Paths

A path is a curve you draw from points. Use it to make shapes like pipes and ropes, or as a route for an object to travel along.

A path can do two jobs:

1. A shape. Carry an outline along the curve to get a pipe, a rope, a road, a railing, a ribbon or a neon tube.
2. A route. Send an object along the curve with the Fly along path step: a train, a camera move, a guard on patrol.

The points are saved relative to their object. So when you move, rotate or scale the object, the whole path moves with it.

Draw a path

1. Select an object. An empty object works well.
2. In the inspector, click + new component and choose Path.
3. Click Edit points.
4. Click the line to add a point. Drag a point to move it. Double-click a point to remove it.
5. Press Esc or click Done when you finish.

You can also type exact coordinates in the list of points, and add points with Add point.

Shape the curve

In the editor	Field	What it does
the list of points	points	the points the curve passes through
Smooth or Straight segments	curve	smooth curves through the points; linear joins them with straight lines
Tension	tension	how tightly a smooth curve hugs its points
Closed	closed	joins the end back to the start to make a loop

Turn the path into a shape

By default, a path is invisible. It is only a route.

To make it a shape, go to Extrusion and pick a Shape (profile): Circle, Rectangle or Star. That outline is carried along the curve. A Circle gives you a round tube.

In the editor	Field	What it does
Size	profileSize	how big the outline is
Sides	sides	corners on a circle, or points on a star
Ring	ring	hollows the outline out: 0 is solid, close to 1 is a thin shell
Arc	arc	below 360°, the outline opens into a slice
Rotation · Twist	rotation · twist	the outline's angle at the start, and how much it turns by the end
Start scale · End scale	startScale · endScale	makes the shape thinner or thicker from one end to the other
Depth · Offset	depth · offset	how much of the path is covered, and where that part starts
Caps	caps	Flat or Round ends
Length segments	tubularSegments	how smooth the shape is along its length

Shapes to try

• A hollow rectangle with a twist gives a spiral duct.
• A star with a ring gives a cable channel.
• A circle that tapers to nothing gives a horn or a tentacle.

With Depth below 1, you can animate a shape drawing itself along its path.

Use the path as a route

A path belongs to its own object. To send something along it:

1. Select the object that should travel.
2. Add an event, then add the Fly along path step.
3. Set Path to the object that holds the curve.
4. Set the other options below.

In the editor	Field	What it does
Path	path	the object that holds the curve
Duration	duration	how long one trip takes, in seconds
Repeat	loop	Once, Loop or Back and forth
Face along path	orient	turns the object to face along the curve as it goes
Reverse	reverse	travels the other way

To stop the object, use the Stop path flight step.

A patrol route

Make an empty object and draw the path on it. Then give your guard a Fly along path step that points at it, with Repeat set to Loop and Face along path on. Several guards can share one path. To space them out, give each a different Duration, or delay their start.

The curve belongs to its object, so moving that object moves the whole route. For example, a patrol path that is a child of a moving platform keeps working as the platform moves.

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Next: First script — for when you want more control.