3
Table Of Contents
- Motion User Manual
- Contents
- Motion 3 Documentation and Resources
- Getting to Know Motion
- Creating and Managing Projects
- Creating New Projects
- Managing Projects
- Editing Project Properties
- Browsing Media Files in Motion
- File Types Supported by Motion
- Adding Media to Your Project
- Managing Layers in Your Project
- Deleting Objects from a Project
- Exchanging Media in a Project
- Object Media Tab Parameters
- Using Media in the Library
- Behaviors and Filters
- Third-Party Filters
- Image Units (Filters)
- Generators
- Image Units (Generators)
- Particle Emitters
- Replicators
- Shapes
- Gradients
- Fonts and LiveFonts
- Text Styles
- Shape Styles
- Music and Photos
- Content
- Favorites and the Favorites Menu
- Adding Your Own Content to the Library
- Using Custom Objects from the Library
- When Library Media Becomes Unavailable
- Organizing Groups and Layers in Motion
- Background of Your Project
- Selecting Layers and Groups in the Layers Tab
- Reorganizing in the Layers Tab
- Nesting Groups Inside Other Groups
- Grouping and Ungrouping Layers
- Showing and Hiding Groups and Layers
- Fixing the Size of a Group
- Locking Groups and Layers
- Collapsing and Uncollapsing Group Hierarchies
- Renaming Groups
- Searching for Groups and Layers
- Sorting Objects in the Media Tab
- Customizing and Creating New Templates
- Basic Compositing
- Using the Timeline
- Using Behaviors
- Behaviors Versus Keyframes
- Browsing for Behaviors
- Applying and Removing Behaviors
- Modifying Behaviors
- Working with Behaviors
- Changing the Timing of Behaviors
- Animating Behavior Parameters
- Saving and Sharing Custom Behaviors
- Behavior Descriptions
- Basic Motion Behaviors
- Examples of Using Basic Motion Behaviors
- Parameter Behaviors
- Examples of Using Parameter Behaviors
- Audio, Camera, Motion Tracking, Particles, Replicator, Shape, and Text Behaviors
- Retiming Behaviors
- Retiming Behaviors Versus Timing Controls in the Inspector
- Simulation Behaviors
- Examples of Using Simulation Behaviors
- Behavior Examples
- Keyframes and Curves
- Using Text
- Using Text in Motion
- Using Text as Particle and Replicator Source Objects
- Setting Layer Duration Preferences
- Working with Text
- About Fonts
- Using the Text Tools
- Editing Text in the Inspector
- Using Text Animation and Text Sequence Behaviors
- Using Other Behaviors With Text
- Using Behaviors to Animate Text in 3D
- Animating Text with Keyframes
- Using LiveFonts
- Using Text in Motion
- Working with Particles
- Using the Replicator
- The Difference Between a Replicator and a Particle System
- Anatomy of a Replicator
- Using the Replicator
- Using Replicators in 3D
- Applying Masks to the Replicator
- Advanced Replicator Controls
- Animating Replicator Parameters
- Using the Sequence Replicator Behavior
- Using Behaviors with Replicators
- Applying Filters to Replicators
- Saving Custom Replicators to the Library
- Using Filters
- About Filters
- Working with Filters
- An Introduction to Filters
- Working with Filters
- Enabling, Renaming, and Locking Filters
- Copying, Pasting, and Moving Filters
- Reordering Filters
- Changing Filter Timing
- About Rasterization
- Blur Filters
- Blur Filters Without the Mix Parameter
- Border Filters
- Color Correction Filters
- Distortion Filters
- Glow Filters
- Keying Filters
- Matte Filters
- Sharpen Filters
- Stylize Filters
- Tiling Filters
- Working with Third-Party Filters
- Working with Generators
- Using Shapes and Masks
- The Difference Between Shapes, Paint Strokes, and Masks
- Shape and Mask Drawing Tools
- Creating and Editing Shapes
- Illustrating Using the Shape Tools
- Shape Parameters in the Inspector
- Animating Shapes
- Saving Shapes and Shape Styles
- Masking Layers to Create Transparency
- Applying Image Masks to a Layer
- Using Masks to Aid Keying Effects
- Manipulating Alpha Channels Using Filters
- Working with Audio
- Exporting Motion Projects
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- Video and File Formats
- Supported File Formats
- Standard Definition Versus High Definition Video Formats
- Popular Video Codecs for File Exchange
- What Is Field Order?
- Using Square or Nonsquare Pixels When Creating Graphics
- Differences in Color Between Computer and Video Graphics
- Using Fonts and Creating Line Art for Video
- Scaling Imported High-Resolution Graphics
- Creating Graphics for HD Projects
- Working with FinalCutPro
- Using Motion with FinalCutPro
- Using Motion Templates in FinalCutPro
- Using Gestures
- Using Motion and After Effects
- Index
336 Chapter 4 Using the Timeline
Setting Drag and Drop Preferences
You can set preferences that specify where an item is dropped when you add it to the
Timeline layers list. You can choose between dropping items at the start of the project
or at the current playhead position. You can also set the delay time before the drop
menu appears.
To specify where new objects appear in the Timeline:
1 Choose Motion > Preferences.
The Preferences window appears.
2 Click the Project icon.
The Project preferences appear in the window.
3 In the Still Images & Layers section, click the appropriate button to create layers at
“Current frame” or “Start of project.”
Note: The Create Layers At preference only applies when you drag items to the
Timeline layers list, the Layers list of the Project pane, or directly into the Canvas. Clips
dropped on a specific frame within the Timeline always appear at that exact location.
To set the drop menu delay preference:
1 Choose Motion > Preferences.
The Preferences window appears.
2 Click the General icon to view General preferences.
3 In the Interface section, adjust the Drop Menu Delay slider to set the delay pause for
the drop menu.
Adding to the Timeline Layers List
You can drag an image from the File Browser or Media tab into the Timeline layers list,
which lets you add the new object to an existing group, replace an existing object, or
create a new object.
To add an object to an existing group:
1 Drag an object from the File Browser, Library, or Media tab, and position the pointer
over the Timeline layers list.
 If you position the pointer over a group, the track is highlighted with a black border.
 If you position the pointer between object tracks within a group, the position
indicator appears.
2 Release the mouse button to add the layer to the group.
The new layer is placed on top of other existing objects in the group, or in between the
objects where you dragged it.