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    Motion User Guide
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    Motion 5.7
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    Table of Contents

    Motion User Guide

    • Welcome
    • What’s new
      • What is Motion?
      • Motion workflow
      • Motion interface
      • Basic components of Motion
      • Using input devices
      • Intro to creating projects
      • Create a new project
      • Open an existing project
      • Search for projects from the Finder
      • Bypass the Project Browser
      • Create and modify project presets
      • Save, autosave, and revert projects
        • Intro to using templates
        • Create projects from templates
        • Create stickers for Messages
          • Intro to drop zones
          • Create drop zones
          • Modify drop zone images
          • Drop zone controls
          • Control and expose drop zones
        • Template guidelines
        • Organize templates in the Project Browser
        • Intro to project properties
        • Edit project properties
        • Properties Inspector controls
        • Project frame size
      • Intro to adding and managing content
        • If it’s your first import
        • About importing media
        • Import media
        • Import layered Photoshop files
          • Supported media formats
          • High-resolution still image files
          • Set the import size of large images
          • Image sequences
          • Animated GIFs
          • PDF files
          • Alpha channels
          • Audio files
          • Text files
        • Show the Library
        • Categories of Library content
        • Add Library content to a project
        • Add music and photo files
        • Sort and search in the Library
        • Manage Library folders and files
        • When Library media is unavailable
        • Work with Library themes
        • Save custom objects to the Library
        • Intro to source media
          • Media list
          • Show, sort, and search the Media list
        • Reveal source media
          • Display the Media Inspector
          • Source media controls
        • Duplicating and deleting media files
        • Exchange media in a project
          • Reconnect offline media files
          • Networked devices and removable media
      • Intro to project playback
        • Play back a project
        • Optimize playback using RAM preview
        • Use full-screen player mode
        • Use a second display
        • Intro to the timing display
        • View project timing information
        • Move the playhead
        • Change project duration
      • Define the play range
      • Project playback performance
      • Intro to basic compositing
        • Intro to the Layers list
        • Select layers and groups
        • Show and hide the Layers list
        • Expose layers in the canvas
        • Add and remove layers and groups
        • Reorganize layers and groups
        • Show, hide, solo, or lock layers
          • Intro to nesting layers and groups
          • Collapse and expand groups
          • Group, ungroup, and nest layers
          • Constrain group size
        • Layers list controls
        • Layers list shortcut menu
        • Customize the Layers list
        • Intro to transforming layers
          • Intro to transforming layers in the canvas
          • Transform layer properties in the canvas
          • Transform tools
          • Change layer position, scale, or rotation
          • Move a layer’s anchor point
          • Add a drop shadow to a layer
          • Distort or shear a layer
          • Crop a layer
          • Modify shape or mask points
          • Transform text glyphs and other object attributes
          • Align layers in the canvas
          • Adjust layers in the Properties Inspector
          • Properties Inspector controls
        • Transform layers in the HUD
        • Transform 2D layers in 3D space
        • Modify layer opacity
          • Intro to layer blending
          • Change a layer’s blend mode
          • How do blend modes work?
          • How do blend modes affect groups?
          • Types of blend modes
          • Alpha channel blend modes
        • Zoom or pan the canvas
        • View dynamic canvas feedback
        • Custom canvas view options
        • Advanced Quality settings
        • Use rulers and guides
      • Intro to 3D compositing
        • Intro to 3D coordinates
        • Relative coordinates
      • Transform layers in 3D space
        • Create 3D intersection
        • 2D and 3D group properties
        • Intro to 3D cameras
        • Add a camera
        • Cameras and views
          • View 3D overlays
          • Camera pop-up menu
          • Use 3D view tools
          • Use the 3D compass
          • Set a 3D inset view
          • Display a 3D grid
          • Display 3D scene icons
        • 3D viewport layouts
        • Work with multiple cameras
        • Scale, position, and animate cameras
        • Isolate an object in the canvas
        • Camera controls
          • Intro to depth of field
          • Turn depth of field on or off
          • Depth of Field controls
          • Add Camera behaviors
          • Dolly behavior
          • Focus behavior
          • Framing behavior
          • Use Framing behavior onscreen controls
          • Sweep behavior
          • Zoom In/Out behavior
          • Zoom Layer behavior
        • Intro to 3D lighting
        • Add lights
        • 3D Light controls
        • Additional lighting controls
        • Intro to 3D shadows
        • Cast a 3D shadow
        • 3D shadow controls
        • How shadows interact with 3D layers
        • Shadows without lights
        • Cast a reflection
        • Reflection controls
        • How groups affect reflections
        • Limit recursive reflections
      • Intro to the Timeline
      • Display or resize the Timing pane
        • Dragging objects to the Timeline
        • Drag to the Timeline layers list
        • Drag to the Timeline track area
        • Adjust Timeline dragging settings
        • Intro to managing Timeline layers and tracks
        • Select and organize Timeline layers
        • Unlink video and audio
        • Customize the Timeline
        • Edit in the Timeline
        • Move objects in the Timeline
        • Trim objects in the Timeline
        • Slip video layers in the Timeline
        • Split objects in the Timeline
        • Delete objects in the Timeline
        • Copy and paste objects in the Timeline
        • Group tracks in the Timeline
        • Edit the group track in the Timeline
      • Navigate in the Timeline
      • Show and modify keyframes in the Timeline
        • Intro to the Timeline ruler
        • Edit a range of frames in the Timeline
        • Intro to Timeline markers
        • Add, move, and delete Timeline markers
        • Edit Timeline marker information
        • Navigate with Timeline markers
      • Edit in the mini-Timeline
        • Intro to retiming media in the Timeline
        • Retime media in the Timeline
        • Timing controls
        • Manage retiming analysis
      • Intro to behaviors
      • Behaviors versus keyframes
        • Browse for behaviors
          • Intro to applying behaviors
          • Add, remove, and disable behaviors
          • Where applied behaviors appear
          • Add or remove a Parameter behavior
          • Reassign a Parameter behavior
          • Where Parameter behaviors appear
        • Disable, lock, or rename behaviors
        • Copy, paste, or move behaviors
          • Intro to behavior timing
          • Stop a behavior
          • Trim behaviors
          • Controlling Simulation behaviors
          • Modify behavior timing
          • Offset Parameter behavior timing
        • Behavior order of operations
        • Combining behaviors with keyframes
        • Behaviors and keyframes in the Keyframe Editor
        • Keyframing parameters in behaviors
        • Convert behaviors to keyframes
        • Intro to adjusting behaviors
        • Adjust behaviors
        • Intro to behavior types
          • Intro to basic Motion behaviors
          • Align To behavior
          • Fade In/Fade Out behavior
          • Grow/Shrink behavior
          • Motion Path behavior
          • Work with the Motion Path behavior
          • Move behavior
          • Point At behavior
          • Snap Alignment to Motion behavior
          • Spin behavior
          • Throw behavior
          • Intro to Parameter behaviors
          • Audio behavior
          • Average behavior
          • Clamp behavior
          • Custom behavior
          • Add a Custom behavior
          • Exponential behavior
          • Link behavior
          • Logarithmic behavior
          • MIDI behavior
          • Add a MIDI behavior
          • Negate behavior
          • Oscillate behavior
          • Create a decaying oscillation
          • Overshoot behavior
          • Quantize behavior
          • Ramp behavior
          • Randomize behavior
          • Rate behavior
          • Reverse behavior
          • Stop behavior
          • Track behavior
          • Wriggle behavior
          • Intro to Retiming behaviors
          • Flash Frame behavior
          • Hold Frame behavior
          • Loop behavior
          • Ping Pong behavior
          • Replay behavior
          • Reverse behavior
          • Reverse Loop behavior
          • Scrub behavior
          • Set Speed behavior
          • Strobe behavior
          • Stutter behavior
          • Intro to Simulation behaviors
          • Align to Motion behavior
          • Attracted To behavior
          • Attractor behavior
          • Drag behavior
          • Drift Attracted To behavior
          • Drift Attractor behavior
          • Edge Collision behavior
          • Gravity behavior
          • Orbit Around behavior
          • Random Motion behavior
          • Repel behavior
          • Repel From behavior
          • Rotational Drag behavior
          • Spring behavior
          • Vortex behavior
          • Wind behavior
        • Additional behaviors
        • Save custom behaviors
        • Delete custom behaviors
        • Move behaviors to another computer
      • Intro to keyframing
      • Add keyframes
        • Add an animation path in the canvas
        • Modify animation paths
        • Animate from the Inspector
        • Animation menu controls
        • Use the Animation menu
        • Keyframe controls in the Inspector
      • Animate from the HUD
        • Apply keyframes to behaviors
        • Combining keyframes and behaviors
        • View keyframes in the Timeline
