Follow Curve
Follow a timed path
HS Follow Curve version 6.10 – release date 4 April 2026
===============================================
What’s new?
============
This is the first update to this tool since the 5.20 release in 2018 (before this hosting site was created).
The interpolation mode (preset to Linear in 5.20) now uses the interpolation mode as set in the timeline dropdown (including “copy previous”).
The core functionality remains essentially unchanged.
Overview
==========
This tool is similar to the Follow Path function. Its main difference is that it uses the control points in the “path to follow” as timing points.
This tool is enabled when a vector layer, bone layer or switch layer (including frame by frame) is active.
The cursor is used to pick any path on any vector layer, and the selected points or bones will be translated along the path that was picked.
In the tool bar there are four main fields
- the keyframe interval – valid values are between 1 and 60 inclusive, the default is 3.
- a checkbox to control whether newly generated keyframes are added to the timeline, preserving existing keys or whether keyframes within the scope of the new path are to be deleted. The default is that overlapping keyframes are to be deleted.
- a pair of radio buttons to control whether the bones are to be translated along the chosen path or whether the tip of the chosen bone is to be moved along the path using Inverse Kinematics (IK).
- a checkbox for point selection to use lasso mode (copied to/from the standard point selection tool) (the lasso option is not available for bone selection).
Operation
==========
Select the layer that contains the items to be moved.
Optionally select the point(s) or bone(s) to be moved.
Activate the “follow curve” tool.
Choose the keyframe interval required.
If a bone layer is selected, decide if the bone will translate along the path or rotate (using IK). Note that if IK is selected only one bone can be processed. If bone translation is chosen the selected bones must not be in the same chain (see below).
The alt key enables the target set of points or a target bone to be chosen. With the alt key held down on the initial mouse click, selection mode is enabled until the mouse is released. Note that the alt key does not have to be held down (and should not be held down unless the intention is to de-select points) whilst the mouse is being moved.
>> On a vector layer (i.e. an actual vector layer or the active vector layer in a frame by frame group), selection mode allows you to modify the choice of points to be translated. Any number of points may be translated. The standard point selection tool is invoked, so modifier keys alt and shift will remove or add points to the selection.
>> On a bone type layer (i.e. a bone or a switch layer), selection mode allows you to select one bone.
Hold down the mouse button and move the cursor to anywhere on the path to be followed – a selection bar will appear showing the start (large marker) and end (small marker) points. The colour of the points along the line is governed by the choice of “clear overlapping” checkbox. The colours are from the Preferences / Editor Colours: “Selection” is if keys are to be deleted; or “Object” if the keys are not to be deleted.
The shift key is used to change the direction along the path.
Keyframes are generated only if a curve to follow is selected when the mouse button is released. Keyframes are generated at the chosen interval using every point in the “path to follow”. (For example, if the “path to follow” has 7 points, the chosen interval is 2 and the timeline is at frame 15, keyframes will be generated at frame 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27.) These are point translation keyframes for the selected points or bone translation (motion) or angle (IK) keyframes for the selected bones. If there were keyframes for any of the selected items within the duration of the generated animation these will be deleted unless the “clear overlapping” checkbox is cleared. Keyframes before and after the generated animation are not affected (it may be necessary to add or delete such keyframes manually).
If the path to follow is a closed path, additional keys are generated so that the translation loops. (For example, if the “path to follow” has 7 points, the chosen interval is 2 and the timeline is at frame 15, keyframes will be generated at frame 15...27 plus a cyclic keyframe at 29.) A circle is drawn over the selection line when a closed path is chosen.
Note that the path to follow need not be a shape (in other words, it can be just a path without stroke or fill and so will be invisible when rendered).
If this tool is invoked with multiple bones selected for translation, all bones that also have a parent bone selected will be de-selected and only the oldest ancestor(s) will be translated. (Attempting to translate a parent and child bones along exactly the same path can give unpredictable results).
If this tool is invoked with multiple bones selected for IK processing an error message is generated and no other action is taken.
If multiple points or bones are selected for translation, the centre point of the selection follows the curve.
When the tool finishes, the timeline is positioned at the keyframe at the highest frame number that was created.
Notes and known issues
======================
This version of the tool is designed to work on Moho 14 or later versions. Version 5.20 remains available (https://lostmarble.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=180927#p180927) for users on earlier Moho versions.
There is no Localisation support.
The graphics engine in Moho 14.4 does not always correctly display the marker points indicating the curve to be followed and the direction of motion along it.
There are no other known issues.
Comments, bug reports, feature requests etc are always welcome via the official Moho forum or Discord.
Planned changes for any next release are:
- Review and enhance the UI
- Additional features if/as requested
- Errors if/as reported or resolved
4 April 2026
===============================================
What’s new?
