Orient to Path is a layer setting that automatically adjusts a layer's rotation to point the object in the direction it's moving in.
With Orient to Path and Position Paths, you can create complex position + rotation animation without needing many keyframes.
Orient to Path is an option for any layer that has position keyframes. If you do not have position keyframes, you will not be able to turn on this setting.
Turning on Orient to Path from the Inspector
When a layer has at least 1 position keyframe, the Orient to Path setting appears on the layer's rotation property. The Orient to Path setting is represented by a diamond in a circle icon.
To activate Orient to Path, all you need to do is click the icon, and the layer should immediately orient to the direction it's moving in.
Turning on Orient to Path in Position Path Edit Mode
While selecting a layer with at least 1 position keyframe, the Orient to Path setting is accessible on Position Path Editing Mode. The Orient to Path setting can be activated with a checkbox under the Position Path block on the inspector.
With the checkbox active, the layer should immediately orient to the direction it's moving in.
Orientation Inspector Block
When Orient to Path has been activated, an Orientation block will appear on the inspector. This block calculates the angle your layer is moving in (Path angle) and sets the value on the layer's Rotation property.
If you'd like to manually adjust the rotation of the layer on-top-of the automatic setting, you can do so using the Rotation offset parameter on this block.
Adjusting the layer's Rotation via the canvas will adjust the Rotation offset parameter.
> This video highlights the steps to orient your layer to a path.