        • Modify keyframes in the Timeline
        • Effect duration and keyframe timing
        • Display the Keyframe Editor
        • Keyframe Editor controls
          • Add or delete keyframes in the Keyframe Editor
          • Modify keyframes in the Keyframe Editor
          • Reverse, lock, or disable keyframes
          • Copy and paste keyframes and curves
          • Draw an animation curve
          • Transform curve segments
          • Apply parameter behaviors to curves
          • Compare curve snapshots
          • Set curve interpolation
          • Curve interpolation methods
          • Convert to Bezier interpolation
          • Set curve extrapolation
          • Curve extrapolation methods
          • Convert extrapolated curves to keyframes
          • Choose a curve view
          • Create a custom curve view
        • Save an animation curve
      • Use the mini-curve editor
      • Animate on the fly
      • Simplify a keyframe curve
      • Intro to Final Cut Pro templates
        • Template workflow
        • Placeholders vs. drop zones
          • Create an effect template
          • Modify a Final Cut Pro effect
          • Example: Modify a Final Cut Pro effect
          • Create a transition template
          • Example: Create a blur transition
          • Create a transition background
          • Modify a Final Cut Pro transition
          • Create a title template
          • Create a title background
          • Modify a Final Cut Pro title
          • Create a generator template
          • Modify a Final Cut Pro generator
        • Convert a Motion project to a template
        • Convert a template to another type
      • Use placeholder images in templates
        • Adding controls to templates
        • Publish controls to Final Cut Pro
        • Manage template controls in Motion
        • Publishing template text controls
        • Template items that can’t be published
        • Intro to template markers
        • Add template markers
        • Animation guidelines for templates
        • Timing guidelines for templates
      • Set template resolution
      • Add multiple aspect ratios to templates
      • Override the Final Cut Pro color space
      • Create templates that conform to the Final Cut Pro color space
      • Where are templates saved?
      • Using masks in templates
        • General template guidelines
        • Tips for color processing in templates
      • Intro to rigging
      • How does rigging work?
      • Build a simple rig
      • Work with widgets
        • Slider widget
        • Pop-up menu widget
        • Checkbox widget
        • Intro to snapshots
        • How snapshots are saved
        • Create and manage snapshots
      • Control rigs from Animation menus
        • How to use a single rig
        • How to use multiple rigs
        • Widget animation
      • Publish rigs to Final Cut Pro
      • Intro to Particles
        • Add a particle system
        • Anatomy of a particle emitter
        • Modify particle systems
          • Adjust particles from the HUD
          • Emitter HUD controls
          • Adjust particles from the Inspector
          • Single-cell vs. multi-cell controls
          • Emitter controls
          • Particle cell controls
        • Adjust basic emitter properties
        • Animating emitters and cells
        • Apply behaviors to particles
          • Scale Over Life controls
          • Spin Over Life controls
        • View emitter or cell keyframes
      • Create 3D particles
      • Particle system timing
      • Using graphics in particle systems
      • Using filters and masks with particles
      • Save custom particle effects
      • Intro to replicators
      • Replicators vs. particle systems
        • Add a replicator
        • Anatomy of a replicator
        • Modify basic replicator attributes
        • Remove a replicator or cell
        • Adjust a replicator from the HUD
          • Adjust a replicator from the Inspector
          • Replicator controls
          • Create a custom replicator shape
          • Replicator cell controls
        • Adjust additional replicator properties
        • Animating replicators
        • Apply behaviors to replicators
        • Replicator behavior considerations
        • Apply the Sequence Replicator behavior
        • Sequence Replicator controls
        • Control sequence timing with keyframes
        • Use Parameter behaviors with Sequence Replicator
        • Display replicator animation curves
      • Work with 3D replicators
      • Replicator timing
      • Using filters and masks with replicators
      • Save custom replicators
      • Intro to basic text
        • Set preferences before you add text
        • Add text
        • Using TXT and RTF files
      • Select and modify text in the canvas
      • Preview and apply fonts
      • Use preset text styles
        • Intro to editing text
        • Display the Text Inspector or HUD
        • Display the text Format pane
        • Format text
        • Text Format controls
        • Display the text Appearance pane
        • Modify text color
        • Modify text opacity
        • Modify text softness
        • Apply an image texture to text
        • Add a text outline, glow, or drop shadow
          • 3D Text controls
          • Text Face controls
          • Text Outline controls
