5.5

142Motion User Guide
• Animate: A pop-up menu that sets the interpolation for animated 3D rotation
channels to one of two options:
• Use Rotation: The default interpolation method. Layer rotates from its start
angle to its final angle. Depending on the animation, the layer might twist before
reaching its final orientation (the last keyframed value). For example, if the X, Y,
and Z Angle parameters are animated from 0 degrees to 180 degrees in a project,
the layer rotates on all axes before reaching its final orientation.
• Use Orientation: This alternate interpolation method provides smoother
interpolation but does not allow multiple revolutions. Use Orientation interpolates
between the layer’s start orientation (first keyframe) to its end orientation
(second keyframe).
Note: The Rotation parameter must be keyframed for its Animate parameter options
to have any effect. For information about keyframing, see Intro to keyframing in
Motion. For information about 3D rotation, see Transform layers in 3D space in
Motion.
• Scale: A slider that controls the layer’s scale, relative to its original size. By default, the
horizontal and vertical scale of a layer is locked to the layer’s original aspect ratio—
represented by a single percentage. Click the disclosure triangle to display independent
percentages for the X, Y, and Z scales of the layer.
Note: Setting a layer’s scale to a negative value flips the layer.
• Shear: Value sliders that define the X and Y shear of the layer. A layer with no shear has
X and Y shear values of 0. Positive values shear in one direction, while negative values
shear in the other.
• Anchor Point: Value sliders that define the X and Y position of the anchor point relative
to the center of the layer. Coordinates of 0, 0 center the anchor point in the bounding
box defining the outer edge of the layer. Click the disclosure triangle to expose an
additional value slider defining the Z position.
Blending parameters
• Opacity: A slider that sets the transparency of the layer. See Modify layer opacity in
Motion.
• Blend Mode: A pop-up menu that sets the Blend Mode of the layer. See Intro to layer
blending in Motion.
• Preserve Opacity: A checkbox that, when selected, renders the layer visible only where
another layer is visible behind it in the composite. The front layer uses the opacity value
of the layer behind it. See Modify layer opacity in Motion.
• Casts Reflections: A pop-up menu that determines whether a layer casts a reflection.
Choose from three options:
• Yes: The layer is seen reflected in nearby reflective layers.
• No: The layer is ignored by reflective surfaces.
• Reflection Only: The layer becomes invisible, but appears in reflective surfaces
around it.
Note: Reflections are only visible when layers are in a 3D group. For more
information on 3D groups, see 2D and 3D group properties in Motion.