Motion paths - starting a path from the end point of a previous path

Hi Ari - Have you considered using relative start points on your motion paths? That's what I've done in the past. In order to line it up, I'll move the shape to where the end point will be for the first motion path and create the motion path where I want the shape to go if it were moving from that point. Then I'll edit the motion path to have a relative start point and move the shape back to where it's beginning.

If you're worried about not being able to move the shape back exactly where it started, I would make a copy of the shape and keep it there so you have something to align it to. Not sure if others have any more efficient ways to accomplish this, but that's how I would handle it.

I have to admit I don't fully understand relative starting points.  can you show me what you are talking about.

Under Path Options, select 'Relative Start Point'. With that a motion path always starts from the current position of the object (wherever that may be). 

Have a look at the fourth example here. This maze was done with four motion path animations, all with Relative Start Points.

Thanks Michael,

I'll play with it and see where it goes

so here is a question that I have.  If i have four question slides, and I build my motion paths on the first slide, can I copy and paste and then tell the object to start at point 3, for question 3?

okay i have to be missing something  every time i try to set the relative start point, it jumps the grapic over a bit.

here is what I'm doing

1. place motion path one on the picture

2. select the picture and select add motion path

3. select free form.

4a when i click on the orignal image it places the motion path from the orignial start point

4b when i try and click on the shadow image of where the image ends, it creates a new start point which gives me the little jump.

Help please.

Okay, upate... I can make it work perfectly with the built in lines, arcs etc, but not when I create free form paths.

Hi Ari - If you want to use the freeform motion path, you're just going to have to try to be really exact with it since your object is on two different slides. What I've done in that instance is to have both of the pictures on the same slide and try to put the second one where you think the end point is for the first one. Then you can select the first one and click the animations tab so you can see the shadow of where it ends up and go back and forth between the shadow and the second image to line it up as best you can. Once it's in the right spot, cut and paste the second image onto your second slide.

I attached your original story with an additional slide to show you what I was talking about with the relative start point. But unless I'm missing something, I think that will only work if it's the same object on the same slide. You might try ditching the built-in freeform and recreate your own with layers.

Thanks so much for your input, Stephen! Hope that is what Ari needs to do the trick. :)

This is sometimes a hit or miss feature for me, but if you press CTRL + SHIFT + Enter while you have the motion path selected you can define the XY coordinates for the ending position of your object on the motion path.

This only works okay since the XY coordinates aren't based on the slide but on the original objects location, basically making the original objects location (0,0). On top of that I think they are also based on what type of motion you chose, so since i chose a DOWN motion path for this object the height is 100 instead of -100.

But if you can math it correctly you should be able to drop the object's end location exactly where you want it. I don't really use this all that often, but since accurate pathing was mentioned I thought i'd mention it.

Excellent information, Jackson! Thanks for assisting here. :)

Great examples! May I ask where you found the puzzle pieces? I am trying to put together something very similar to this for a course I am working on; the client just wants me to show puzzle pieces coming together to form a completed puzzle. :) 

It's been a while since I did this  puzzle, but I do remember finding a Photoshop action somewhere on the net and applying it to a photo. 

Here is a thread that may provide some ideas.