          • Text Glow controls
          • Text Drop Shadow controls
        • Save a custom text style
        • Display the text Layout pane
          • Create text on a path
          • Modify a text path in 3D space
          • Use a geometry shape as a text path
          • Animate text on a path
          • Create and adjust text margins
          • Add, remove, and modify text tabs
          • Text Layout controls
          • Text Rendering controls
          • Text Behavior controls
          • Text Type On controls
          • Text Path Options controls
          • Text Margins controls
          • Text Tabs controls
        • Intro to text glyphs
        • Select characters with the Transform Glyph tool
        • Modify a text glyph
        • Distort a glyph in the canvas
        • Reset glyphs
        • Glyph controls in the Text HUD
      • Convert standard text to 3D text
      • Check spelling
      • Find and replace text
      • Using filters with text
      • Intro to 3D text
      • 3D text workflow
        • Add 3D text
        • Convert 2D text to 3D text
      • Apply a preset 3D text style
      • Move and rotate 3D text
        • Modify 3D text format and layout
        • Modify 3D text depth and weight
        • 3D Text controls
        • Intro to 3D text surface materials
          • Apply a preset material to 3D text
          • Apply a custom material to 3D text
          • Modify 3D text materials
          • Add or remove 3D text material layers
          • Make light-emitting 3D text
          • Apply materials to 3D text facets
          • Save a modified 3D text material
          • Intro to 3D text material controls
          • 3D text Substance controls
          • 3D text Paint controls
          • 3D text Finish controls
          • 3D text Distress controls
          • 3D text Emit controls
          • 3D text Placement controls
          • Example: Customize a metal gradient
        • Intro to lighting 3D text
        • Adjust 3D text lighting
        • Modify 3D text environment lighting
        • 3D text Lighting and Environment controls
      • Add a glow or drop shadow to 3D text
      • 3D text intersection
      • Intro to animated text
      • Apply a text behavior
        • Preset text behaviors
        • Customize a preset text behavior
        • Example: Modify the Flare In behavior
        • Apply the Sequence Text behavior
        • Fine-tune a Sequence Text behavior
        • Add keyframes to a Sequence Text behavior
        • Sequence the distortion of 2D text
        • Sequence Text behavior controls
        • Use the Scroll Text behavior
        • Scroll Text controls
        • Use the Text Tracking behavior
        • Text Tracking controls
        • Use the Type On behavior
        • Type On controls
      • Animate individual text glyphs
      • Animating 2D text in 3D space
      • When to use keyframes to animate text
      • Adding nontext behaviors to text
      • Save a modified text behavior
      • Intro to shapes, masks, and paint strokes
        • Intro to simple shapes and masks
        • Draw simple shapes
        • Add shapes from the Library
        • Draw simple masks
        • Convert a shape or mask to control points
        • Intro to complex shapes and masks
        • Draw complex shapes and masks
        • Intro to paint strokes
        • Create a paint stroke
        • Convert outlines to paint strokes
        • Adjust stroke width in the canvas
        • Paint Stroke controls in the HUD
        • Intro to editing control points
        • Show control points
        • Select or lock control points
        • Add or delete control points
        • Move control points to adjust shapes
        • Edit Bezier control points
        • Edit B-Spline control points
        • Use dynamic guides and snapping
      • Edit fill, outline, and feathering
        • Intro to shape controls
        • Style pane controls
        • Style pane movie controls
        • Stroke pane controls
        • Advanced pane controls
        • Geometry pane controls
        • Intro to Shape behaviors
        • Add a Shape behavior
        • Apply Pen Pressure behavior
        • Adjust Pen Speed behavior
        • Apply Pen Tilt behavior
        • Oscillate Shape behavior
        • Randomize Shape behavior
        • Sequence Paint behavior
        • Track Points behavior
        • Wriggle Shape behavior
        • Write On behavior
      • Keyframe shape control points
        • Intro to masks and transparency
        • Mask a layer
        • Combining multiple masks
        • Applying filters or behaviors to masks
          • Rotoscope a mask’s shape
          • Rotoscoping tips
        • Mask controls in the Inspector
          • Intro to image masks
          • Apply an image mask to a layer
          • Image mask controls
      • Convert between shapes and masks
      • Using filters and masks with shapes
      • Copy shape styles
      • Save custom shapes and shape styles
      • Intro to using generators
      • Add a generator
        • Modify or animate a generator
        • Controls common to all generators
        • Intro to image generators
        • Caustics generator
        • Cellular generator
        • Checkerboard generator
        • Clouds generator
        • Color Solid generator
        • Concentric Polka Dots generator
