Apple Motion 4 User Manual

Motion 4User Manual

About Rasterization1389Appendix AGroups and Rasterization1389Text and Rasterization1392Shapes and Rasterization1393Particles and Rasterization1393Repl

Note: When importing a QuickTime movie that contains multiple audio tracks, select Mixto Stereo in the Import Files dialog to import the file with a s

When no items are selected in the tab, the shortcut menu provides a different set ofcommands:• Import Audio: This option appears when no files are sel

All of this can be accomplished in the Timing pane, which appears at the bottom of theCanvas.To display the Timing paneDo one of the following:µDrag t

TimelineThe Timeline is the most general of the tabs in the Timing pane. It can display not onlythe visual elements in your project (the layers), but

On (not labeled): This column (identical to the On column in the Layers tab) contains anactivation checkbox to the left of each object that turns the

Timeline Track AreaThe main part of the Timeline tab, to the right of the Timeline layers list, is called the trackarea. Objects in your project are e

The playhead tracks the frame currently visible in the Canvas. You can drag the playheador reposition it using the transport controls described inPlay

Timeline Tab Display OptionsAs with the Layers tab, you can choose to show or hide effects such as masks, filters, andbehaviors. Additionally, the Tim

Audio files appear in a separate section from other objects. You can move the dividerbetween the audio and video sections of the Timeline to show more

µClick one of the “Set timeline row size” buttons at the bottom of the tab.To change the width of the Timeline layers list1 Position the pointer over

Keyframe Editor1438Layers1438Library1439Media Tab1440Timeline Editing and Navigating1440Keyframing Commands1442Shape and Mask Commands1442Toolbar14433

Note: To advance or rewind more rapidly, press Shift while dragging in the current framevalue slider.µWith the Timeline active, type the timecode or f

Zooming in the TimelineAs you get familiar with using the Timeline, you will find yourself wanting to focus on anindividual edit point one second, and

µChoose View > Zoom Time View > To Play Range.Note: An object must be selected in the Timeline layers list in order to access the ZoomTime View

Keyframe EditorThe Keyframe Editor is where you can view and modify the individual attributes of filters,behaviors, and other effects over time. Each

Keyframe BasicsYou animate an object by creating at least two keyframes for a parameter, such asOpacity, at different points in time in a project. A k

When the selected object is not animated, nothing appears in the Keyframe Editor.• Modified: This option displays only the curves that have been modif

• New Curve Set: Allows you to create a custom curve set.• Manage Curve Sets: Allows you to manage (delete, duplicate, and so on) your customcurve set

• Animation menu (not labeled): The last column contains a pop-up menu to controlanimation and keyframing attributes for that parameter. The menu cont

• Reduce Keyframes: Applies a “thinning” algorithm to the keyframes for the selectedparameter. This reduces the number of keyframes in a parameter whi

Show audio waveform: Turns on the display of audio waveforms for the selected object.When “Show audio waveform” is turned on and the project contains

Keyframe GraphThe remainder of the Keyframe Editor tab contains the keyframe graph. This area displaysall of the curves and keyframes for the selected

To zoom the Keyframe Editor using the zoom sliderµDrag the zoom slider left to zoom in or right to zoom out.The Keyframe Editor updates as you drag.To

Audio Editor ControlsThe left side of the Audio Editor contains four rows of controls for the audio track currentlyin view. The top row controls playb

Audio Play Range ControlsThe second row provides two controls to set the In and Out points for the audio file.Changing a file’s In or Out point in the

• Add Keyframe: Adds a new keyframe at the current playhead position. To add a keyframe,you can also Option-click the Animation menu.• Delete Keyframe

Audio Editor Keyframe GraphThe remainder of the window contains the keyframe graph. This area contains the curvesand keyframes for the level and pan o

Note: The playhead in the Audio Editor is not the same as the playhead in the Timelineand the Canvas. The Audio Editor playhead shows the current time

To change the start and end time using the audio track barµSelect the track in the Audio tab, then drag either end of the audio track green bar (locat

To zoom the Audio Editor using a Multi-Touch trackpadµPinch open to zoom in, and pinch closed to zoom out.Once zoomed in, you can use two-finger swipe

• Alternate: This layout displays two utility windows on the left, the top one containingthe Inspector and the bottom one containing the File Browser

Motion is a behavior-driven motion graphics application that allows you to create stunningimaging effects for a wide variety of broadcast, video, and

Basic Window ControlsIn addition to choosing from the preset arrangements, you can manually arrange yourwindows, resize them, or minimize them to the

TabsMotion uses tabbed windows to provide convenient access to multiple windows at once.You can switch between windows simply by clicking the appropri

Saving Custom LayoutsOnce you have the windows arranged to your liking, you can save your screen layoutwith a relevant title so you can switch back to

You can also create a new custom layout (based on the current state) by clicking the Addbutton (+) in the Manage Layouts dialog.To switch to a saved c

Full Screen ModeMotion has an option to cover your entire monitor with the Canvas. This is helpful forwatching playback of your project without the di

The HUD also contains special controls for certain types of effects such as Basic Motionbehaviors and particle systems. These unique controls allow yo

Click the arrow to display a pop-up menu that lists all of the possible HUDs that can bedisplayed for the selected object.Note: Pressing D cycles thro

Motion has thousands of different parameters that allow virtually unlimited creativity andflexibility. However with so many different settings to adju

Toolbar ControlsMotion’s Toolbar is located at the top of the main window. There are tools that transformobjects and the project view, as well as tool

Value SliderTo the right of each slider is a second control, called a value slider. This control displaysthe parameter’s current numerical value and h

About the Motion DocumentationThe Motion 4 User Manual (this document) contains detailed information about the Motioninterface, commands, and menus an

Note: In most cases, only the x and y axis value sliders are visible. The z axis value slidercan be revealed by clicking the disclosure triangle next

Value FieldThis control allows direct entry of text to set the value of the parameter.An example of a parameter that uses a value field is the text en

Value ListAnother type of pop-up menu. You can click the disclosure button to the right of thefield to display preset values, or you can type a value

To use a source wellµDrag an object from the File Browser, Library, Layers tab, or Media tab into the emptybox.Once accepted, the name and a thumbnail

• Click the eyedropper, then in the Canvas, click an object of the desired color.• Click the color well’s disclosure triangle and manipulate the indiv

To show the Colors windowDo one of the following:µClick a color well.µChoose View > Show Colors.µPress Command-Shift-C.To pick a color in the Color

Expanding Color ControlsSometimes you need precise numerical control over your colors. This can be helpful ifyou are trying to match two colors exactl

Gradient EditorTo customize or modify the gradient, you must expand the controls to reveal the gradienteditor.Gradient editor controlsControls in the

Interpolation: A pop-up menu that sets the interpolation of the color tag to Constant,Linear, or Continuous.• Constant: Creates a constant color distr

Feather: Use the slider or value field to soften the gradient fill. Positive values soften theshape outward; negative values soften the shape inward.U

Motion graphics is a type of visual effects work most commonly associated with titlesequences and show openers, bumpers and interstitials, and interfa

2 Do one of the following:• Drag the tag left or right.Location sliderDrag the color tag to change position of the color. • In the Location parameter,

To add a color tag to a gradientµTo add a new color tag, position the pointer in the lower color bar where you want toadd the new color, then click.A

Tip: The lower the percentage of the opacity, the greater the transparency.Editing Color and Opacity Direction and DistributionYou can quickly reverse

2 Choose Save Gradient from the Gradient preset pop-up menu.Gradient preset pop-up menu3 In the Save Preset To Library dialog, type the name of the gr

Using the Onscreen Gradient ControlsOnscreen controls provide a more interactive way to edit a gradient’s color, location ofthe color tags and opacity

To add a color tagDo one of the following:µControl-click the gradient control line at the location you want the new tag, then chooseAdd Color Tag from

To reverse the direction of the color gradientµControl-click the gradient control line, then choose Reverse Color from the shortcut menu.To reverse th

The expanded mini-curve editor appears.Sketch toolBox toolEdit toolMini-curve editorWhen expanded, the mini-curve editor shows a representation of the

The Auto Fit checkbox sets whether Motion automatically scales the animation curve tofit within the confines of the mini-curve editor.Auto Fit turned

Animation menu: Most parameters can be animated. This means that you can assignspecific values to certain frames (keyframes) so the parameter value ch

Timing ToolsThe principal difference between traditional design and motion graphics design is thatmotion graphics design is time-based. Motion graphic

• Next Keyframe: Moves the playhead to the next keyframe for this parameter. The NextKeyframe command is only available if a keyframe exists later in

The Motion menu bar provides access to nearly every control in the application. Manymenu items are context sensitive, so they are dimmed when the comm

• Import: Opens a dialog that allows you to import a customized key command set.• Export: Opens a dialog that allows you to export a customized key co

• Close: Closes the currently selected window. If the Canvas is the currently selectedwindow, and the project has not been saved, Motion asks you to s

• Page Setup: Displays the standard system Page Setup dialog where you can set papersize and orientation for printing. (Command-Shift-P)• Print: Displ

• Insert Time: Adds blank space into the Timeline. You can only use Insert Time afterselecting a time range in the Timeline ruler. For more informatio

Mark MenuThis menu contains commands to set the beginning and end points of your objects, addmarkers to the Timeline, navigate through your project, a

• Recording Options: Opens the Recording Options dialog where you can set thegranularity of keyframe recording.• Go to: This submenu contains all of t

Object MenuThis menu contains all of the commands for manipulating objects within Motion. Thisincludes their placement in the layer hierarchy and phys

• Align Horizontal Centers: Lines up the selected objects on their horizontal centerpoints.• Align Vertical Centers: Lines up the selected objects on

Tools and Techniques Specific to the Motion ApplicationAs the field of motion graphics design has evolved, the tool sets in the most commonapplication

Isolate is only available in projects that contain a camera. When an object can beisolated, a small Isolate button appears in the Layers tab. Click th

Each cloned item is copied and named “Clone Layer,” “Clone Layer 1,” and so on. Whenyou clone a layer, the cloned layer is placed in its original grou

• Correct for Aspect Ratio: Adjusts the display of the Canvas to simulate the nonsquarepixels that appear on a TV monitor.• Show Full View Area: Turns

• Select Active Camera: Selects the camera currently active in the Timeline.(Option-Control-C)• Reset View: Resets the camera view to its default orie

• Resolution: This submenu sets the quality level of the Canvas. Reducing the resolutionimproves playback performance. Choose from Full (Shift-Q), Hal

• Depth of Field: Turns off depth of field rendering to improve performance. Whendepth of field rendering is enabled, a checkmark appears beside the m

• Handles: Turns the display of object handles in the Canvas on and off. The handlesare the corner points that let you manipulate an object. When hand

• 3D Scene Icons: Turns all 3D scene icons, such as lights and cameras on and off. Thescene icons appear in the Canvas as wireframe icons, and each in

• Show/Hide HUD: Turns the display of the HUD on or off. (F7)• Show/Hide Background Task List: The Background Task List window displays anybackground

• Audio Editor: Turns the display of the Audio Editor on or off. If the Timing pane is notvisible, this command causes it to appear. If the Audio Edit

Mouse and Keyboard Shortcut ConsiderationsIf you have a two- or three-button mouse connected to your computer, you can right-clickto access the same c

Motion Preferences allow you to customize your workspace, tailor the interface for differenttypes of projects, and define the presets for new projects

General PaneThe General Preferences pane contains settings that apply globally to all aspects of Motion,grouped into the following categories: Startup

Drop Menu Delay: This setting determines how long you must wait before the dropmenu appears when dragging to the Timeline, mini-Timeline, Layers tab,

MediaThis section in the General Preferences pane contains the “Automatically manage unusedmedia” checkbox. When the checkbox is selected, Motion remo

• Color: This setting displays a solid color where transparent pixels appear.Background Color: When Color is chosen from the Background pop-up menu, t

• HSV: This setting displays the color as hue, saturation, and value (brightness) wherehue is a value from 1–360, and saturation and value are ranged

Time DisplayThe controls in this section of the Project Preferences pane set how the time countersacross the application are displayed.Display Time As

Playback ControlThese settings in the Project Preferences pane control how Motion plays back your project.Time View Updating: When the Timing pane is

Cache PaneThe Cache pane contains settings to control the cache for projects. There are fourcategories of controls: Memory & Cache, Autosave, Live

Groups and layers can be moved and animated by using behaviors or by setting keyframes.Filters can also be animated.A project represents a single flow

Customizing AutosaveThere are a number of ways to customize Autosave for your needs.To store auto-saved projects in a specific location1 Choose Motion

Optical Flow RetimingWhen you retime footage, Motion needs to store the retiming files. This setting in theCache pane of the Preferences window specif

Full View Opacity: If Show Full View Area is enabled in the View menu, this settingcontrols the opacity of the part of a layer that extends beyond the

Film ZoneWhen producing output to be used for both television and film, it may be helpful to seethe area of the TV frame that will be cut off when it

Display Inset View: A pop-up menu that lets you control whether the Inset view appearson transform changes, on all changes, or manually. Inset View mu

Output PaneThe Output Preferences pane tells Motion to render the contents of the Canvas out to avideo deck or monitor connected to your computer via

Video Output: Set this pop-up menu to match the type of device connected to themonitor. When this is set to anything other than None, Motion outputs a

Update during playback: Plays the project out to the external video monitor while theproject plays back in the Canvas. This option severely degrades p

Duplicate: To duplicate a preset, select the preset you want to duplicate, then clickDuplicate.Edit: To edit a preset, click the Edit button. If the S

Description: This field contains descriptive text to identify the preset. You can enter yourown descriptive text in this field. The new text will appe

Copyright © 2009 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.Your rights to the software are governed by theaccompanying software license agreement. The owner orau

The Export Options dialog contains the following settings:Information FieldsThe Name and Description fields display information about the selected pre

Output TabThe Output tab contains the following controls:Use current project and canvas settings: When this checkbox is selected, the currentproject s

Render Quality: Allows you to choose Draft, Normal, Best, or Custom quality for yourfinal output. The better the quality, the longer the render time.

InputThese settings in the Gestures Preferences pane control how Motion knows when yourpen movements should be interpreted as gestures.Input Method: L

A project file consists of a single composition that you are working on. Project files containobjects, which are linked references to source media fil

Motion is resolution-independent, meaning that it supports projects using a wide rangeof frame sizes and frame rates. Using Motion, you can create sma

Welcome ScreenThe first time you open Motion, a Welcome Screen presents you with two ways to createa new project. You can click Start with a Template

Eventually, you can extend this collection by creating your own templates of frequentlyused layouts. For example, if you regularly create titles and g

A new project is created using the objects contained in that template. You can thencustomize the project by editing the text objects or exchanging the

This chapter introduces you to the Motion interface. It also describes how to work withall of the basic tools you need to get started.This chapter cov

To create a new project1 Choose File > New (or press Command-N).2 Choose a preset from the pop-up menu, then click OK.A new project window is creat

To create a new project with custom project settings1 Choose File > New (or press Command-N).Note: If you have already set a default preset, hold d

Note: When working in float space, you can quickly change the preview in the Canvasto 8-bit to speed your workflow by turning off Preview Float Bit De

• Environment: The background color creates a solid alpha channel and interacts with3D projects, including blend modes and reflections. In the followi

The Render Settings tab is divided into two categories: Motion Blur and Reflections. TheMotion Blur controls simulate the effect a camera’s mechanical

In the next image, Motion Blur is enabled and Samples is set to the default value of 8.Note: When using larger Shutter Angle values, it may be necessa

An RGB image can comprise image pixels with 256 shades of each of the primarycolors—red, green, and blue. In this case, there are 28 (256) shades of e

Note: Depending on your project, dithering can be useful or problematic. For example,enabling dithering in a project in which banding is present may r

b In the Description field, enter a brief description of what that preset is for. It may alsobe useful to call out significant characteristics of that

Moving Presets Between ComputersEach preset you create is saved as a separate file. If you’ve created one or more custompresets that you rely on, you

Workspace OverviewWhen you open Motion, the workspace fills your entire monitor, but the interface isactually made up of several independent windows.

If the project has not already been saved, the Save As dialog appears.2 Type a name into the Save As field, choose a location on your hard drive to sa

The Save As dialog appears.2 Choose Copy to Folder from the Collect Media pop-up menu.Choosing the Copy to Folder option creates a folder with the nam

Reverting ProjectsThe Revert command discards all changes you’ve made to a project since the last timeyou saved it. The Revert command is especially u

2 Do one of the following:• Double-click the project file.• In the Preview area, click the Import button.The project opens in a new Canvas.Opening Rec

µOption-click the close button.Moving and Archiving Motion Project FilesIf you want to move a Motion project file to another computer, you must also m

Unused MediaBy default, media used by objects added to your project are managed automatically byMotion. If you delete an object from the Canvas or Lay

Changing the Frame Size of a ProjectWhen you change the frame size of a project (in Project Properties) that already hasobjects within it, you essenti

Navigation Controls in the File BrowserYou use the File Browser to navigate every volume connected to your computer for mediafiles to add to your Moti

Sidebar: This area of the File Browser displays all the hard disks and removable mediacurrently connected to your computer. You can also access networ

List View button: Sets the file stack to display each file and folder as a hierarchical list.A thumbnail of each file and folder appears to the left o

• Timing pane: The Timing pane appears at the bottom of the Canvas window and canbe hidden to maximize the Canvas working area. The Timing pane contai

New Folder button: Allows you to create a new folder within the currently displayedlocation in the file stack. These new folders are created in the Fi

To sort the file stack in list viewµClick the header of any information column to sort by that category. Click the samecolumn a second time to reverse

About Networked Disks and Removable MediaYou should be careful when adding media files from a remote server to your project.Although the File Browser

While you can import movies that use nearly any codec, it’s inadvisable to use highlycompressed clips in your projects if you can avoid it. Clips that

Using High-Resolution Still ImagesA common and effective use of still images in motion graphics work is the animation ofhigh-resolution files. The DPI

In the following example, an 1146 x 756 image is imported into an NTSC D1 project(720 x 486) with Do Nothing selected in the Preferences. The image is

The image is scaled—the equivalent of using the Transform tool to scale down theimage in the Canvas while pressing Shift. To observe that the image is

The image looks identical to an image that is scaled on import. However, its resolutionhas been changed so that the image fits the Canvas. To observe

Image SequencesNumbered image sequences store video clips as individual still image files. Each imagefile has a number in the filename that indicates

When importing Photoshop files, you can choose to import:• All the layers merged together as a single object• All layers as individual objects, nested

In the default window layout, File Browser, Library, and Inspector tabs reside in a utilitywindow on the left side of the Canvas. If you choose the Ci

When importing a PDF file, its size is relative to the original page size of the file. As aresult, even small graphics may have a large frame size, wi

Note: Form objects, buttons, and JavaScript objects that are present in an imported PDFfile do not appear in Motion.Multi-Page PDF FilesYou can import

The only time it really matters which kind of alpha channel an object has is when Motiondoesn’t correctly determine it. If an object’s alpha channel h

Adding Media to Your ProjectOnce you’ve created a new project, the next step is to add media files to your composition.All media types—movie clips, st

Prior to adding files, you must first select them in the File Browser. You can add files toa project either individually or in groups.To select files

A new group is created at the top of the Layers tab, and all files appear as layers nestedwithin it. Each new layer’s start time in the Timeline is se

Adding Layered Photoshop Files to a ProjectYou can add a layered Photoshop file to your project by dragging it to the Canvas, Layerstab, or Timeline,

To choose a different Photoshop layer than was originally selected on import, selectthe Photoshop file in the Layers tab, then choose a layer from the

Note: When importing large-scale images into Motion, you have the option to importthe files as is, to scale the images to the size of the Canvas, or t

For more information on a media object’s Media tab parameters, see Object Media TabParameters.Seeing the Relationships Between ObjectsThere are two ob

Note: When displayed in the Preview area, audio files contain a text description but noimage preview.To play a preview of a file on diskµSelect the fi

When you first open a project file with media that is unavailable, a dialog appears listingall the media files that can’t be found. Assuming the media

To reconnect the media files in this list using Reconnect1 Click Reconnect.2 In the manual reconnection dialog, navigate to the file’s location, then

