5.5

1088Motion User Guide
3D object intersection and layer order in Motion
Use the following intersection and layer order guidelines when working with 3D objects:
• 3D objects intersect only with other 3D objects, and do not intersect with 3D text.
• For 3D objects in the same group to intersect, they must be contiguous in the Layers
list (with no other layers separating the layers containing the 3D objects).
• For 3D objects in different groups to intersect, the layers containing the 3D objects
must be contiguous in the Layers list (with no other layers in either group separating
the 3D object layers).
• 3D objects use layer order: For 3D objects to appear in front of other non-3D object
layers in the canvas, the 3D object must be positioned above the other layers in the
Layers list. The object’s Z position in the canvas has no effect
See Create 3D intersection in Motion.
• 3D objects will not intersect with each other if a 3D object or its parent group is
rasterized. Rasterization is triggered by the application of certain filters, or by making
blending or opacity changes. See Intro to rasterization in Motion and How rasterization
affects 3D text and 3D objects in Motion.
Adjust 3D object timing in Motion
Intro to 3D object timing in Motion
When you add a 3D object to a project, its duration can be as long or short as necessary,
regardless of the duration of the original source object.
Use the following guidelines when adjusting the timing of 3D objects:
• Like all layers in Motion, all 3D objects can be edited in the Timeline.
• Animated 3D objects can be retimed using the Timing controls in the Properties Inspector.
• When added to a project, nonanimated 3D objects assume a duration equal to the
current duration of the project (or the custom duration set in Project Preferences).
• When added to a project, animated 3D objects retain their original duration regardless
of the current duration of the project. Generally, an animated 3D object’s duration will
be shorter than your project’s duration. For example, the duration of the Robot object is
147 frames; the duration of the Helicopter object is 159 frames.
• Motion’s animated 3D objects are designed to loop seamlessly. Once you add a 3D
object, you can adjust its playback to loop, reverse, hold, or ping pong for the duration
of the project.
• When added to a project, an animated 3D object’s End Condition (in the Timing controls
in the Properties Inspector) is set to Loop.
• As with all clips in Motion, you can adjust the duration of an animated 3D object source
file. For 3D objects, these controls are located in the Timing controls in the 3D Object
Media Inspector.
• You can apply Retiming behaviors (behaviors that modify timing and playback, such as
slowing down, speeding up, stuttering, and reversing clips) to animated 3D objects. The
3D object’s inherent animation is retimed by the effect of the Retiming behavior.