Lights on a Motion Path?

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Lights on a Motion Path?

Hi Everyone,

I have been searching around and watching various tutorials on Youtube and I'm just not finding what I'm looking to do. I'm thinking it may be fairly advanced, because everything I am seeing seems very basic. Ok, here's what I'd like to do:

I want to make a light orbit around my canvas and "explode" to reveal text. Can you use a Motion Path on a Light? I understand the light is virtual and not real - does that make it not possible? How do I set keyframes to make an object go in a circle? I always used the Motion Path behavior and curved it using the Bezier handles. I'm kind of stumped on this. If I need to use the Camera then I'm a little intimidated- I'm not good at using the Camera at all yet.

Thank for any light you can shed on this for me (oops! unintentional pun!!) haha

Posted on Feb 18, 2025 8:50 PM

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Answer 1

fox_m

Level 6

12,859 points

Feb 18, 2025 9:44 PM in response to Creator_needs_help

Did you try it???

The answer is yes: you can move a light on a Motion Path.

You have to realize there needs to be a "Z distance" between the Motion Path and the subject (canvas) you want lighted.*

You can keyframe the "orbit" or path in Motion Path by changing the Speed from Constant to Custom, then keyframing the Custom Speed parameter that will appear.

[*

1) You can change the Motion Path shape *to* a Circle by selecting Circle from the Path Shape option,

OR

2) You can make the Motion Path a circle (or oval) by using a Circle shape and changing the Path Shape to Geometry and dropping the Circle in the Shape Source "well".

In the case of #1, the Z distance is determined by the Z value of the Light.

In the case of #2, the Z distance will be determined by the Z value of the Circle Shape drawn and used in the Geometry option.

]

The Camera is probably not necessary - but changing the Project to 3D is (you will be asked to switch when you add a Light... if necessary.)

Don't be afraid to crash Motion — I've crashed it "millions of times"! I've learned more from crashing Motion than from any documentation. It's just a general pain ... ... ... to have to keep restarting it :) Make sure you have Autosave set up in Preferences > Cache (and set your Autosave Vault on an external drive if you can.)

A light on a "circle motion path" over a Blue Color Solid with some text in the mix:

Motion path left visible intentionally — notice that parallax is involved (the light on the color solid appears to be moving inside the motion path oval.)

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Answer 2

fox_m

Level 6

12,859 points

Feb 20, 2025 6:32 PM in response to Creator_needs_help

You're using the same circle for the Motion Path that the light is trying to illuminate.

Turn off the Circle or the Circle's group.

Add a Color Solid in a new group. Or, duplicate the Circle and move it into its own (new) group (make sure its Z value is 0 - or less than the Z value you apply to the Circle used for the Motion Path.)

Make sure that the Circle Transform > Position > Z value is greater than zero (or the Color Solid/Circle duplicate you use to illuminate.)

As always — if you run into trouble...

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Answer 3

Feb 20, 2025 6:33 PM in response to fox_m

Hi Fox!

I'm so sorry, I wasn't feeling well...but I'm feeling better now and I'm baaaack. :)

Thank you for answering me so quickly. I sort of tried, but it wasn't working so I started on my quest for knowledge. When all else failed I came here. I tried Case #2. It seemed the easiest and I just wanted to see if I could achieve the (what seems to be a very simple) little animation that you showed me here. I have a feeling my problem is with the Z value as you have stated. I digress.

I have everything set up and it works...but doesn't work.

So when I have the motion path turned on I can see the light moving along the path....but I have no actual light.

When I turn the motion path off I see the light, but of course it's not moving anywhere.

I tried moving Z space around on everything but nothing seems to affect the visibility of the light. I'm sure this is something so simple and I'm just not getting it...even with your detailed instruction. Sorry Fox, I am trying!!

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Answer 4

Feb 20, 2025 7:47 PM in response to fox_m

I kept trying and just wasn't getting it at all. I had screenshots and everything to send to you. Went to go in and show one more shot and somehow lost the stupid project. (Didn't listen to the mentor yet and set up Autosave-doing that right after I hit send) So, I had to "rebuild" the Project, but in the process I was able to finally get it right!

Heavy sigh...sometimes this process is so dang painful. But when I finally get it - it's so dang satisfying! Someday you'll see all your hard work with me paid off! Have a great evening!!

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Answer 5

fox_m

Level 6

12,859 points

Feb 20, 2025 8:54 PM in response to Creator_needs_help

Glad you were able to work it out! You have a great evening too!

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