You can also delete the object that appears in the Media tab. Doing this also removes allcorresponding instances of that object in your project.To del

This operation allows you to use temporary layers in your project until the finished layeris available. For example, if you’re expecting artwork from

While Motion makes an effort to correctly interpret how objects you add to your projectshould appear, sometimes it isn’t possible to correctly identif

Controls in the Media Tab of the InspectorThe following controls let you modify the objects in the Media tab, which also affects allthe instances of t

Alpha Type: An object’s alpha channel contains information that defines areas oftransparency in the image or movie. When you import a QuickTime movie

Field Order: When importing interlaced video, choose the field order with which theclips were captured. This should match the field order of the devic

Timing: These parameters control the start, end, and duration of each media object.• Start: Sets the In point of the object, in both constant and vari

Using Media in the LibraryMotion ships with a collection of media and effects that you can use in your projects. TheLibrary shares many controls and w

File Browser SidebarThe middle section of the File Browser contains navigational controls as well as a sidebarcontaining a list of servers, drives, an

Generators have all the property parameters belonging to other objects. Properties specificto each generator also appear in the Generator tab of the I

You can use the font categories to preview the fonts that are available on your computer.You can also drag fonts and LiveFonts onto text objects to ch

Note: Dragging a media object into the Content category leaves its corresponding fileon disk in its original location. For this reason, it’s recommend

Using Custom Objects from the LibraryWhen you drag a custom object from the Library to the Canvas, the center of the objectis dropped at the location

You can either close the project and install the necessary files on your computer, or goahead and open the file. The following list outlines what happ

A group can also contain other groups nested inside it. In this way, you can constructcomplex hierarchies of nested groups, with each nested group sub

Moving a selection in the Canvas moves all three layers simultaneously.Before moving group After moving groupRegardless of how they’re nested, individ

Note: In this example, each object’s anchor point has been moved to the appropriateaxis of rotation for that object. For more information about changi

When you rotate the selection in the Canvas, every object nested within that group rotatesas a single item.Before rotating Left Arm group After rotati

However, If you apply the same filter directly to the group, all layers nested within thatgroup are affected by the filter, as if they were a single l

You can Control-click a file in the File Browser stack to display a shortcut menu. For mostitems, the following options are available in the menu:• Op

Doing so selects both layers, and also all layers in between.µClick to the left of any layer’s thumbnail icon and drag up or down to select multiplela

When you have more than one group, you can move layers back and forth between them,changing their nested relationship in your project.To move a layer

Grouping and Ungrouping LayersYou can also nest layers together within a new group using the Group command. Youcan group layers that appear within the

To show or hide one or more selected layersDo one of the following:µClick the checkbox to the left of a single object or group in the Layers tab or Ti

The project shown in the following image contains a particle system. Notice that theanimated particles, although not visible once they move off the Ca

When enabled, the Fixed Resolution parameter crops the group to the size specified inthe Fixed Width and Fixed Height parameters. This means that if t

By default, the group’s resolution is set to the project size. An indicator appears to theright of Fixed Resolution, informing you that the group has

The locked layer’s bounding box in the Canvas turns red to indicate that it is locked.Collapsing and Uncollapsing Group HierarchiesGroups and layers i

3 When you’re finished, press Return to accept the new name.The new name is also automatically accepted when you click another layer or group.Note: On

DescriptionColumnDisplays a thumbnail of the media object.PreviewLists the filename of the source media on disk to which the objectis linked. If you c

To delete a folder or fileDo one of the following:µIn the stack, Control-click the file, then choose Move to Trash from the shortcut menu.µDrag the fi

To show or hide a columnµClick the right angle bracket (>) at the right of the column headers, then check or uncheckthe columns you want to show or

Exchanging ObjectsThe easiest way to customize a template-based project is to exchange the objects usedin the template with your own objects, either f

Using Drop ZonesDrop zones are a unique element in your arsenal of tools to use when creating a newMotion project and template. While you’re construct

Note: You cannot Command-drag non-image objects (shapes, Motion projects, particles,etc.) to the Canvas.Exposing the drop zones3 Drop the object onto

Using Objects, Behaviors, and Keyframes from TemplatesOccasionally, you may find that you want to use a keyframed parameter or behaviorfrom a template

µSelect an existing object in the Canvas, then turn on the Drop Zone checkbox in theImage tab of the Inspector.The Image tab of the Inspector contains

To save a project as a template1 Choose File > Save as Template.The Save dialog appears.Note: It is recommended that you create a new custom theme

To delete a category in the Template Browser1 Choose File > Open Template.The Template Browser opens.2 Select a category in the Theme column.3 Pres

Compositing is the process of combining at least two images to produce an integratedfinal result. The process can be as simple as placing text over an

To view the File Browser in list viewµClick the List View button to the right of the Path pop-up menu above the sidebar.Icon ViewList ViewIn icon view

Compositing WorkflowOnce you import the objects you need for your project, the first step is to arrange theobjects within the Canvas to come up with t

The onscreen controls and the HUD controls all correspond to parameters that appearin the Properties tab of the Inspector. Each parameter corresponds

There are four arrangement commands in the Object menu:• Bring to Front: Places the selected object in front of all other objects within the samegroup

Reordering Nonconsecutive SelectionsWhen you apply Bring Forward or Send Backward arrangement command onnonconsecutive selected layers, the layers mov

To select a single object in the CanvasµClick any object in the Canvas.To select multiple objects in the Canvas, or to add objects to a selectionDo on

Note: When an inactive object is selected, you also see only the bounding box for thatobject.For more information on how to select objects and groups

Transforming a GroupIf you select an entire group, all objects and groups that are nested within it are treatedas a single object. One set of transfor

• Adjust Shear: Tilts objects, either horizontally or vertically.• Adjust Drop Shadow: Manipulates object drop shadows directly in the Canvas.• Adjust

Note: Press Shift-Tab to cycle through the transform modes in reverse.For more information about 3D transform tools, see 3D Transform Tools.Moving Obj

• Holding down the Command key, press the Right Arrow, Left Arrow, Up Arrow, or DownArrow key to reposition the selected objects one pixel at a time.•

Welcome to Motion13PrefaceAbout Motion13About the Motion Documentation14Additional Resources14About Motion and Motion Graphics15Chapter 1General Motio

Collapsing AnimationsFrequently, animated sequences may be delivered as a series of sequentially numberedstill images. Motion can save you time by all

Using Object Alignment CommandsSeveral commands in the Object menu let you reposition any number of simultaneouslyselected objects to align with one a

• Distribute Lefts: Objects are moved horizontally so that the left sides of all objects areevenly distributed, from right to left, between the leftmo

Using the Select/Transform ToolThe default transform tool is the Select/Transform tool, which activates onscreen controlsthat enable you to adjust an

2 Do one of the following:• Drag one of the corner handles to resize the object’s width and height at the sametime. By default, you can resize the wid

