Draw simple shapes in Motion
Use the Rectangle tool or the Circle tool to create simple shapes in the canvas. Use the Line tool to draw straight lines in the canvas.
In Motion, click the Rectangle tool in the canvas toolbar (or press R).
The Rectangle Tool HUD appears. (If the HUD isn’t displayed, press F7.) To adjust the color, outline, and roundness of the rectangle before you draw the shape, use the controls in the HUD.
Note: You can also edit the rectangle color, outline, and roundness after the shape is drawn.
Drag in the canvas until the resulting rectangle is the size you want, then release the mouse button.
To draw a perfect square, press and hold the Shift key while you drag. To draw the rectangle from its center, press and hold the Option key while you drag.
After you create the shape, press Esc to exit shape-drawing mode and activate the Select/Transform tool.
The Shape HUD appears. (If the HUD is not displayed, press F7.)
In Motion, do one of the following:
In the canvas, double-click the rectangle shape.
In the canvas, Layers list, or Timeline, select the rectangle shape, then click and hold the transform tools in the canvas toolbar and choose Edit Rectangle.
Simple shape transform handles appear in the canvas.
In the canvas, do any of the following:
Adjust corner roundness: Drag the roundness handle in the upper-left corner of the shape.
Adjust size: Drag a size handle (on the side of the shape). To scale the shape uniformly, drag the inner edge of the shape or Shift-drag a size handle.
The inner and outer edges overlap by default; you must drag the outer (feather) edge prior to dragging the inner (scale) edge.
Adjust softness: Drag the shape’s outer edge away from the rectangle to feather outward, or toward the center of the circle to feather inward.
Adjust rotation: Drag the rotation handle.
Adjust position: Drag anywhere within the shape.
In the canvas toolbar in Motion, click and hold the shape tools pop-up menu, then choose Circle (or press C).
The Circle Tool HUD appears. (If the HUD isn’t displayed, press F7.) To adjust the color and outline of the circle before you draw the shape, use the controls in the HUD.
Note: You can also edit the circle color and outline after you draw the shape.
Drag in the canvas until the resulting ellipse is the size you want, then release the mouse button.
To draw a perfectly symmetrical circle, press and hold the Shift key while you drag. To draw the ellipse from its center, press and hold the Option key while you drag.
After you create the shape, press Esc to activate the Select/Transform tool.
The Shape HUD appears. (If the HUD isn’t displayed, press F7.)
In Motion, do one of the following:
In the canvas, double-click the ellipse shape.
In the Layers list, canvas, or Timeline, select the ellipse shape, then click and hold the transform tools pop-up menu in the canvas toolbar and choose Edit Ellipse.
Simple shape transform handles appear in the canvas.
In the canvas, do any of the following:
Adjust curvature: Drag the curvature handle in the upper-left corner of the shape to add angular corners.
Adjust size: Drag a radius handle (on the edge of the shape). To scale the shape uniformly, drag the inner edge of the shape or Shift-drag a radius handle.
The inner and outer edges overlap by default; you must drag the outer (feather) edge prior to dragging the inner (scale) edge.
Adjust softness: Drag the shape’s outer edge away from the shape to feather outward, or toward the center of the shape to feather inward.
Adjust rotation: Drag the rotation handle.
Adjust position: Drag anywhere within the shape.
In the canvas toolbar in Motion, click and hold the shape tools pop-up menu, then choose Line.
The Line Tool HUD appears. (If the HUD isn’t displayed, press F7.) To adjust the color and width of the line before you draw it, adjust the controls in the HUD.
Note: You can also edit the line color and width after you draw the line.
Drag in the canvas until the resulting line is the length you want, then release the mouse button.
Pressing and holding Shift key while dragging constrains the line to 45-degree angles.
After you create the shape, press Esc to activate the Select/Transform tool.
The Shape HUD appears. (If the HUD is not displayed, press F7.)
You can customize the end points (end caps) of the line to add arrows, bevels, and more.
In Motion, select a line shape in the canvas, Layers list, or Timeline.
In the Style pane of the Shape Inspector, click the Start Cap or End Cap pop-up menu, then choose None, Square, Round, Bevel, or Arrow.
When you choose Arrow, additional length and width sliders become available that allow you to further customize the arrow cap.
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