How to: Rotate an Object by Using a Geometric Path (Matrix Animation)

This example shows how to use a MatrixAnimationUsingPath and a MatrixTransform to rotate (pivot) an object along a geometric path defined by a PathGeometry object.

Example

The following example uses the MatrixAnimationUsingPath object to animate the Matrix property of a MatrixTransform. The MatrixTransform is applied to a button and causes it to move along a curved path. Because the DoesRotateWithTangent property is set to true, the rectangle rotates along the tangent of the path.

<Page 
  xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation" 
  xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml" 
  xmlns:PresentationOptions="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation/options" 
  xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
  mc:Ignorable="PresentationOptions" Margin="20">
  <Canvas Width="400" Height="400">
      
    <!-- The Button that is animated across the screen by animating
         the MatrixTransform applied to the button. -->
    <Button MinWidth="100" Content="A Button">
      <Button.RenderTransform>
        <MatrixTransform x:Name="ButtonMatrixTransform">
          <MatrixTransform.Matrix >
            <Matrix />
          </MatrixTransform.Matrix>
        </MatrixTransform>
      </Button.RenderTransform>
      <Button.Triggers>
        <EventTrigger RoutedEvent="Button.Loaded">
          <BeginStoryboard>
            <Storyboard>
              <MatrixAnimationUsingPath
              Storyboard.TargetName="ButtonMatrixTransform"
              Storyboard.TargetProperty="Matrix"
              DoesRotateWithTangent="True"
              Duration="0:0:5" 
              RepeatBehavior="Forever" >
                <MatrixAnimationUsingPath.PathGeometry>
                  <PathGeometry 
                    Figures="M 10,100 C 35,0 135,0 160,100 180,190 285,200 310,100" 
                    PresentationOptions:Freeze="True" />
                </MatrixAnimationUsingPath.PathGeometry>
              </MatrixAnimationUsingPath>
            </Storyboard>
          </BeginStoryboard>
        </EventTrigger>
      </Button.Triggers>
    </Button>
  </Canvas>
</Page>

using System;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Windows.Media.Animation;
using System.Windows.Navigation;
using System.Windows.Shapes;

namespace SDKSample
{

    /// <summary>
    /// Shows how to animate an object along
    /// a geometric path.
    /// </summary>
    public class MatrixAnimationUsingPathDoesRotateWithTangentExample : Page
    {

        public MatrixAnimationUsingPathDoesRotateWithTangentExample()
        {
            this.Margin = new Thickness(20);

            // Create a NameScope for the page so that
            // we can use Storyboards.
            NameScope.SetNameScope(this, new NameScope());

            // Create a button.
            Button aButton = new Button();
            aButton.MinWidth = 100;
            aButton.Content = "A Button";

            // Create a MatrixTransform. This transform
            // will be used to move the button.
            MatrixTransform buttonMatrixTransform = new MatrixTransform();
            aButton.RenderTransform = buttonMatrixTransform;

            // Register the transform's name with the page
            // so that it can be targeted by a Storyboard.
            this.RegisterName("ButtonMatrixTransform", buttonMatrixTransform);

            // Create a Canvas to contain the button
            // and add it to the page.
            // Although this example uses a Canvas,
            // any type of panel will work.
            Canvas mainPanel = new Canvas();
            mainPanel.Width = 400;
            mainPanel.Height = 400;
            mainPanel.Children.Add(aButton);
            this.Content = mainPanel;

            // Create the animation path.
            PathGeometry animationPath = new PathGeometry();
            PathFigure pFigure = new PathFigure();
            pFigure.StartPoint = new Point(10, 100);
            PolyBezierSegment pBezierSegment = new PolyBezierSegment();
            pBezierSegment.Points.Add(new Point(35, 0));
            pBezierSegment.Points.Add(new Point(135, 0));
            pBezierSegment.Points.Add(new Point(160, 100));
            pBezierSegment.Points.Add(new Point(180, 190));
            pBezierSegment.Points.Add(new Point(285, 200));
            pBezierSegment.Points.Add(new Point(310, 100));
            pFigure.Segments.Add(pBezierSegment);
            animationPath.Figures.Add(pFigure);

            // Freeze the PathGeometry for performance benefits.
            animationPath.Freeze();

            // Create a MatrixAnimationUsingPath to move the
            // button along the path by animating
            // its MatrixTransform.
            MatrixAnimationUsingPath matrixAnimation =
                new MatrixAnimationUsingPath();
            matrixAnimation.PathGeometry = animationPath;
            matrixAnimation.Duration = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5);
            matrixAnimation.RepeatBehavior = RepeatBehavior.Forever;

