5

To move forward a specific number of frames
µ
Enter a plus sign (+) followed by the number of frames to move forward.
To move backward a specific number of frames
µ
Enter a minus sign (–) followed by the number of frames to move backward.
Counting Time
Motion offers two ways of looking at the frame numbers for your project. You can view
the time as incremental frames, starting at 1 or 0 and continuing indefinitely. Or you
can view the time in the video-standard, eight-digit timecode system, which runs like
a clock from 00:00:00:00 to 23:59:59:29. The first two digits represent hours; the second
two digits represent minutes; the third two digits represent seconds; and the final two
digits represent frames, as in HH:MM:SS:FF.
Some timecode formats skip numbers to accommodate the inexact frame rates of certain
video formats.
Frames and timecode counters have specific advantages, depending on the format in
which you are originating and finishing. For example, if you are designing a title sequence
for a 35mm film that must be exactly 720 frames, it is easier to set counters to frames.
If you are building a television spot to be transferred to videotape or broadcast, use
timecode so the frame numbers correspond with the numbers on the videotape.
Canvas
Most of the Motion workspace is occupied by the Canvas. Similar to the document window
in many other applications, the Canvas is the visual workspace where you arrange and
lay out objects in your composition. Adding layers and effects to your project is as simple
as dragging them from the Library or File Browser to the Canvas.
Use the transport controls at the bottom of the Canvas to view your project at regular
speed or frame by frame. On either side of the transport controls are buttons that show
and hide panes of the interface, turn audio playback on and off, and turn full-screen mode
on and off.
55Chapter 2 The Motion Interface