Instruction Manual

Chapter 2 Introduction to the Motion interface 55
•
To move forward in seconds, enter a plus sign (+), enter the number of seconds to move
forward, enter a period, then press Return. For example, to move 2 seconds ahead, enter “+2.”
(with a period after the numeral 2), then press Return. To move ahead in minutes, enter two
periods after the numeral, then press Return. To move ahead in hours, enter three periods after
the numeral, then press Return.
•
To move backward in seconds, enter a minus sign (–), then enter the number of seconds to
move backward, enter a period, then press Return. For example, to move 2 seconds backward,
enter “–2.” (with a period after the numeral 2), then press Return. To move backward in
minutes, enter two periods after the numeral, then press Return. To move backward in hours,
enter three periods after the numeral, then press Return.
Move forward or backward a specic number of frames
m Enter a plus sign (+) followed by the number of frames to move forward, then press Return.
m Enter a minus sign (–) followed by the number of frames to move backward, then press Return.
Timecode versus frame counters
Motion oers two ways of looking at the frame numbers for your project. You can view the time
as incremental frames, starting at 1 or 0 and continuing indenitely. Or you can view the time
in the video-standard, eight-digit timecode system, which runs like a clock from 00:00:00:00 to
23:59:59:29. The rst two digits represent hours; the second two digits represent minutes; the
third two digits represent seconds; and the nal two digits represent frames, as in HH:MM:SS:FF.
Some timecode formats skip numbers to accommodate the inexact frame rates of certain
video formats.
Frames and timecode counters have specic advantages, depending on the format in which you
are originating and nishing. For example, if you are designing a title sequence for a 35mm lm
that must be exactly 720 frames, it is easier to set counters to frames.
If you are building a television spot to be transferred to videotape or broadcast, use timecode so
the frame numbers correspond with the numbers on the videotape.
Switch between timecode and frame numbers
m Choose Show Frames or Show Timecode from the timing display pop-up menu (the inverted triangle).
Canvas
Canvas overview
Most of the Motion interface is occupied by the Canvas. Similar to the document window in
many other applications, the Canvas is the visual workspace where you arrange and lay out
objects in your composition. Adding layers and eects to your project is as simple as dragging
them from the Library or File Browser to the Canvas.
Use the transport controls at the bottom of the Canvas to view your project at regular speed or
frame by frame. On either side of the transport controls are buttons that show and hide panes of
the interface, turn audio playback on and o, and turn player mode on and o.
67% resize factor