5.5

182Motion User Guide
3D intersection
Create 3D intersection in Motion
By default in Motion, the order of layers in the Layers list determines the stacking order
of layers in the canvas. In other words, layers higher up in the Layers list appear in the
canvas on top of layers that are lower in the Layers list. This hierarchy of layer organization
is called layer order. Even when you move a layer forward in Z space using 3D transform
handles, that layer does not pass through or move in front of layers that are higher in the
Layers list. Layer order prevents intersection and interaction of layers.
Important: 3D objects intersect only with like objects. In other words, 3D text objects
intersect only with other 3D text objects, and 3D objects intersect only with other 3D
objects. Additionally, 3D text and 3D objects use layer order: For 3D text or 3D objects to
appear above other non-3D text or non-3D object layers, the 3D text or 3D object must be
positioned above the other layers in the Layers list; the text’s or object’s Z position in the
canvas has no effect. See 3D text intersection in Motion.
In the image below, groups “Orange A” and “Yellow B” are positioned at the same point in 3D
space. But because they are layer-ordered, “Orange A” does not intersect with “Yellow B.”
To have objects intersect in the canvas, you must convert groups in your project to depth
order. You do this by converting 2D groups to 3D groups.
In the image below, because the parent group has been converted to 3D, groups “Orange A”
and “Yellow B” now intersect.