When you begin to learn how to use Motion^R, you will notice that it has an extensive set of tools that we can use to add objects and effects to our projects. These tools are found in the Toolbar.

Motion Toolbar

For adding or transforming objects on the Canvas, we have several icons on the left end of the Toolbar and in the middle we have the Time Display. On the right of the Time Display we have icons for adding objects and effects such as cameras, filters, behaviors, particles and replicators and controls such as the HUD. As in most software, related icons are stacked under a top icon and can be accessed by clicking the triangle to open a menu. Let’s take a look at each icon or icon group moving from left to right on the Toolbar.

• Transform Tools
  
  
  • Select/Transform Tools
    
    This group of icons are used to select, move and transform objects on the Canvas. They include the Transform, Anchor Point, Drop Shadow, Distort, Crop, Edit Points, Transform Glyph and Adjust Item tools. You will really like the Drop Shadow tool. Just click an object to add the drop shadow and then drag to reposition the shadow behind the object.
    
    
  • Adjust 3D Transform
    
    You can automatically change a 2D layer to a 3D layer by clicking this icon. When you do, you will see the familiar 3D controls for the selected object on the Canvas.
    
    
• View Tools
  
  
  • Pan/Zoom/3D Walk
    
    With these tools, you can pan an object, zoom in or out and when working in 3D use the Walk 3D View, which is used to move in 3D space.
    
    
• Shape Tools
  
  You will use these tools to draw basic shapes such as the rectangle, circle or line.
  
  
• Path Shape Tools
  
  
  • Bezier Tool
    
    The most familiar path tool is the Bezier tool which creates a curved open or closed path. You can shape the curves via the point vertices, which are small lines radiating from the selected point.
    
    
  • B-Spline Tool
    
    Creates a path with B-Spline vertices. This tool also has handles or lines for adjusting the curve.
    
    

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