The flags would be like playing cards, end to end. They enter the scene from the bottom left corner, flow into z depth, then swoop up on the right top, and circle a globe., around the outer circumference, positioned like the numbers of a clock face.

I’m stumped. I tried attaching the cards to a spline and animating that...X I’m pretty new to 3D so any help or tutorial referral would be appreciated.

Rory Tate
Canadian, OK

I’m not completely understanding what you are wanting to do, but from what I gather I can suggest looking at the animation tuts that come packaged with max.  I believe there is one that deals with animating along a path...should be a good jumping off point for your animation

The easiest way would be to create a path (line) for each flag/card. Apply a Path Constraint to the card and pick the appropriate line.

If you want them to stay grouped together (in formation) up to a certain point then split up to move to their final positions then create 1 line from the start to the split point, then a line per card from that point to the end position. Create a dummy per line - 1 for the “common” path and one for each split path. Apply path constraints to all of them. Apply a Link Constraint from each card to the “common” dummy. At the point (in time) where they begin to split up, add a new link to the dummy on the appropriate path.
Note that you’ll have to move the automatically generated keys for this to work correctly.

You could also repeat the procedure on a final circular path around the globe once they are in position.

See the max reference for “link constraint” for the details.

Max 4.2 through 2013.
XP-64 (SP2)
NVidia 9800GTX-512 (Driver 266.58).
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, 8Gb Ram, DX9.0c.

Thanks Kailyon and Steve,

The Max tutorial is what I need practice, then on to Steve’s suggestions.  I have hope!

Rory