Hi Shawn, about the Curve Modifier, which can indeed give unexpected results:
To set this up correctly, you should make sure that the object’s Origin is at the Center of it’s Geometry and that it is at the same position as the Curve’s Origin. Let’s start with no rotations for both Object and Curve.
Now with a Curve Modifier, the Object should be at the start of the Curve and when you move the Object in the direction of the Deform Axis, then it follows the Curve like a train following the train tracks. That’s easy enough, right?
But the Deform Axis also positions the Object so, that the Objects (Local) Axis that is the same as the Deform Axis points in the direction of the Curve’s (Local) X-axis. As an example, when the Deform Axis is set to -Z, then when moving the Object in (Global) -Z direction, it will follow the Curve and the Object’s (Local) -Z-axis is pointing in the direction of the Curve’s (Local) X-axis…
A bit confusing, but still sort of understandable I hope.
Now, when you start rotating the Curve (in Object Mode) around it’s X-axis, then the Object also rotates along it’s (the Object’s!) own (Local) X-axis. Similarly for the other axes…
Because the Curve was probably already rotated, the behavior would have been a complete mystery, especially if you are not aware of the above ‘rules’;)
I hope this is clear, as this is a pictureless explanation, which I am not used to do, but I couldn’t think of any pictures that would make this any clearer…