        • Concentric Shapes generator
        • Gradient generator
        • Grid generator
        • Japanese Pattern generator
        • Lens Flare generator
        • Manga Lines generator
        • Membrane generator
        • Noise generator
        • One Color Ray generator
        • Op Art 1 generator
        • Op Art 2 generator
        • Op Art 3 generator
        • Overlapping Circles generator
        • Radial Bars generator
        • Soft Gradient generator
        • Spirals generator
        • Spiral Drawing generator
        • Use Spiral Drawing onscreen controls
        • Star generator
        • Stripes generator
        • Sunburst generator
        • Truchet Tiles generator
        • Two Color Ray generator
        • Intro to text generators
        • File generator
        • Numbers generator
        • Time Date generator
        • Timecode generator
      • Save a modified generator
      • Intro to filters
      • Browse and preview filters
      • Apply or remove filters
        • Intro to adjusting filters
        • Adjust filters in the Inspector or HUD
        • Adjust filters in the canvas
        • Types of onscreen filter controls
        • Intro to filter types
          • Intro to Blur filters
          • Channel Blur filter
          • Circle Blur filter
          • Compound Blur filter
          • Defocus filter
          • Directional Blur filter
          • Gaussian Blur filter
          • Gradient Blur filter
          • Prism filter
          • Radial Blur filter
          • Soft Focus filter
          • Variable Blur filter
          • Zoom Blur filter
          • Intro to Border filters
          • Bevel filter
          • Simple Border filter
          • Stroke filter
          • Widescreen filter
          • Intro to Color filters
          • Brightness filter
          • Channel Mixer filter
          • Color Adjustments filter
          • Color Balance filter
          • Example: Color-balance two layers
          • Color Curves filter
          • Use the Color Curves filter
          • Color Reduce filter
          • Color Wheels filter
          • Use the Color Wheels filter
          • Colorize filter
          • Contrast filter
          • Custom LUT filter
          • Use the Custom LUT filter
          • Gamma filter
          • Gradient Colorize filter
          • HDR Tools filter
          • Hue/Saturation filter
          • Hue/Saturation Curves filter
          • Use the Hue/Saturation Curves filter
          • Levels filter
          • Negative filter
          • OpenEXR Tone Map filter
          • Sepia filter
          • Threshold filter
          • Tint filter
          • Intro to Distortion filters
          • Black Hole filter
          • Bulge filter
          • Bump Map filter
          • Disc Warp filter
          • Droplet filter
          • Earthquake filter
          • Fisheye filter
          • Flop filter
          • Fun House filter
          • Glass Block filter
          • Glass Distortion
          • Insect Eye filter
          • Mirror filter
          • Page Curl filter
          • Poke filter
          • Polar filter
          • Refraction filter
          • Ring Lens filter
          • Ripple filter
          • Scrape filter
          • Sliced Scale filter
          • Use the Sliced Scale filter
          • Sphere filter
          • Starburst filter
          • Stripes filter
          • Target filter
          • Tiny Planet filter
          • Twirl filter
          • Underwater filter
          • Wave filter
          • Intro to Glow filters
          • Aura filter
          • Bloom filter
          • Dazzle filter
          • Glint filter
          • Gloom filter
          • Glow filter
          • Light Rays filter
          • Neon filter
          • Outer Glow filter
          • Overdrive filter
          • Intro to Looks filters
          • Bleach filter
          • California filter
          • Chrome filter
          • Cool filter
          • Fade filter
          • Instant filter
          • Mono filter
          • Nevada filter
          • New York filter
          • Noir filter
          • Process filter
          • Sixties filter
          • Tonal filter
          • Transfer filter
          • Intro to Sharpen filters
          • Sharpen filter
          • Unsharp Mask filter
          • Intro to Stylize filters
          • Add Noise filter
          • Bad Film filter
          • Bad TV filter
          • Circle Screen filter
          • Circles filter
          • Color Emboss filter
          • Comic filter
          • Crystallize filter
          • Edges filter
          • Extrude filter
          • Fill filter
          • Halftone filter
          • Hatched Screen filter
          • Highpass filter
          • Indent filter
          • Line Art filter
          • Line Screen filter
          • MinMax filter
          • Noise Dissolve filter
          • Pixellate filter
          • Posterize filter
          • Relief filter
          • Slit Scan filter
          • Slit Tunnel filter
          • Texture Screen filter
          • Vignette filter
          • Wavy Screen filter
          • Intro to Tiling filters
          • Kaleidoscope filter
          • Kaleidotile filter
          • Offset filter
          • Parallelogram Tile filter
          • Perspective Tile filter
          • Random Tile filter
          • Tile filter
