5.5

472Motion User Guide
Using masks in templates in Motion
You can use shapes and masks in any Final Cut Pro template type. For the best template
results, use the following guidelines:
• Limit the use of shapes to generator templates. Shapes are ideal generator template
elements because they can be scaled in Final Cut Pro without degradation. (However,
too many shapes in a template can adversely impact performance in Final Cut Pro.)
• A shape added to a placeholder layer is converted to a mask. When a template with a
masked placeholder is applied to a clip in Final Cut Pro, the mask is applied to the clip.
Objects in the template outside the placeholder are not affected.
• Mask parameters (Roundness, Feather, and Mask Blend Mode, and so on) can be
published so they are editable in Final Cut Pro. However, the onscreen mask controls in
Motion are not available in Final Cut Pro. To reposition a template mask in Final Cut Pro,
publish the mask’s transform parameters (located in the mask’s Properties Inspector).
For more information on publishing, see Adding controls to templates in Motion.
For more information on working with shapes and masks, see Intro to shapes, masks, and
paint strokes in Motion.
Guidelines for better templates in Motion
To get the best results when creating custom templates, consider the following
suggestions:
• Although a template scales to fit the resolution of the Final Cut Pro project it’s applied
to, you should create the template at the highest resolution you will use. See Set
template resolution in Motion.
• If you plan to loop template animation, or need to match the template and a
Final Cut Pro project frame for frame, create the template with the same frame rate as
the Final Cut Pro project. For more information on looping template animation, see Add
template markers in Motion.
• Although you can drag a video clip into a placeholder layer for preview purposes, the
clip’s duration can interfere with timing built into the template. For that reason, it’s
better to use still images in templates when you need to preview an effect.
• Complex Motion layer effects such as particle emitters and replicators are not
recommended for use in any template types, because they might negatively affect
Final Cut Pro performance.
• The first time you save a template that’s a work in progress, deselect the Save Preview
Movie checkbox in the save dialog. Doing so prevents Motion from creating a movie
preview each time you save the draft template. (The preview movie appears in the
Motion Project Browser.) When you’re ready to save the final version of the template,
select the Save Preview Movie checkbox to create the preview movie.
• When creating complex templates that involve multiple drop zones, use a Final Cut
Generator or Final Cut Title template.
• As with any project in Motion, too many effects (such as filters, text objects, and so on)
adversely impact performance in Final Cut Pro.
• Create animation using behaviors rather than keyframes. Behaviors are easier to modify
when the template is applied in Final Cut Pro.