• Press Option while dragging any scale handle to resize an object around its anchorpoint, rather than unilaterally.Resizing while pressing the Option

As you drag the rotation handle, the original angle of the object is indicated by a smallcircle that appears on a larger circle surrounding the object

If you move an anchor point, however, the object no longer rotates around its own center,but instead rotates around the new anchor point.This not only

This is an isometric operation, so it doesn’t necessarily provide a realistic perspectiveeffect. When you shear an object, this change is stored in th

Using the Adjust Drop Shadow ToolThe Adjust Drop Shadow tool activates onscreen handles can be used to change the blur,angle, and distance of an objec

Using the Adjust Four Corner ToolThe Adjust Four Corner tool activates onscreen controls that allow you to stretch an objectinto different polygonal s

Like the File Browser, the Library is divided into three sections. The top section is thePreview area; the middle section is the sidebar; and the bott

Using the Adjust Crop ToolThe Adjust Crop tool activates onscreen cropping handles that you can drag to resize theborders of an object.Cropping allows

To crop an object in the Canvas1 Click and hold the Select/Transform tool, then choose the Adjust Crop tool from thepop-up menu.2 In the Canvas, drag

For more information on working with shapes and masks, see Using Shapes, Masks, andPaint Strokes.Using the Adjust Glyph and Adjust Item ToolsThe Adjus

In addition to only being available in a 3D project, the Lighting and Reflection parametergroups in the Properties tab are only available for some obj

Click the disclosure triangle next to the Rotation parameter to reveal additionalsubparameters:• Animate: This pop-up menu allows you to set the inter

Preserve Opacity: When this checkbox is selected, the object appears only where anotherobject is visible behind it in the composite. The front object

Receives Shadows: Controls whether or not neighboring objects’ shadows will affectthe current object. When this checkbox is deselected, light will aff

Click the disclosure triangle to display four crop parameters. Each slider defines the numberof pixels to be cropped from each of the object’s four si

A clone layer is created and appears in the Canvas slightly offset from the original object.In the Layers tab, the clone layer appears with the defaul

Editing Opacity and Blending ParametersThe opacity and blending controls for each object appear both in the Properties tab ofthe Inspector, and in the

Library SidebarThe middle section of the Library contains navigational controls as well as a list of foldersof effect types and content available in M

Blend ModesWhile the Opacity parameter simply defines a uniform level of transparency for an object,the blend modes allow you many more creative optio

Blend modes only affect the combination of an object with the objects below it. Anyobjects appearing above have no effect on this interaction, even if

Preserve Opacity OptionThe Preserve Opacity checkbox allows you to limit an object’s visibility to areas of theCanvas where the object overlaps nontra

Preserve Opacity is an easy way to selectively reveal part of an object. In this example,by setting the blend mode of the top color wash layer to Excl

The effect that each blend mode has on overlapping objects depends on the range ofcolor values within each object. The red, green, and blue channels w

With the enclosing group set to Pass Through, the Swirls object stencils all other objectsunderneath it, including the Gradient object in the bottom g

The Gradient object in the bottom group is left unaffected, although the transparencyin the top group caused by the combination of the Add and Stencil

Object Blend ModesThe following section describes how blend modes affect individual objects. All blendmodes are presented in the order in which they a

Overlapping midrange color values are darkened based on the color of the backgroundimage. In areas where the background is lighter than the foreground

Suggested uses: The Darken blend mode is useful for using one image to texturize anotherselectively, based on its darker areas. You can also use Scree

• Emitters• Shapes• Gradients• Text styles• Shape styles• Layers or groupsFor more information about working with themes, see Working with Themes in t

Color BurnColor Burn intensifies the dark areas in each image. Whites in the background imagereplace the foreground image, while whites in the foregro

AddAdd emphasizes the whites in each overlapping image and lightens all other overlappingcolors. The color values in every overlapping pixel are added

The order of two objects affected by the Lighten blend mode does not matter.ScreenLike Lighten, Screen also emphasizes the lightest parts of each over

Suggested uses: The Screen blend mode is especially useful for knocking out the blacksbehind a foreground subject, instead of using a Luma Key. It’s m

The order of two objects affected by the Linear Dodge blend mode does not matter.OverlayWhites and blacks in the foreground image become translucent a

Suggested uses: The Overlay blend mode is particularly useful for combining areas of vividcolor in two images.Soft LightSoft Light is similar to the O

Overlapping midrange color values are mixed together differently depending on thebrightness of the background color values. Lighter background midrang

Reversing the two overlapping images results in subtle differences in how the overlappingmidrange color values are mixed together.Boxes object on top

The methods used by the Pin Light blend mode to mix two images are somewhat complex.Overlapping midrange color values are treated differently dependin

While the order of two objects doesn’t affect the overall look of two images blendedusing the Hard Mix blend mode, there may be subtle differences.Dif

The Library contains the following categories:• Behaviors: Contains the Audio, Basic Motion, Camera, Motion Tracking, Parameter,Particles, Replicator,

The order of two objects affected by the Exclusion blend mode does not matter.Blend Modes That Manipulate Alpha ChannelsThe Stencil and Silhouette ble

Limiting the Effect of Stencil and Silhouette Blend ModesWhenever you use the Stencil or Silhouette blend modes in a group that is set to thePass Thro

Silhouette AlphaSilhouette Alpha is the reverse of the Stencil Alpha blend mode and is useful for cuttingholes in objects underneath.Object used for s

Drop ShadowsA drop shadow, by default, is a dark, translucent, offset shape that falls behind an object,as if a light was shining on the object. Drop

Important: Text objects have additional drop shadow parameters, located in the Stylepane of the Text tab. For more information about text object drop

Color: Sets the drop shadow’s color. This color is black, by default.Opacity: Sets the drop shadow’s transparency.Blur: Specifies how soft the drop sh

Retime Value: Displays the time value of the clip at a given frame. This parameter appearsonly when Time Remap is set to Variable Speed. When you set

You can perform optical flow analysis on multiple clips simultaneously. The clips areprocessed in the order that Frame Blending is set to Optical Flow

µClick the analysis indicator (to the left of the transport controls underneath the Canvas).Click the analysis indicator to show the Background Task L

To reorder clip analysisµIn the Background Task List dialog, drag the clip you want to analyze to the top of thelist.Analysis begins on the reposition

• Shape Styles: Contains a collection of preset shape styles that can be applied to shapes.You can drag the shape style directly to a shape in the pro

All the layers in the project temporarily scale down and spread out over the Canvas. Eachlayer in the project is represented by a white frame in the C

The Timeline is one of the most flexible and valuable elements of the Motion interface.This is where you can control all of the timing aspects of your

About the TimelineThe Timeline consists of the Timeline layers list on the left and a track area on the right.You can add images and clips to your pro

µChoose Window > Layouts > Cinema.µPress F6.Cinema Layout moves the Inspector to the right side of the interface and displays theTiming pane.µIf

