make an object move in a circle

[malkuth23]

If anyone has ever taken the PB class in California you might have been challenged by Sam to make an object move in a perfect circle. This is generally a sort of punishment for learning all the curriculum too quickly.

Props to Casey for solving this in just a few minutes.

First, take the object you want to move in a circle and place it into the 4 equal-distant cardinal points, recording each position on the timeline exactly 2 (or x) seconds apart from each other. Then create the fifth position by copying from the original keyframes to complete the rough circle. Use exact numbers for x position and y position - do not try to just eyeball it.

Hint: For this exercise I find it easier to move the object to the most distant Z position rather than scaling down. This will give you more information to use in the Curve Editor.

Load the X-position into the curve editor.
Make EVERY OTHER keyframe a bezier curve. Leave the other points a standard linear curve.
Load the Y-position into the curve editor.
Make the opposite keyframes a bezier curve. Leaving the other points a standard linear curve.

You do not need to adjust the handles on the curve point at all.

Screen capture for the X-Position:


Screen capture for the Y-Position:

[Sam Kriemelmeyer]

jolly good ! very nice write up matt.


my only add on would be to note it would be easiest to work with the parameter value readout in "centered" mode. for easy numbers!

[dimchaeno]

T.T.....
I am invisible picture.........

[malkuth23]

This is obsolete info.

Just set a rotation speed and use a pivot offset.