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In Microsoft Expression Blend 2, you can now 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 .png "Cc296372.894f8612-e0ed-4e00-84cf-a9bc8f38fc54(en-us,Expression.10).png")
tool, the Pencil .png "Cc296372.509dc167-734f-46c9-b012-987ee63450cd(en-us,Expression.10).png")
tool, and by converting other objects (such as shapes or text) to paths.
To animate the points on a path or clipping path
If you do not have a path object on the artboard, you can create one using one of the following options:
Draw a shape, and then convert the shape to a path.
Draw a TextBlock control, edit the text, and then convert the text to a path.
Add an object to the artboard, such as an image, and then apply a clipping path.
Optionally combine paths, or make a compound path to create more complex paths.
Open the storyboard to which you want to add the path animation timeline, or create a new storyboard.
Under Objects and Timeline, select the path object that you want to animate.
In the Toolbox, select the Direct Selection
.png "Cc296372.6dd6571f-c116-451d-8dd2-1f88b8406362(en-us,Expression.10).png")
tool. The points of your path object are identified on the artboard by small squares..png "Cc296372.9ac35d28-e749-4032-9946-a19e62905b71(en-us,Expression.10).png")
Move the timeline playhead
.png "Cc296372.5626c9eb-40bb-450a-9ca1-3678e5abe429(en-us,Expression.10).png")
to the location on the timeline where you want to record a change in one of the points.On the artboard, use your mouse to drag, or ALT+drag, 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 Pen and direct selection usage.
.png "Cc296372.7956fc51-fea6-4f6d-96e6-1ee13d7f6ea6(en-us,Expression.10).png")
Continue moving the timeline playhead
and modifying points until you complete your animation.