Animating a dashed arrow along a path

[tauber42]

Kind of a newbie question I guess, but I'm having trouble animating a dashed arrow along a path.  I can get a solid arrow, just fine, using a box with a PathDeform modifier and attaching it to a spline.  But I'm not sure how to indicate movement.

I've attached an example

Thank you

[leeminardi]

Here's one method that works fairly well for straight and arc path segements.

Create the desired line and arc centerlines for the path and enable rendering in renderer and viewport and choose the Rectangular option and assign the desired width and perhaps a thin length.

Create a material that is striped and assign it to the lines and arcs.

Keyframe the vertices of the straight segements as need and keyframe the arc from and to angles as needed.

Let me know if you need more detail.

~Lee

[VishnuR]

Hello,

I understand you want to know how to animate a dashed arrow along a path
in 3ds Max.
 
Try this:
Create a plan with multiple segments and apply it to a spline
representing your path.
 
Use a Path Deform WSM modifier on the plane.
In the Path Deform WSM modifier parameters...
click
Pick Path and pick the spline.
click Move To Path
enable x, y, or z and or flip depending on how you created the object.( experiment )
 
That will make the plane bend along your path.
( adjust the Percent and Stretch values of the Path Deform modifier.
 
Then add a black and white repeating/tiled texture or a
gradient ramp.
See my sample scene and pic in the Attachments section of this case  for you.
Note how I made the ramp, you'll have to experiment to refine it.
Or maybe easier with a jpeg, etc texture.

Best Regards

VR

[dave.tyner]

Have you tried any of the suggestions so far? I have my own but will save it until I know you're looking 🙂