<Return to the Table of Contents>

Motion Trail

Motion Trail creates semi-transparent streaks along a flexible path. An in-preview control precisely steers the streak. Objects can turn, swerve, blast off, descend or even travel in a straight line, if you still dig simplicity.

Settings Tab
See Using Settings for more information.

Basic Tab

In-preview Controls
By clicking the arrow button above the preview window , you enable an in-preview control that offers click-and-drag control over the curvature, length and direction of the motion trail.

The inner point controls curvature along the motion trail. Simply place the cursor over the point, then click and drag the point until you find the desired curvature.



Click and drag the middle control point to give your motion trail flowing curves
.

The outer control point controls the length of your motion trail and the direction in which it travels. If a curve has already been placed in the trail, it scales when you adjust the length of the trail.

Top to bottom: The outer control point lengthens your motion trail. Note the scaling curvature.

Direction
Controls the direction in which the motion trail travels. Click and drag within the control box to change the direction, or enter a value between 0 and 360 degrees.

Length
You can also adjust the length of your trail by dragging the Length slider or entering a numeric value.

Taper
Controls the degree to which the motion trail tapers to a point.

Top to bottom: Increasing Taper.

Compress Sides
Makes the sides of the motion trail curve inward.

Top to bottom: Increasing Compress Sides.

Opacity
Controls the transparency of the motion trail. The more opaque you make the motion trail, the more the original image is obscured, unless you adjust the Mask Selection value.

Mask Selection
Controls the opacity of the trail over the original selection or object.

Top to bottom: Increasing Mask Selection.

<Return to the Table of Contents>