Animate the points on a path or clipping path

In Microsoft Expression Blend, you can animate the points (or vertices) on a path object. For example, you could animate the points of a clipping path to gradually reveal the object underneath the clipping path. You could convert text in a TextBlock to path objects, and then animate the letters to change them into other shapes, perhaps even reversing the storyboard so that you start with shapes that change into letters.

Path objects are created by the Pen tool , by the Pencil tool , and by converting other objects (such as shapes or text) to paths.

To animate the points on a path or clipping path

1. If you do not have a path object on the artboard, you can create one by following the instructions in one of the following topics:

   • Draw a free-form path

   • Draw a curve

   • Convert a shape to a path

   • Convert text to a path

   • Apply, modify, or remove a clipping path

   • Combine shapes or paths

   • Make or release a compound path

2. Open the storyboard to which you want to add the path animation timeline, or create a new storyboard.

   For more information, see Open or close a storyboard or Create, modify, or delete a storyboard.

3. In the Objects and Timeline panel, select the path object that you want to animate.

4. In the Tools panel, select the Direct Selection tool . The points of your path object are identified on the artboard by small squares.

   

5. Move the timeline playhead  to the location on the timeline where you want to record a change in one of the points.

6. On the artboard, either drag or hold down ALT while dragging individual points and line segments to new locations. You can also select the Pen tool  to add or remove points on the path.

   Note

   If you add or remove points when in timeline-recording mode, the results take effect from the start of the timeline. For example, removing a point changes the starting shape of the path as if you had removed the point when not in timeline-recording mode.

   For a list of the different ways that you can modify a path, see Direct Selection tool modifier keys and Pen tool modifier keys.

   

7. Continue moving the timeline playhead  and modifying points until you complete your animation.

See also

Tasks

Test a storyboard

Apply, modify, or remove a clipping path

Concepts

Keyboard shortcuts and modifier keys