============
This is the first update to this tool since the 5.20 release in 2018 (before this hosting site was created).
The interpolation mode (preset to Linear in 5.20) now uses the interpolation mode as set in the timeline dropdown (including “copy previous”).
The core functionality remains essentially unchanged.
Overview
==========
This tool is similar to the Follow Path function. Its main difference is that it uses the control points in the “path to follow” as timing points.
This tool is enabled when a vector layer, bone layer or switch layer (including frame by frame) is active.
The cursor is used to pick any path on any vector layer, and the selected points or bones will be translated along the path that was picked.
In the tool bar there are four main fields
- the keyframe interval – valid values are between 1 and 60 inclusive, the default is 3.
- a checkbox to control whether newly generated keyframes are added to the timeline, preserving existing keys or whether keyframes within the scope of the new path are to be deleted. The default is that overlapping keyframes are to be deleted.
- a pair of radio buttons to control whether the bones are to be translated along the chosen path or whether the tip of the chosen bone is to be moved along the path using Inverse Kinematics (IK).
- a checkbox for point selection to use lasso mode (copied to/from the standard point selection tool) (the lasso option is not available for bone selection).
Operation
==========
Select the layer that contains the items to be moved.
Optionally select the point(s) or bone(s) to be moved.
Activate the “follow curve” tool.
Choose the keyframe interval required.
If a bone layer is selected, decide if the bone will translate along the path or rotate (using IK). Note that if IK is selected only one bone can be processed. If bone translation is chosen the selected bones must not be in the same chain (see below).
The alt key enables the target set of points or a target bone to be chosen. With the alt key held down on the initial mouse click, selection mode is enabled until the mouse is released. Note that the alt key does not have to be held down (and should not be held down unless the intention is to de-select points) whilst the mouse is being moved.
>> On a vector layer (i.e. an actual vector layer or the active vector layer in a frame by frame group), selection mode allows you to modify the choice of points to be translated. Any number of points may be translated. The standard point selection tool is invoked, so modifier keys alt and shift will remove or add points to the selection.
>> On a bone type layer (i.e. a bone or a switch layer), selection mode allows you to select one bone.
Hold down the mouse button and move the cursor to anywhere on the path to be followed – a selection bar will appear showing the start (large marker) and end (small marker) points. The colour of the points along the line is governed by the choice of “clear overlapping” checkbox. The colours are from the Preferences / Editor Colours: “Selection” is if keys are to be deleted; or “Object” if the keys are not to be deleted.
The shift key is used to change the direction along the path.
Keyframes are generated only if a curve to follow is selected when the mouse button is released. Keyframes are generated at the chosen interval using every point in the “path to follow”. (For example, if the “path to follow” has 7 points, the chosen interval is 2 and the timeline is at frame 15, keyframes will be generated at frame 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27.) These are point translation keyframes for the selected points or bone translation (motion) or angle (IK) keyframes for the selected bones. If there were keyframes for any of the selected items within the duration of the generated animation these will be deleted unless the “clear overlapping” checkbox is cleared. Keyframes before and after the generated animation are not affected (it may be necessary to add or delete such keyframes manually).
If the path to follow is a closed path, additional keys are generated so that the translation loops. (For example, if the “path to follow” has 7 points, the chosen interval is 2 and the timeline is at frame 15, keyframes will be generated at frame 15...27 plus a cyclic keyframe at 29.) A circle is drawn over the selection line when a closed path is chosen.
Note that the path to follow need not be a shape (in other words, it can be just a path without stroke or fill and so will be invisible when rendered).
If this tool is invoked with multiple bones selected for translation, all bones that also have a parent bone selected will be de-selected and only the oldest ancestor(s) will be translated. (Attempting to translate a parent and child bones along exactly the same path can give unpredictable results).
If this tool is invoked with multiple bones selected for IK processing an error message is generated and no other action is taken.
If multiple points or bones are selected for translation, the centre point of the selection follows the curve.
When the tool finishes, the timeline is positioned at the keyframe at the highest frame number that was created.
Notes and known issues
======================
This version of the tool is designed to work on Moho 14 or later versions. Version 5.20 remains available (https://lostmarble.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=180927#p180927) for users on earlier Moho versions.
There is no Localisation support.
The graphics engine in Moho 14.4 does not always correctly display the marker points indicating the curve to be followed and the direction of motion along it.
There are no other known issues.
Comments, bug reports, feature requests etc are always welcome via the official Moho forum or Discord.
Planned changes for any next release are:
- Review and enhance the UI
- Additional features if/as requested
- Errors if/as reported or resolved
4 April 2026
The script is supplied with the following files:
Icons and cursors:
