5

Adding Media Files to a Project
Use the following procedures to add media files to Motion.
Note: Although iTunes and iPhoto files can be added via the File Browser, it is better to
add them via the Music and Photo categories in the Motion Library. Using the Library
allows you to browse for files using the playlist or photo album features available in iTunes
and iPhoto. For more information, see Adding iTunes and iPhoto Files from the Library.
To add media files to a project in a new group
1 If the Create Layers At setting in the Project pane of Motion Preferences is set to “Current
frame,” move the playhead to the frame in the Timeline where you want the first frame
of the file to start.
Note: If the Create Layers At setting is set to “Start of project,” this step is unnecessary
because imported files are placed at frame 1.
2 Select media files in the File Browser.
3 Do one of the following:
• Drag the files into the Canvas, placing them at any position.
• Click the Import button to add the files to the center of the Canvas.
• Drag the files into the empty lower area of the Layers list.
• Drag the files into the empty lower area of the Timeline.
• Choose File > Import (or press Command-I), select files in the Import Files dialog, then
click Open.
A new group appears the top of the Layers list, and all imported files appear as layers
nested in the group. Each new layer’s start time in the Timeline is set to the position
of the playhead in step 1.
To add media files to a group
1 If the Create Layers At setting in the Project pane of Motion Preferences is set to “Current
frame,” move the playhead to the frame in the Timeline where you want the first frame
of the file to start.
Note: If the Create Layers At setting is set to “Start of project,” this step is unnecessary
because imported files are placed at frame 1.
2 Open the File Browser and Layers list.
3 Select media files in the File Browser.
4 To nest the media files in a group, do one of the following:
• Drag the files on top of a group in the Layers list.
The imported files appear as new layers in the group, placed above existing layers in
the group.
207Chapter 6 Creating and Managing Projects