… for Apple Motion

Tip #1719: What Are Parameter Behaviors?

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

You apply parameter behaviors to a setting, not an object.

Parameter behaviors are an advanced technique that, rather than manipulating an object, manipulates a setting (parameter) associated with an object.

These can create some very subtle effects. Here’s how this works.

• Using the Circle tool, draw an oval in the Viewer.
• In the HUD, turn off Fill, increase the width to, say, 90. and assign a Shape Style. (In this example, I used Garnish > Frost Heavy.)
• In Inspector > Shape, click the small arrow to the right of Width (lower red arrow), and choose Add Parameter Behavior > Wriggle.
• Play the timeline and see how the Frost border wriggles.

Cool.

EXTRA CREDIT

You can assign multiple parameter behaviors to the same setting. This is a great way to animate movement in non-traditional ways.

… for Apple Motion

Tip #1682: Explore Hidden Artwork

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Compositions contain animation and graphics not found in the Motion Library.

Most of the time, I encourage you to skip the templates and compositions in the Apple Motion Project Browser and dive right into Motion itself. But, I discovered something today that modified my opinion.

Open Motion and look in the sidebar on the left side of the Project Browser. There you’ll find a variety of compositions. These are Motion projects saved as templates that you can use in your own work.

What I realized is that the artwork in these does not appear in the Motion Library. For example, the screen shot illustrates car, heart and text graphics that aren’t in the Motion Library. (I didn’t verify all the compositions, but it seems that most of their art work does not appear in the Library.)

Each is animated and, though the animation tools exist in Motion, they are applied in ways that are may be useful to learn.

So, the next time you open Motion, take a look at these compositions. You may find some artwork – or animation – that you can use in your own projects.

EXTRA CREDIT

To open a Composition, simply double-click it in the Project Browser.

… for Apple Motion

Tip #1684: A Fast Way to Change the Background

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

By default, backgrounds are transparent; but you can change that.

By default, Apple Motion places all elements over a transparent background. This means that, when you export the finished movie, it can be easily superimposed over video regardless of whether you use Avid, or Adobe or Apple software.

But, what if you don’t want the background to be transparent? Motion has a very easy way to change it to something solid.

• Select the Project name in the Layers panel.
• Go to Inspector > Properties.
• Scroll down to the bottom.
• Set the Background (bottom red arrow) to Solid.
• Set the Background Color to whatever color you want for your project.

Now, when you export, your file will include a solid background.

EXTRA CREDIT

The difference between Solid and Environment is that, while both are solid, Environment “interacts with [a] 3D project, including blend modes and reflections.” (Apple Help)

… for Apple Motion

Tip #1674: Make a Particle System 3D

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Switching a particle system to 3D takes just one mouse click.

Particles, like cameras, lights, replicators and 3D Objects, can expand into 3D space. (All other Motion elements are 2D.) However, by default, all particle systems are set to 2D. Here’s how to make the switch.

• Add the particle system you want to use into the Viewer. (Library > Particle Emitters).

NOTE: This setting also works for particle systems you create – again, the default is 2D.

• Select the name of the particle emitter in the Layers panel, not the group you moved it into.
• Open Inspector > Emitter and check the 3D check box (top of screen shot).
• A warning message appears reminding you to switch the group containing the particle system to 3D. Click the blue button to make the switch.

Done. Now, the particle system occupies volume as well as a position in space.

NOTE: Depending upon what particles are used to create the system, you can dolly through a particle cloud and see individual particles! It will take experimenting to find what works best for you – and you’ll need to render to see movement at full speed.

EXTRA CREDIT

In the lower screen shot, we see a camera dollying through a field of flying baseballs. The baseballs are the 3D baseball object that was turned into a particle system.