When you select an object, the color changes to a darker shade, and the name of theobject turns white. When the Timeline is in Filmstrip mode, the fil

Enabling Timeline TracksTo the left of each track in the Timeline layers list is an activation checkbox that turnsthat track on and off. When a track

When a layer or group is collapsed in this manner, it still appears in the Canvas window.Unlike enabling or disabling tracks, collapsing and expanding

Locking Timeline TracksOccasionally, you may want to prevent changes to a particular item. The lock icon at theright edge of the Timeline layers list

The link icon changes to a broken link.2 Move, trim, or slip the audio or video bar.The link icon also appears in the Layers tab in the Project pane.B

Zooming in the TimelineYou can zoom in and out in the Timeline using the Zoom/Scroll control, the zoom slider,or using a pinch open or pinch closed on

Note: To add behaviors and filters, a third option is available. You can select an object orobjects in the project and use the Add Behavior or Add Fil

To adjust the height of the tracksDo one of the following:µDrag the row separator between two layers in the Timeline layers list. When the pointerchan

Adding Objects to the Timeline Layers ListYou can add images and clips to your project by dragging them to the Timeline layerslist. When you drag an i

2 When the position indicator appears, release the mouse button.A new group is created on top of other existing groups in the hierarchy or “stack” ofg

A black border highlights the group.2 Release the mouse button.The object moves into the selected group and is placed above any existing objects withi

Nesting Groups and LayersTo help organize large groups of objects or to create certain kinds of special effects, youcan place one group inside of anot

2 Press Delete.You can also Control-click an object, then choose Delete from the shortcut menu.All of the operations just described can also be perfor

Note: Cameras and lights that have been saved to the Library can be dragged to theTimeline.Dragging to a group track Dragging within an object trackIf

InsertWhen you choose Insert from the drop menu, Motion leaves the existing object in thetrack, but pushes it forward in time to make room for the new

If the new object is shorter than the one currently in the group, the Overwrite optionsplits the duration of the existing object and deletes only the

Note: You cannot use Exchange with audio files.To exchange an object1 Drag an object from the Library or Media tab into the Timeline track area.As you

µTo sort using the default themes, select the Content category, then choose the Folio,Traditions, or Learning theme from the Theme pop-up menu.Default

Alternatively, you can drop the multiple objects into the Timeline layers list. Doing soalways results in a composite edit. Also, if you release the m

Motion has several features that help you modify the objects in the Timeline. You canarrange your objects to begin and end at designated frames. You c

3 Choose Mark > Move Selected In Point (or press Shift-Left Bracket) to align the object’sbeginning to the playhead or choose Mark > Move Select

You can also trim an object by using the menu items and corresponding keyboardshortcuts to change an object’s In and Out points. This allows you to tr

To trim an object and snap to neighboring itemsµPress Shift as you drag the edge of the item in the Timeline.Snap-to lines appear, and the edge of the

For example, if you have a shot of a door opening that is 3 seconds long and you wantto trim it down to only 1 second, you can use the Slip function t

To split an object track1 Select the object in the track area of the Timeline layers list for the object you want tosplit.2 Place the playhead on the

To ripple delete an object1 Select the object you want to delete.2 Choose Edit > Ripple Delete (or press Shift-Delete).To cut an object1 Select an

Paste SpecialIn addition to ordinary pasting, Motion lets you paste as an insert, overwrite, or exchangeedit. These three commands appear in the Paste

Displaying and Modifying Keyframes in the TimelineYou can move or delete keyframes that are displayed in the Timeline. You can also displayin the Time

Icon View and List ViewThe file stack can be displayed in icon view or list view.Icon view List viewTo view the Library in icon viewµClick the Icon Vi

The Keyframe Editor is displayed, the animation curve appears, and a new, untitled curveset is created. For more information on curve sets, see Filter

To lengthen the clip’s duration and slow down its playback speed1 With the pointer over the start or end of the clip, press and hold down the Option k

Editing in the Group TrackIn addition to the ability to edit individual objects within groups, Motion allows you todo a variety of editing tasks direc

2 Drag the section left or right to move the object within the group forward or backwardin time.Before AfterMoving and Editing Overlapping ObjectsYou

The boundaries of that one object are highlighted in the group track.2 Move, trim, or slip the object independently from the other objects in the grou

You cannot trim the individual object tracks within the body of the group track.Before AfterDisconnecting the Group Track from Its ContentsYou can mod

To trim an object without changing applied effectsµPress Command while you drag the edge of the object.Slipping Objects in the Group TrackIn addition

Navigating in the TimelineMotion provides many different controls for navigating the Timeline. You can directlydrag the playhead to “scrub” through yo

µTo move backward in seconds, type a Shift–Minus Sign, then type the number of secondsyou want to move backward, and then type a period. For example,

To jump to the next keyframeDo one of the following:µWith the animated object selected, press Shift-K.µWith the animated object selected, choose Mark

You can save multiple objects to the Library as one file or multiple files. For example, ifyou create an effect using multiple filters and you want to

To customize the playback Out pointDo one of the following:µIn the ruler, drag the Out point marker from the right edge of the ruler to the frame wher

To expand or contract a regionµPosition the pointer at either edge of a region to modify its end point. Click to the rightto make it longer or to the

Pasting into a Region Using the Paste Special CommandRegions are also useful for performing a special type of paste command called pastespecial. You c

Project DurationMotion projects default to ten seconds in length. You can change this duration to matchthe needs of your project. To learn how to chan

You can add two types of markers: project markers and object markers. Project markersare fixed to a specific timecode value in the ruler. Object marke

Note: You can also press Shift-M to add a project marker at the playhead position, whetheror not an object is selected.To add an object marker1 Place

To delete all object markersDo one of the following:µSelect the group or layer containing the markers you want to delete, then choose Mark> Markers

7 Click the Type pop-up menu to choose a marker type:• Standard: The default marker for use in Motion• DVD Menu Loop: When you are using a Motion proj

You can use behaviors to animate objects using simple graphical controls. With behaviors,you can easily create basic motion effects or complex simulat

Motion Menus161Chapter 4Application Menu161File Menu162Edit Menu164Mark Menu166Object Menu168Favorites Menu171View Menu171Window Menu177Help Menu179Pr

When you Control-click the icon, the Edit Description option becomes available. This isa handy tool that allows you to enter custom notes about an ite

Behaviors can also be used to animate the parameters of nearly any particle systememitter, shape, mask, replicator, filter, generator, camera, or ligh

• Particles behaviors are specifically designed to be applied to a particle emitter or cellswithin particle systems. These behaviors affect how indivi

Behaviors Versus KeyframesIt’s important to understand that behaviors do not add keyframes to the objects orparameters to which they’re applied. Inste

Browsing for BehaviorsAll available behaviors appear in the Library tab. Selecting the Behaviors category in thecategory pane of the sidebar reveals t