          • Triangle Tile filter
          • Intro to Time filters
          • Echo filter
          • Scrub filter
          • Strobe filter
          • Trails filter
          • WideTime filter
          • Intro to Video filters
          • Broadcast Safe filter
          • Deinterlace filter
        • Animate filter parameters with keyframes
        • Animate filters using behaviors
      • About filters and color processing
      • Publish filter controls to Final Cut Pro
      • Using filters on alpha channels
      • Filter performance
      • Save custom filters
      • Intro to color keying
        • Intro to the Green Screen Keyer filter
        • Use the Green Screen Keyer filter
        • Green Screen Keyer filter controls
        • Animating color key parameters
        • Intro to the Luma Keyer filter
        • Luma Keyer filter controls
        • Intro to refining mattes
        • Crop background with a garbage mask
        • Restore foreground with a holdout mask
        • Matte Magic filter
        • Spill Suppression filter
        • Apply multiple keys
      • Intro to 3D objects
      • Add a 3D object
      • Move and rotate a 3D object
      • Reposition a 3D object’s anchor point
        • Intro to modifying 3D objects
        • Modify 3D object properties
        • Modify a 3D object’s inherent size and orientation
      • Exchange a 3D object file
      • 3D object intersection and layer order
        • Intro to 3D object timing
        • Modify 3D object timing in Motion
      • Using cameras and lights with 3D objects
      • Save custom 3D objects
      • Guidelines for working with 3D objects
      • Working with imported 3D objects
      • Intro to 360-degree video
      • 360-degree projects
      • Create 360-degree projects
      • Add 360-degree video to a project
        • View 360-degree projects
        • View 360-degree video in a VR headset
        • Intro to graphics in 360-degree projects
        • Use graphics in 360-degree projects
      • Create a tiny planet effect
      • Reorient 360-degree media
      • Creating 360-degree templates for Final Cut Pro
      • 360-degree-aware filters and generators
      • Export and share 360-degree projects
      • Guidelines for better 360-degree projects
      • Intro to tracking
      • How does motion tracking work?
      • Analyze and record motion in a clip
        • Intro to match moving
        • Match move an object
        • Two-point tracking
        • Corner-pin an object
        • Combining animation and tracking data
        • Stabilize a shaky clip
        • Remove borders from stabilized clips
        • Unstabilize a clip
      • Track shapes, masks, and paint strokes
      • Track the position of a filter or object
      • Adjust onscreen trackers
      • Load existing tracking data
      • Use a range of frames for analysis
        • Intro to tracking guidelines
        • Basic tracking strategies
        • Advanced tracking strategies
        • Track perspective, scale, or rotational shifts
        • Track obscured or off-frame points
        • Tracking retimed footage
        • Use masks with tracking behaviors
        • Analyze Motion controls
        • Match Move controls
        • Stabilize controls
        • Unstabilize controls
        • Track Points controls
        • Track controls
      • Save tracks to the Library
      • Intro to audio
      • View audio files
      • Add audio files
      • Play audio files
        • Intro to audio editing
        • Adjust audio
        • Cut, copy, paste, and delete audio
        • Slip, slide, and trim audio
        • Use audio with markers
          • Work with the Output audio track
          • Select audio output channels
          • Animate audio level and pan
          • Sync audio and video
        • Retime audio
        • Intro to audio behaviors
        • Audio Auto Pan behavior
        • Audio Fade In/Fade Out behavior
        • Audio parameter behavior
        • Apply the Audio parameter behavior
      • Intro to exporting projects
      • Export a QuickTime movie
      • Export audio only
      • Export a still image
      • Export an image sequence
      • Export to Apple devices
      • Export to email
      • Export using Compressor
      • Create share destinations
      • Render settings
      • View the status of shared items
      • Share notifications
      • About color space
      • Intro to color management
      • Set the color processing method
      • Manage automatic color processing
      • View HDR media
      • Adjust HDR media
      • Choose HDR colors
      • Display luminance values
      • Tips for color management
      • Intro to Cinematic mode video
      • Move Cinematic clips to your Mac
      • Enable Cinematic mode video adjustments
      • Adjust focus points in Cinematic mode video clips in Motion
      • Adjust depth of field in Cinematic mode video clips
      • Intro to settings and shortcuts
        • Change settings
        • General settings
        • Appearance settings
        • Project settings
        • Time settings
        • Cache settings
        • Canvas settings
        • 3D settings
        • Presets settings
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      • Work with GPUs
    • Glossary
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    Modify or animate a generator in Motion

