Motion for Mac OS X: Visual QuickStart Guide

Motion for Mac OS X: Visual QuickStart Guide

by Mark Spencer
Released December 2004
Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
ISBN: 9780321294586

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Book description

Offering never-before-seen features like the ability to preview multiple HD videos in real time and Behaviors-based animations plus a price hundreds of dollars below its big-name competitor, Apple's brand-new Motion software is one tool you won't want to live without. This task-based guide delivers all the practical, fun, visual instructions you need to start taking advantage of it immediately. In typical to-the-point Visual QuickStart style, this volume shows you how to start using Motion's many exciting features immediately to create jaw-dropping effects of your own. In short order, you'll learn how to create multilayer composites, stylized title animation, DVD motion menus, and more. You'll also learn about particle dynamics and Behaviors as well how to create dozens of effects using Motion's filters and transformations. If you create motion graphics for film, TV, video, or DVDs--as a filmmaker, designer, DVD producer, or anyone else involved with video-you'll want this guide!

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
    1. Dedication
  2. Acknowledgments
  3. Introduction
    1. What is Motion?
    2. Who is Motion For?
    3. Who Should Use This Book
    4. What’s in This Book
    5. How to use this book
    6. To Learn More About Motion
  4. 1. Before You Begin
    1. System Requirements
    2. Installing Motion
    3. Integrated Applications
  5. 2. Welcome to Motion
    1. Launching Motion
    2. Introducing the Motion Workspace
    3. Working with the Utility Window
      1. The File Browser
      2. The Library
      3. The Inspector
    4. Exploring the Canvas
      1. The Project pane
      2. The Timing pane
    5. Examining the Project Pane Tabs
      1. The Layers tab
      2. The Media tab
      3. The Audio tab
    6. Examining the Timing Pane Tabs
      1. The Timeline
      2. Keyframe Editor
      3. Audio Editor
    7. Introducing the Dashboard
    8. Changing Window Arrangements
  6. 3. Working with Objects
    1. Using the File Browser
      1. Browsing media files
      2. Organizing media files
      3. Previewing media files
      4. Importing media files
    2. Adding Multiple Files to the Canvas
    3. Importing Photoshop Files
    4. Working with the Canvas
    5. Working with Layers
      1. Organizing objects and layers
      2. Using the Object menu
      3. Grouping objects and layers
      4. Hiding and Revealing Objects
      5. Soloing Objects
      6. Locking Objects
      7. Searching Layers and Objects
    6. Working with the Media Tab
    7. Duplicating Objects
    8. Deleting Objects
    9. Replacing Media
  7. 4. Changing Object Properties
    1. Selecting Objects
    2. Selecting Layers
    3. Transforming Objects in the Canvas
    4. Changing the Position of an Object
      1. Using object alignment commands
      2. Canvas View options
      3. Showing Overlays
    5. Rotating Objects
    6. Scaling Objects
    7. Using Shear
    8. Changing the Anchor Point
    9. Working with the Four Corner Parameter
    10. Cropping an Object
    11. Making Transformations in the Properties Tab
    12. Working with Parameter Controls
    13. Transforming Multiple Objects
    14. Transforming Layers
    15. Blending Objects
      1. Blending with opacity
      2. Using blend modes
      3. Blend modes and layers
      4. Alpha channel blend modes
      5. Preserving opacity
    16. Applying a Drop Shadow
    17. Using Timing
  8. 5. Compositing and Editing in the Timeline
    1. Introducing the Timeline
    2. Identifying Objects in the Timeline
    3. Selecting Objects in the Timeline
    4. Changing the Timeline’s Appearance
      1. View options
      2. Zooming
      3. Track height
      4. Track display
    5. Navigating the Timeline
      1. Transport controls
      2. The Ruler area