When you select a behavior in the Library stack, a short description and preview of thebehavior appear in the Preview area.Note: To help you understan

Where Behaviors AppearWhen you apply a behavior to an object, it appears nested underneath that object in theLayers tab and in the Timeline.Nested beh

Note: Behaviors can be hidden from view in the Layers tab using the Show/Hide Behaviorsbutton in the lower-right corner of the Layers tab. For more in

For more information on combining behaviors and keyframes, see Combining Behaviorswith Keyframes.Applying BehaviorsYou can apply behaviors directly to

To apply a behavior to an object in the Timeline, drag the behavior to the object in theTimeline layers list or the Timeline track area.Note: It is us

When a behavior is applied to an object, the object parameters affected by that behaviorare automatically animated based on the behavior’s default set

Note: Different parameters are available in the Properties tab depending on the type ofobject that is selected. For example, when a 3D group is select

Applying Parameter BehaviorsParameter behaviors function differently than other behaviors. All behaviors affect specificparameters of an object—when a

2 Do one of the following:• Control-click a parameter in the Inspector, then choose a Parameter behavior from theshortcut menu.In this example, the Os

• Control-click a parameter in the Keyframe Editor, then choose a Parameter behaviorfrom the shortcut menu.Once a Parameter behavior is applied to a p

Where Parameter Behaviors AppearLike other behaviors, Parameter behaviors appear nested underneath the objects to whichthey’re applied in the Layers t

Opening a parameter’s Animation menu in the Inspector displays the names of all thebehaviors currently applied to that parameter. Choosing one automat

2 In the Behaviors tab of the Inspector, choose a new parameter from the Apply To (Go)pop-up menu.Modifying BehaviorsEach behavior has a subset (or so

As you can see, the controls in the HUD consolidate two of the parameters available inthe Behaviors tab into a single, graphical control. There are ti

2 Open the Inspector, then click the Behaviors tab.All of the applied behaviors appear in the tab.Modifying Multiple Behaviors SimultaneouslyIn most c

Lock: Click the lock icon to lock or unlock a behavior. You cannot modify the parametersof a locked behavior.Activation checkboxNameEnable/disable beh

Copying, Pasting, and Moving BehaviorsAfter you have added behaviors to an object, there are a number of ways you can copyand move them among the othe

Note: A scene camera is a camera that is added to a project, as opposed to a defaultcamera view that you choose in the upper-left corner of the Canvas

Note: If you move a Parameter behavior to another object, it is applied to the sameparameter it affected in the previous object—as long as the corresp

Applying Multiple Behaviors to an ObjectThere is no limit to the number of behaviors you can add to an object. When multiplebehaviors are applied to a

For example, if you animate a layer using the Gravity (Simulation) behavior and thenapply a Throw (Basic Motion) behavior, the layer moves downward as

Note: Motion has a specific order of operations for keyframes and behaviors. For moreinformation, see Behavior Order of Operations.Changing the Timing

For more information about applying Parameter behaviors, see Applying ParameterBehaviors.Trimming BehaviorsWhen you apply a behavior to an object, the

Trimming the Out point of a behavior often sets the object to its original state beyondthe Out point behavior. For many behaviors, using the Stop beha

In the next image, the Orbit Around behavior is trimmed in the Timeline to a shorterduration (190 frames) than the object to which it is applied. Noti

The End Offset parameter lets you offset the end of the behavior’s effect relative to thelast frame of its position in the Timeline. Using this slider

For example, if you apply the Random Motion behavior to a shape, that shape mightweave around onscreen with a completely random animation path similar

Combining Behaviors and Keyframes in the Keyframe EditorWhen you display a parameter that’s affected by a behavior in the Keyframe Editor, twocurves a

• Advanced: Contains controls that allow the dabs of a paint stroke to be animatedlike particles.• Geometry: Contains controls that allow you to chang

Raising or lowering a keyframe in the Keyframe Editor also raises or lowers the backgroundcurve, because the keyframe is modifying the values generate

You can convert the behaviors that are applied to all parameters of an object intokeyframes. Converting behaviors that have already been combined with

Applying Parameter Behaviors to a BehaviorYou can animate a behavior’s parameter by applying a Parameter behavior. For example,you can apply the Oscil

Converting Behaviors to KeyframesBehaviors are best suited for fluid effects in which precise timing is not a requirement.However, there may be projec

Saving and Sharing Custom BehaviorsYou can save any object in Motion to the Library, including cameras, lights, customizedfilters and behaviors, group

2 In the Layers tab, select all of the behaviors you want to save and drag them to the stack,holding down the mouse button until a drop menu appears.3

To move a behavior to a custom folder in the Behaviors categoryµDrag the behavior to the new folder in the Library sidebar.The custom preset is added

If you’ve created one or more custom behaviors that you rely upon, you may want tomove them to other computers that have Motion installed.To copy a cu

The Fade In/Fade Out behavior is useful for introducing and removing elements you’reanimating in a project. For example, you could apply the Fade In/F

Note: The Grow/Shrink behavior cannot be applied to cameras or lights.Tip: To scale particles over their lifetime, use the Scale Over Life particle be

µChoose Window > Create Locked Inspector.To unlock the InspectorDo one of the following:µClick the unlocked lock icon in the upper-right corner of

End Offset: A slider that lets you offset the end of the behavior’s effect relative to thelast frame of its position in the Timeline, in frames. Adjus

The first point on the path is the position of the object in the Canvas at the first frame ofthe behavior. Option-click anywhere on the path to add Be

Parameters in the InspectorPath Shape: A pop-up menu that lets you define the shape of the path on which theobject travels.• Open Spline: The default

Note: The Path Shape parameters work similarly to text on a path. For more informationabout working with text on a path, see Working with Text on a Pa

Phase: When Wave is the defined path shape, this dial defines the degrees of the offsetof the waves from the start and end points of the path. When se

On the top-right side of the Toolbar is a series of icons that adjust the Motion interface.These controls hide and show the various panes, tabs, and w

DescriptionKeyboardshortcutTool nameButtonAvailable when a text object is selected, allowsyou to modify the position and X, Y, or Z rotationfor indivi

DescriptionKeyboardshortcutTool nameButtonCreates a new rectangle shape in the Canvas andadds a shape layer to the Layers tab. Click at theposition wh

Mask ToolsThe Mask tools can only be accessed when a layer (a visible object in the Canvas, suchas an image or replicator) or 2D group is selected. Us

DescriptionIcon nameIconAdds a new camera to the workspace. When youadd a camera to a 2D project, a dialog appearsasking if you want to convert your 2

Making Clone Layers317Editing Opacity and Blending Parameters319Drop Shadows343Retiming345Expose Commands349Using the Timeline351Chapter 8About the Ti

DescriptionKeyboardshortcutIcon nameIconF7 turns display of the HUD on and off. If the HUDis not displayed, press D. Once the HUD isdisplayed, pressin

