Point At

Point At

The Point At behavior causes an object or group to turn toward a target point. Use the Point At behavior with the Move To behavior to created animated objects that not only move toward a point (or each other), but that turn in the direction of the target.

Adjust this behavior using the controls in the Behaviors Inspector:

  • Object: An object well that defines the target object. To set the target object, drag an object from the Layers list to this object well. You can also drag the target object from the Layers list onto the Point At behavior.

  • Transition: A slider that determines how long it takes the object to go from its starting orientation to pointing at the center of the target object. This parameter is useful when the object is pointing at a moving target object.

    If Transition is set to 50% in a 300-frame project, and the target object is not moving, the point-at object takes 150 frames to point at (or orient to) the center of the target object and then stops moving for the duration of the behavior. If Transition is set to 100%, the point-at object takes the full 300 frames to point at the target object. If the Point At behavior’s duration is 100 frames, and Transition is set to 50%, the point-at object takes 50 frames to orient to the target object.

    If Transition is set to 50% in a 300-frame project, and the target object is animated, the point-at object takes 150 frames to point at (or orient to) the center of the target object and then continues following the animated target object for the duration of the behavior. If Transition is set to 100%, the point-at object takes the full 300 frames to point at the target object.

  • Speed: A pop-up menu that defines the object’s velocity from its position in the Canvas to the position of the target. There are six choices:

    • Constant: The object moves at a steady speed from its position toward the target.

    • Ease In: The object starts at a slow speed, then reaches and maintains a steady speed toward the target.

    • Ease Out: The object starts at a steady speed, then gradually decelerates to a stop when it reaches the target.

    • Ease Both: The object slowly accelerates, then gradually decelerates to a stop when it reaches the target.

    • Accelerate: The object moves toward the target with increasing speed.

    • Decelerate: The object moves toward the target with decreasing speed.

  • Axis: A pop-up menu that lets you align the rotation of the object to the X, Y, or Z axis. The default axis is Z. This parameter specifies which axis points at the target after the movement is complete.

  • Invert Axis: A checkbox that flips the object so it faces the proper direction. Select the checkbox if the object is aligning on the correct axis, but appears backwards.