      3. Jumping to objects
      4. Defining the play range
      5. Setting project duration
    6. Using Markers
    7. Adding Objects to the Timeline
    8. Drag and Drop Editing
      1. Compositing objects
      2. Inserting objects
      3. Overwriting objects
      4. Exchanging objects
      5. Adding multiple clips
      6. Setting drag and drop preferences
      7. Adding objects to layers
    9. Managing Layers
      1. Linking audio and video
      2. Hiding masks, filters, and behaviors
      3. Grouping tracks with layer containers
    10. Editing Objects in the Timeline
      1. Moving objects in time
      2. Trimming objects in the Timeline
      3. Slipping media
      4. Deleting, cutting, copying, and Pasting
      5. Working with Paste Special
      6. Splitting Object Tracks
      7. Soloing Object Tracks
      8. Editing with Layer tracks
    11. Working with Regions
      1. Deselecting parts of a region
      2. Pasting into regions
      3. Inserting time
    12. The Mini-Timeline
  9. 6. Working with Behaviors
    1. Choosing Behaviors
    2. Applying Behaviors
    3. Customizing Behaviors
      1. Customizing parameters in the Dashboard
      2. Customizing parameters in the Inspector
    4. Modifying Behaviors
    5. Trimming Behaviors
    6. Applying Multiple Behaviors
    7. Using Basic Motion Behaviors
    8. Using Simulation Behaviors
    9. Using Common Simulation Controls
      1. Working with the Object Well
      2. The Affect Objects check box
      3. The Affect parameter
      4. The Influence parameter
      5. The Strength parameter
      6. The Falloff Type parameter
      7. The Falloff Rate parameter
    10. Applying Parameter Behaviors
    11. Using Parameter Behaviors
    12. Exploring Common Behavior Controls
      1. The Dashboard Zoom Level control
      2. The Curvature slider
      3. The Apply Mode control
      4. The Offset controls
    13. Animating Behavior Parameters
      1. Applying parameter behaviors to a simulation behavior
      2. Apply parameter behaviors to other parameter behaviors
      3. Keyframing behaviors
      4. Converting behaviors to keyframes
    14. Saving Customized Behaviors
  10. 7. Animating with Keyframes
    1. Understanding Keyframes
    2. Setting Keyframes
      1. Setting keyframes in the Canvas
      2. Setting keyframes in the Dashboard
      3. Setting keyframes in the Inspector
      4. The Inspector’s Animation menu
    3. Modifying Keyframes
      1. Modifying keyframes in the Timeline
      2. Using the Keyframe Editor
      3. Navigating in the Keyframe Editor
      4. Displaying keyframe parameters and graphs
      5. Adjusting the graph view
      6. Modifying keyframes in the Keyframe Editor
    4. Modifying Curves
      1. Changing keyframe interpolation
      2. Working with Bezier curves
      3. Working with Bezier handles
      4. Extrapolating keyframes
      5. Generating keyframes
    5. Saving Keyframed Parameters
    6. Keyframing Filters
    7. Working with Behaviors and Keyframes
      1. Keyframing behaviors
      2. Combining behaviors with keyframes
      3. Converting behaviors to keyframes
    8. On-the-Fly Keyframing
      1. Thinning keyframes
  11. 8. Using the Library
    1. Introducing the Library
    2. Using the Preview Area
    3. Using the Sidebar
    4. Using the File Stack
    5. Finding and Applying Library Elements
    6. Adding Content to the Library
    7. Organizing Effects
  12. 9. Using Filters
    1. Browsing and Previewing Filters
    2. Filter Categories
    3. Applying and Removing Filters
    4. Adjusting Filters
    5. Adjusting Filter Timing
    6. Animating Filters
    7. Using Third-Party Filters
  13. 10. Using Generators
    1. Browsing and Previewing Generators
    2. Adding Generators
    3. Modifying Generators
    4. Using Gradient Presets
    5. Using the Gradient Editor
    6. Animating Generator Parameters
    7. Saving Customized Generators
  14. 11. Working with Particles
    1. Understanding Particle Systems
    2. Working with Preset Particle Systems