Spaces and SeparatorsIn addition to adding and arranging controls in the Toolbar, you can add spaces, flexiblespaces, and separators to arrange and gr

DescriptionIcon nameButtonShows or hides the Media tab in the Project pane.MediaShows or hides the Audio tab in the Project pane.AudioShows or hides t

µChoose an option from the Show pop-up menu in the lower-left corner of the CustomizeToolbar dialog.Icon & TextIcon OnlyText OnlyHiding the Toolba

When you want to watch your project play back, the transport controls at the bottom ofthis window (below the Canvas) allow you to play your project at

To use the Canvas shortcut menuµControl-click an empty area of the Canvas (in the gray area outside of the actual project)and choose an option from th

This procedure allows you to see the exact color and alpha values of the examined pixel.You can view the color numerically in one of three formats:• R

You can also turn the Status Bar items on and off in the Appearance Preferences pane.To display Motion Preferences, choose Motion > Preferences.Can

Note: The Background pop-up menu in the General tab of the Project Properties dialogmust be set to Solid in order to export the background color with

• Normal: The default setting, renders objects in the Canvas at a medium quality. Shapesare antialiased, but 3D intersections are not. Floating point

Modifying Keyframes573Modifying Curves581Mini-Curve Editor591Animating on the Fly593Keyframe Thinning595Working with Particles601Chapter 11About Parti

When Motion Blur is enabled in the View pull-down menu (View > Render Options >Motion Blur) and you are using the default export preset (“Movie

When this setting is turned on in the View menu and you are using the default exportpreset (“Movie - current project and canvas settings”), your proje

• Safe Zones: Turns display of the title safe and action safe guides on and off. By default,these guides are set at 80% and 90%. You can change these

Holding the pointer over the 3D Compass exposes color-coded shortcuts to the referencecamera views. Click any of the colored view icons, such as Front

• 3D Grid: Turns the grid in the Canvas on and off. The 3D grid helps you stay orientedand can be used to guide the placement of objects in your proje

• Show Full View Area: When enabled, this setting lets you see the portion of a layer thatextends beyond the edge of the Canvas. This setting is disab

• Two-up, side by side: Displays two windows in the Canvas, one next to the other.• Two-up, top and bottom: Displays two windows in the Canvas, one on

• Custom: Whereas Draft, Normal, and Best automatically define the render qualitysettings, Custom allows you to pick and choose the individual quality

2 Optional: Select a name and location for the saved file.3 In the Export dialog, click the Options button next to the Export pop-up menu.4 In the Out

The options in the Output tab become available, including Resolution, Color, Frame Rate,Camera, Lighting, Render Quality, Field Rendering, Motion Blur

Editing Text in the Inspector772Editing Text Format775Text Controls in the Format Pane776Text Format-Related Tasks779Editing Text Style781Text Control

To zoom in and out of a specific area of the CanvasµHold down the Space bar and Command key (in that order), then drag the area of theCanvas you want

Note: Guides must be enabled in the View menu (press Command-Semicolon) to displaythe guides.The ruler units are in pixels, with the 0,0 point in the

Canvas in 3D ModeIn addition to the traditional 2D project workspace, Motion provides a 3D workspace inwhich to arrange and animate objects, including

To use the 3D View toolsµDrag the Pan, Orbit, or Dolly tool from the 3D View tools.Like a camera move, the view moves, rotates, or zooms.DollyPanEditi

Scale handles appear around the edge of the object, and three colored 3D axis handlesappear at the anchor point of the object. Each arrow-shaped handl

To reset a transformed object1 Select the object you want to reset.2 In the Properties tab of the Inspector, click the Transform parameters reset butt

Go to next frame: Advances the playhead by one frame. Clicking the button (or holdingdown the shortcut key) advances the project one frame at a time.

The RAM Preview dialog appears, and displays a progress bar. When the RAM Preview iscompleted, the dialog closes.When a section of your project is cur

Note: Working in 32-bit float color space has no effect on your RAM Preview. Althoughthe project is rendered in float, the preview is down-converted t

To add an object to the mini-Timeline1 Drag the object from the File Browser to the mini-Timeline.As you drag, a tooltip appears to indicate the frame

Copying, Pasting, Moving and Duplicating Filters957Reordering Filters959Changing Filter Timing959Blur Filters961Border Filters972Color Correction Filt

A tooltip appears to indicate the new In and Out point of the object, as well as the amountof change from the previous position.3 When you reach the p

Note: You cannot slip a clip unless it has been trimmed first. For more information, seeSlipping Objects.To snap the playhead to a project marker in t

To change the duration in seconds, minutes, or hours, type the following in the projectduration fieldµTo set the duration in seconds, type the number

To switch between timecode and frame numbersDo one of the following:µClick the current frame icon directly to the left of the current frame field.µCli

Project PaneThe Project pane contains three tabs, each of which provides access to a different aspectof your project. The Layers tab displays the hier

You can also switch the arrangement of the windows so the Project pane appears on theright side of the Canvas.Note: When the Project pane is on the ri

To display the Layers tabDo one of the following:µClick the Project icon in the Toolbar.µChoose Window > Layers.µPress Command-4.µIf the Project pa

The button has an active and inactive state. Clicking the Isolate button for a layer or groupsets that object to its original face-forward orientation

Note: Blend mode can also be changed by Control-clicking the item in the Layers tab (orTimeline layers list, then choosing a new Blend Mode option fro

To create a new group in the Layers tabDo one of the following:µClick the Add button (+) in the upper-left corner of the tab.µChoose Object > New G

Cameras12082D and 3D Group Intersection1221Lighting1224Shadows1231Reflections1241Motion Tracking1247Chapter 19About Motion Tracking1248How a Tracker W

To stop filtering and return to the complete listµClick the Clear button inside the Search field.The Search field is cleared and the Layers tab return

Turning Effects On and OffWhen certain effects are applied to a layer or group, icons appear in the Name columnfor that item. This lets you know that

• Paste: Places the contents of the Clipboard in the current location.• Duplicate: Creates a new layer identical to the selection.• Delete: Removes th

To display the Media tabDo one of the following:µChoose Window > Media.µPress Command-5.µIf the Project pane is already visible, click the Media ta

• Data Rate: Displays the number of bytes per second at which the media file plays.• Aud Rate: Displays the sample rate in the audio track, measured i

Adding and Removing MediaThe Media tab has controls to add new files and to remove existing files from the project.To add a file to the Media tabDo on

When an item is selected in the tab, the shortcut menu provides the following commands:• Open in Viewer: Opens the selected item in the viewer window.

To sort the items in a column by type of file in the Media tabµClick the column header.Click the column header to sort by that column’s data type.Note

Audio TabThe Audio tab lists all of the audio files and files that contain audio (such as a multitrackQuickTime movie) in your project. You can modify

Status: Contains Mute and Solo buttons to control audio playback for the file. When theMute button is active, all sound from that file is removed from