    You can modify an applied generator in the Inspector or HUD, or by using onscreen transform controls. You can animate generator parameters with keyframes or behaviors, and you can use a generator as the basis for a particle system. After you customize a generator, you can save it to the Library for future use.

    While each generator is unique, there are a small set of controls that are shared between all generators. See Controls common to all generators.

    Modify a generator in the Inspector

    1. In the Layers list, Timeline, or canvas in Motion, select an applied generator.

      Note: For information on adding a generator to your project, see Add a generator.

    2. In the Generator Inspector, adjust the parameter controls.

      For information on controls specific to each generator, see Intro to image generators or Intro to text generators.

    Modify a generator using onscreen controls

    As with any other image layer in Motion, you can make basic transform adjustments to an applied generator (modifying size, distorting, changing the anchor point, and so on) using onscreen transform handles. Changes to these basic transform parameters are reflected in the Properties Inspector. Additionally, some generators have specific onscreen controls—usually to adjust the Center or Offset parameter—that you enable by selecting the Adjust Item tool in the canvas toolbar. The Spiral Drawing generator has unique onscreen controls that simulate a stator (ring) and a rotor (gear) of a spiral-drawing tool. These changes are reflected in the Generator Inspector. For more information about the transform tools, see Transform layer properties in the Motion canvas.

    1. In Motion, select a generator in Layers list, Timeline, or canvas.

    2. In the canvas toolbar, click and hold the transform tools pop-up menu, then choose Adjust Item.

      Selecting the Adjust Item tool from the transform tools in the canvas toolbar

      Note: If the generator has no onscreen controls, the Adjust Item tool is not available.

      In the center of the canvas, the Center onscreen control or the Offset onscreen control appears (depending on the generator).

    3. In the canvas, drag the Center control or the Offset control to a new position.

      Canvas showing generator center being moved to new position

      The Offset or Center parameter is adjusted accordingly in the Generator Inspector.

