In Apple Motion, I want to simulate a vortex out of a 2D, squished spiral path, where replicated (or maybe duplicated) objects move from start to end, getting growing and shrinking at a few points on the path. I assumed I could use a replicator with a sequence replicator, but all my objects move along the spiral path in one big group. Am I using the wrong tool for this?
MacBook Air 15″, macOS 27.0
Ok...
Can a replicator's shapes individually conform to a motion path? As you've likely figured out: no.
By your question, I've been assuming you want each copy of your image/object to appear, start moving along its Motion Path, then have another appear at the start of the Motion Path to follow the previous one, etc...
The only way I know how to do that is to create your animation with one object, then duplicate the object as many times as you need. Select each object's layer in the Video Timeline window and drag them to a slightly later starting time, like this (only showing 3 objects):
You will have to adjust the length of your project to accommodate the animation of all your objects.
You can't use clones because they are a "flat-screen projection" of the animation and you will lose 3D capability.
Replicators will always spread out the copies of your objects along the "path" you use. Emitters have a problem with 3D position as well as randomly using some position along the path to start an object's animation.
There are some Replicator options that might make a suitable alternatives.
Replicate your image.
Set the Shape to Circle and Arrangement to Random Fill. Radius to about 600 or so (very flexible). Points to 30.
Check 3D and Face Camera.
Adjust Scale if needed.
To the Replicator, add Behaviors -> Simulations -> Orbit Around. Set the Strength to set the (fastest) speed of animation (start at about 1500) and use the Falloff Rate to the get the animation speed you like.
Influence determines how far away an object is that will receive the Orbit animation.
Then for Include, select X and Z... and the Direction of spin you want.
————————————
Here's another idea... and it uses the spiral path you designed:
Replicate the image. Set the Shape to Geometry and add your path shape. Set the number of points and to the Offset, apply a Ramp behavior [End Value = 100%]. Check 3D and Face Camera. [Adjust the Scale to taste.] In Transforms, set the X Rotation to make arrangement look similar to the image [mine is set at -49º].
You can create gradient masks for the beginning and the end of the path so it appears the images are moving in and out instead of jumping to the beginning of the path.
You can create Rectangle shapes and size them to match the first and last images. Set them to B&W gradients. Move them in 3D space to match the first and last images and then set their Blend Modes to Silhouette Luma.
You need to have the angle of view [the Rotation I mentioned] set up so that the mask rectangles won't overlay any of the other animating images.
PS - I have the Replicated image Cropped so that they don't cross through each other as they move...
Have fun! :D
Ok...
Can a replicator's shapes individually conform to a motion path? As you've likely figured out: no.
By your question, I've been assuming you want each copy of your image/object to appear, start moving along its Motion Path, then have another appear at the start of the Motion Path to follow the previous one, etc...
The only way I know how to do that is to create your animation with one object, then duplicate the object as many times as you need. Select each object's layer in the Video Timeline window and drag them to a slightly later starting time, like this (only showing 3 objects):
You will have to adjust the length of your project to accommodate the animation of all your objects.
You can't use clones because they are a "flat-screen projection" of the animation and you will lose 3D capability.
Replicators will always spread out the copies of your objects along the "path" you use. Emitters have a problem with 3D position as well as randomly using some position along the path to start an object's animation.
There are some Replicator options that might make a suitable alternatives.
Replicate your image.
Set the Shape to Circle and Arrangement to Random Fill. Radius to about 600 or so (very flexible). Points to 30.
Check 3D and Face Camera.
Adjust Scale if needed.
To the Replicator, add Behaviors -> Simulations -> Orbit Around. Set the Strength to set the (fastest) speed of animation (start at about 1500) and use the Falloff Rate to the get the animation speed you like.
Influence determines how far away an object is that will receive the Orbit animation.
Then for Include, select X and Z... and the Direction of spin you want.
————————————
Here's another idea... and it uses the spiral path you designed:
Replicate the image. Set the Shape to Geometry and add your path shape. Set the number of points and to the Offset, apply a Ramp behavior [End Value = 100%]. Check 3D and Face Camera. [Adjust the Scale to taste.] In Transforms, set the X Rotation to make arrangement look similar to the image [mine is set at -49º].
You can create gradient masks for the beginning and the end of the path so it appears the images are moving in and out instead of jumping to the beginning of the path.
You can create Rectangle shapes and size them to match the first and last images. Set them to B&W gradients. Move them in 3D space to match the first and last images and then set their Blend Modes to Silhouette Luma.
You need to have the angle of view [the Rotation I mentioned] set up so that the mask rectangles won't overlay any of the other animating images.
PS - I have the Replicated image Cropped so that they don't cross through each other as they move...
Have fun! :D
You can set a motion path for a replicated object... that is, add you motion path to an object, then replicate the object. Every replicated object will follow its motion path at its separate location from the others.
I'm not exactly sure what you want to be able to do here. What kind of a vortex? Something like a tornado? or just objects spinning around a center point? Are you trying to simulate a 3D environment with the growing and shrinking? Can you provide a screen shot of what you've been able to do so far?
The problem with Replicators and Motion Paths is that once an object gets to the end, it goes right back to the beginning of the path again. If you have more than one object, this gets to be rather difficult to accomplish on an image by image basis.
In my example, the image ***approaches*** the beginning of the Path and at the end, you can see it leave the end of the path as it fades out because the object continues moving along the same direction it was on when it "left the path". (I'm sorry the GIF quality is not all that great).
Ultimately, it will be the path for images of water peaks that will swirl around the path and disappear (shrinking when they are supposed to be further away and growing when they are closer (like at the bottom of the spiral). I'm setting it up as a 2D squished spiral. I haven't even figured out whether you can make 3D paths for objects for fallow. Less important but still of interest is how to keep growing objects on a path not get closer to each other. Thanks for your help.
Correction: I do now know you can make a 3D motion path and have made one. A single object follows it correctly. Now I am struggling with having a replicated object follow the path (instead of move in parallel) but assume part of this can be corrected with a change to the anchor point. The change to 3D should negate my need to resize the objects at different points.
Thank you. Yes, that is the beginning point for what I'm trying to accomplish -- only with a series of duplicated (or replicated objects). In my 2D version, I had the problem you were talking about where subsequent objects re-entered the path (at the top of the scroll), and since some of them had already shrunk they were crazy small when they started again at the top. If you happen to know how to make the objects trail after each other along the path, I'd love to know how to do that. I think also Apple has presented a similar posted question about this. I'll check that out too. Thank you for your help.
Is this about what you're looking for?
How many copies of the image do you want to animate?
Maybe 30
I'll have to get back with you... probably tomorrow (much later today 10/15).
No worries. Any suggestions you have are appreciated.
Can a replicator's shapes individually conform to a motion path?