    3. Creating a Custom Particle System
    4. Customizing Particle Systems
    5. Customizing the Emitter with the Dashboard
    6. Customizing the Particle Cell with the Dashboard
    7. Customizing Particle Systems in the Inspector
    8. Customizing Emitter Parameters in the Inspector
      1. Customizing emission shape
      2. Customizing Emission Angle and Emission Range in the Inspector
      3. Choosing the Render Order
      4. Interleaving particles
    9. Customizing Particle Cell Parameters in the Inspector
      1. Working with Color Modes
      2. Setting cell parameters for QuickTime movies
    10. Using Multiple Cells
      1. Changing parameters for multiple particle cells
    11. Using Filters with Particle Systems
    12. Using Behaviors with Particle Systems
      1. Using the Scale Over Life behavior
    13. Keyframing Particle Systems
    14. Saving Custom Particle Systems
  15. 12. Working with Shapes and Masks
    1. Drawing Shapes
    2. Working with Control Points
    3. Editing Bezier Control Points
    4. Editing BSpline Control Points
    5. Drawing Rectangles and Ellipses
    6. Using Library Shapes
    7. Modifying Shapes
    8. Modifying Shape Parameters
    9. Applying Filters to Shapes
    10. Animating Shapes
    11. Creating Transparency with Masks
    12. Drawing Masks
    13. Modifying Mask Parameters
    14. Applying Filters to Masks
    15. Animating Masks
    16. Applying Image Masks
    17. Applying Filters to Image Masks
    18. Masking with Blend Modes
    19. Using Masks and Keys
  16. 13. Working with Text
    1. Creating Text
    2. Manipulating Text Objects
    3. Formatting Text
      1. Formatting text with the Dashboard
    4. Previewing and Applying Fonts in the Library
    5. Previewing and Applying LiveFonts
    6. Previewing and Applying Text Styles
    7. Formatting Text with the Inspector
    8. Modifying Text Format
    9. Modifying LiveFonts
    10. Modifying Text Style
    11. Adding a Gradient to a Text Object
    12. Adding a Texture to a Text Object
    13. Modifying Attribute-Specific Style Parameters
    14. Saving Text Styles
    15. Modifying Text Layout
    16. Creating a Type On Effect
    17. Creating Text on a Path
    18. Animating Text on a Path
    19. Animating Text
    20. Using Text Animation Behaviors
    21. Using the Sequence Behavior
    22. Adding and Animating Parameters for the Sequence Behavior
    23. Modifying the Sequence Behavior
    24. Using the Custom Option for the Behavior Parameter
    25. Using Map Animation with Keyframed Parameters
    26. Saving a Modified Sequence Behavior
    27. Using Text Sequence Behaviors
    28. Modifying Text Sequence Behaviors
    29. Using Basic Motion and Simulation Behaviors with Text Objects
    30. Using Parameter Behaviors with Text
    31. Keyframing Text
    32. Adding Filters to Text
  17. 14. Working with Audio
    1. Adding Audio
    2. Manipulating Audio Files
    3. Working with Audio Tracks
    4. Using the Master Track
    5. Editing Audio
    6. Keyframing Audio
    7. Keyframing in the Audio Editor
    8. Recording Keyframes
    9. Exporting Audio
  18. 15. Using Templates
    1. Creating Projects from Templates
    2. Customizing Templates
    3. Creating a New Template
  19. 16. Exporting a Project
    1. Exporting a Project
    2. Working with Export Presets
    3. Exporting with Compressor
  20. 17. Integrating with Apple Pro Apps
    1. Integrating with Final Cut Pro HD
    2. Integrating with DVD Studio Pro
  21. A. Editing Project Properties
    1. Opening and Editing Project Properties
  22. B. Setting Preferences
    1. Using the General Pane
    2. Using the Appearance Pane
    3. Using the Project Pane
    4. Using the Canvas Pane
    5. Using the Output Pane
    6. Using the Presets Pane
    7. Using the Gestures Pane

Product information

  • Title: Motion for Mac OS X: Visual QuickStart Guide
  • Author(s): Mark Spencer
  • Release date: December 2004
  • Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
  • ISBN: 9780321294586