      Tip: Always adjust transform-related generator parameters (such as center and angle) using onscreen controls (or using the controls in the Generator Inspector) rather than from the Properties Inspector; the equivalent controls in the Properties Inspector cause the generator to be resampled, resulting in a lower-quality output.

      For more information about the Offset and Center parameters, see the controls descriptions for Image Generators.

    Animate a generator using keyframes

    Although most generators create static images, you can animate the parameters of a generator to create a moving texture over time.

    1. In the Layers list, canvas, or Timeline in Motion, select the generator you want to animate.

    2. Move the playhead to the frame where you want the animation to begin, then press A to turn on keyframe animation recording.

    3. In the Generator Inspector or using the onscreen controls (if available), adjust a generator parameter.

      A keyframe is added to the parameter.

    4. Move the playhead to the frame where you want to create the next keyframe, then adjust the generator parameter again.

    5. Play the project (press the Space bar).

      The animated generator parameters create a moving, changing texture based on your keyframes.

    6. When you’re satisfied with the result, press A again to turn off keyframe recording.

    Note: For more information on keyframing, see Intro to keyframing.

    Animate a generator using behaviors

    As with all other objects in Motion, you can apply Basic Motion, Parameter, or Simulation behaviors to a generator. The following example applies the Random parameter behavior to randomize the opacity of the Star generator, creating a flickering star.

    1. Add the Star generator to your Motion project.

    2. In the Generator Inspector, move the pointer over the right side of the Spike Opacity parameter row.

      The Animation menu (a down arrow) appears.

    3. Click the Animation menu for the Spike Opacity parameter, then choose Add Parameter Behavior > Randomize.

      Generator Inspector showing shortcut menu of parameter behaviors

      The Randomize parameter behavior is applied to the Spike Opacity parameter, and the Behaviors Inspector is displayed so you can adjust the Randomize parameters.

      Behaviors Inspector showing the Randomize behavior controls
    4. In the Behaviors Inspector, drag the Amount slider to the right to increase the randomization effect.

    5. In the timing toolbar (above the Timeline), click the Play button (or press the Space bar).

      Because the Randomize parameter behavior is applied to the opacity of the star spikes, the star appears to flicker. When a Parameter behavior is applied to a parameter in a generator, a behavior icon (a gear) appears in the Generator Inspector in the row for the affected parameter. In this example, the behavior icon appears in the Spike Opacity parameter row.

      Generator Inspector showing Behaviors icon on Spike Opacity parameter
    6. To increase or decrease the effect of the flicker, adjust the Randomize parameters (in the Behaviors Inspector).

      You can show the Behaviors Inspector by Control-clicking the parameter name and choosing the applied behavior from the shortcut menu.

      Selecting the Randomize parameter in the Animation menu

      For more information on using Parameter behaviors such as the Randomize behavior, see Randomize behavior.

    Use a generator as a particle cell source

    As with other objects, generators can be used as a source for particle cells. The following example uses the Soft Gradient generator. To give your particle system more flexibility and reduce processing strain on your computer, scale the generator down in the Generator Inspector.

    1. Add the Soft Gradient generator to your Motion project.

      Canvas showing Soft Gradient generator
    2. In the HUD or Generator Inspector, reduce the Radius value.

      This example uses a Radius value of 40.

    3. Reduce the Width and Height values.

      In the canvas, the gradient and its bounding box are scaled down.

      Canvas and HUD showing Soft Gradient generator scaled down
    4. With the generator still selected, do one of the following:

      • Press E.

      • In the toolbar, click Make Particles.

        Make Particles button in the toolbar

      After you add an emitter to the project, the new Emitter object is selected In the Layers list; a duplicate of the source object (the Soft Gradient generator) becomes an emitter cell for the new particle system; and the original source object (the Soft Gradient generator) is disabled.

      Layers list showing Emitter and disabled reference object

      In the canvas, the emitter bounding box appears. You can transform the bounding box using the onscreen controls or controls in the Inspector. The particle appears in the canvas in the same location as the original object. Although it appears as if