Apple Motion 3 User Manual

Page 86

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86

Chapter 1

Getting to Know Motion

On (not labeled): This column (identical to the On column in the Layers tab) contains
an activation checkbox to the left of each object that turns the visibility of the object
on and off. When the object visibility is turned off, you can still modify the object’s
parameters and manipulate its onscreen controls.

Name (not labeled): Identifies the object by name. (This column is identical to the
Name column in the Layers tab.) To edit the name, double-click the text area of a
selected object, type a new name, then press Return. In projects that contain a camera,
the Isolate button also appears in this column.

Isolate: The Isolate button only appears in projects that contain a camera. Once a
camera is added to the project, all groups are converted to 3D (if you choose Switch
to 3D in the New Camera dialog). If you choose Keep as 2D in the New Camera
dialog, the camera is added to the project, but the groups remain 2D groups. Once a
camera is added to the project, the Isolate button appears for any selected group,
layer, or camera.

The button has an active and inactive state. Clicking the Isolate button for a layer or
group sets that object to its original face-forward orientation (so you can apply a
mask, for example). Clicking the button again returns to the previous view. Clicking
the Isolate button for a camera takes you to that camera's view.

Status (not labeled): Contains a number of several possible icons to indicate the status
of the object. (This column is identical to the Status column in the Layers tab.) The lock
icon lets you lock an object to prevent any changes from affecting that object. Locking
a group prevents changes to all layers and effects within that group. This column may
also include a link icon when a layer has a corresponding audio element, such as a
multi-channel QuickTime file.

The Status column also contains a 2D/3D icon to toggle a group between 2D or 3D. The
same icon appears immediately to the left of the group name and indicates the 2D/3D
status of the group. Individual layers cannot be 2D or 3D—they are always 2D elements
within a 2D or 3D group.

Note: Changes made in the Timeline layers list also change the Layers list in the Project
pane and vice-versa.

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