            // Set the animation's DoesRotateWithTangent property
            // to true so that rotates the rectangle in addition
            // to moving it.
            matrixAnimation.DoesRotateWithTangent = true;

            // Set the animation to target the Matrix property
            // of the MatrixTransform named "ButtonMatrixTransform".
            Storyboard.SetTargetName(matrixAnimation, "ButtonMatrixTransform");
            Storyboard.SetTargetProperty(matrixAnimation,
                new PropertyPath(MatrixTransform.MatrixProperty));

            // Create a Storyboard to contain and apply the animation.
            Storyboard pathAnimationStoryboard = new Storyboard();
            pathAnimationStoryboard.Children.Add(matrixAnimation);

            // Start the storyboard when the button is loaded.
            aButton.Loaded += delegate(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
            {
                // Start the storyboard.
                pathAnimationStoryboard.Begin(this);
            };
        }
    }
}

Imports System.Windows
Imports System.Windows.Controls
Imports System.Windows.Media
Imports System.Windows.Media.Animation
Imports System.Windows.Navigation
Imports System.Windows.Shapes


Namespace SDKSample

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Shows how to animate an object along
    ''' a geometric path.
    ''' </summary>
    Public Class MatrixAnimationUsingPathDoesRotateWithTangentExample
        Inherits Page

        Public Sub New()
            Me.Margin = New Thickness(20)

            ' Create a NameScope for the page so that
            ' we can use Storyboards.
            NameScope.SetNameScope(Me, New NameScope())

            ' Create a button.
            Dim aButton As New Button()
            aButton.MinWidth = 100
            aButton.Content = "A Button"

            ' Create a MatrixTransform. This transform
            ' will be used to move the button.
            Dim buttonMatrixTransform As New MatrixTransform()
            aButton.RenderTransform = buttonMatrixTransform

            ' Register the transform's name with the page
            ' so that it can be targeted by a Storyboard.
            Me.RegisterName("ButtonMatrixTransform", buttonMatrixTransform)

            ' Create a Canvas to contain the button
            ' and add it to the page.
            ' Although this example uses a Canvas,
            ' any type of panel will work.
            Dim mainPanel As New Canvas()
            mainPanel.Width = 400
            mainPanel.Height = 400
            mainPanel.Children.Add(aButton)
            Me.Content = mainPanel

            ' Create the animation path.
            Dim animationPath As New PathGeometry()
            Dim pFigure As New PathFigure()
            pFigure.StartPoint = New Point(10, 100)
            Dim pBezierSegment As New PolyBezierSegment()
            pBezierSegment.Points.Add(New Point(35, 0))
            pBezierSegment.Points.Add(New Point(135, 0))
            pBezierSegment.Points.Add(New Point(160, 100))
            pBezierSegment.Points.Add(New Point(180, 190))
            pBezierSegment.Points.Add(New Point(285, 200))
            pBezierSegment.Points.Add(New Point(310, 100))
            pFigure.Segments.Add(pBezierSegment)
            animationPath.Figures.Add(pFigure)

            ' Freeze the PathGeometry for performance benefits.
            animationPath.Freeze()

            ' Create a MatrixAnimationUsingPath to move the
            ' button along the path by animating
            ' its MatrixTransform.
            Dim matrixAnimation As New MatrixAnimationUsingPath()
            matrixAnimation.PathGeometry = animationPath
            matrixAnimation.Duration = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5)
            matrixAnimation.RepeatBehavior = RepeatBehavior.Forever

            ' Set the animation's DoesRotateWithTangent property
            ' to true so that rotates the rectangle in addition
            ' to moving it.
            matrixAnimation.DoesRotateWithTangent = True

            ' Set the animation to target the Matrix property
            ' of the MatrixTransform named "ButtonMatrixTransform".
            Storyboard.SetTargetName(matrixAnimation, "ButtonMatrixTransform")
            Storyboard.SetTargetProperty(matrixAnimation, New PropertyPath(MatrixTransform.MatrixProperty))

            ' Create a Storyboard to contain and apply the animation.
            Dim pathAnimationStoryboard As New Storyboard()
            pathAnimationStoryboard.Children.Add(matrixAnimation)

            ' Start the storyboard when the button is loaded.
            AddHandler aButton.Loaded, Sub(sender As Object, e As RoutedEventArgs) pathAnimationStoryboard.Begin(Me)



        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

For the complete sample, see Path Animation Sample.

The code version of the preceding sample used a Storyboard to animate the EllipseGeometry, even though only one animation was applied. An easier way to apply a single animation to a property in code is to use the BeginAnimation method. For an example, see Animate a Property Without Using a Storyboard.

See also

• Animation Overview
• Path Animation How-to Topics
• Path Animation Sample