Apple MA261Z/A User Manual - Page 738

Creating Curved Motion Paths Using Bezier Handles When you add a keyframe to a motion path, it's a Bezier point (also known as a corner point) by default. You can change corner points into curves by using the Pen Smooth tool to add Bezier handles to these points, smoothing the motion path that the anchor point of the clip follows. When you use Bezier handles to create curved motion paths in the Canvas, you won't need to use as many keyframes to define complex motion paths. A motion path with keyframes as corner points Adding Bezier handles creates a curved motion path. Bezier handles on motion paths in the Canvas work the same way as they do for keyframes in the Motion tab, except that they affect the spatial motion of the clip, rather than the velocity of the clip's change over time. (To change the acceleration or deceleration of a clip's motion between two keyframes, you need to create separate Bezier handles in the center overlay in the Motion tab.) To add Bezier handles to a keyframe in a motion path: m Select the Pen Smooth tool (press the P key three times), then click a corner keyframe to make it curved. The velocity of these keyframes is automatically set to Linear, meaning that there is a steady rate of speed as the clip moves from that keyframe to the next one on the motion path. You can add Bezier handles to a keyframe in a motion path and change the acceleration at the same time. For more information, see "Controlling Speed Along a Motion Path" on page 740. To change the shape of the motion path: m Drag the Bezier handles on a keyframe. If you want to create more complex motion paths, you can use modifier keys to adjust a Bezier handle on each side of a keyframe independently of the other. To adjust curves in a motion path: m Drag a Bezier handle to change the shape of its curve. 738 Part IX Effects