Click the image to see the final effect

Step 1;

To start things out create an arrow in Adobe Illustrator.

Step 2;

Now in order to bring your Illustrator's path into Maya you'll have to save your file as an Illustrator 8 format.

Step 3;

Now to import your Illustrator file into Maya, go up to the Create menu and select Adobe Illustrator Object. Now select your arrow file and hit apply.

Step 4;

When you import your file you'll need to reset the pivot point to the center of the arrow so that it rotates properly when animated. Go to Modify menu and select Center Pivot.

Step 5;

Now to add volume to your arrow, go to Surfaces menu and select the Bevel Plus effect.

Step 6;

Ok now we need to create the path that the arrow will travel on. Go up to the Create menu and select the EP Curve tool, then draw out the path.

Step 7;

Now we need to attach the arrow to the path we just created. Go up to the Animate menu then to the Motion Paths submenu and select Attach to Motion Paths options.



Ok now click on the movie below to see the effect you should have now.

Step 8;

Now we need to smooth out the arrow so it fits the path of the curve. Go back to Animate menu then to the Motion Paths submenu and select Flow Path Object options.

Step 9;

Here are the values I used for my Flow Path Objects options, feel free to experiment with different values. Basically the goal is here is to up the Divisions so it smoothes out the objects.

Ok now hit "Apply," you can click on the movie below to see the effect you should have now.