Tweening 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.

To create a motion path for a tweened animation:

1 | Create a motion-tweened animation sequence as described in Tweening instances, groups, and type.
| If you select Orient to Path, the baseline of the tweened element will orient to the motion path. If you select Snap, the registration point of the tweened element will snap to the motion path.
2 | Do one of the following:
| Select the layer containing the animation and choose Insert > Motion Guide.
| Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Macintosh) the layer containing the animation and choose Add Motion Guide from the context menu.
| Flash creates a new layer above the selected layer with a motion guide icon to the left of the layer name.
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.

To 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. Choose Modify > Layer and select Guided in the Layer Properties dialog box.

To unlink layers from a motion guide layer:

1 | Select the layer you want to unlink.
2 | Do one of the following:
| Drag the layer above the motion guide layer.
| Choose Modify > Layer and select Normal as the layer type in the Layer Properties dialog box.