In this tutorial, we continue to discuss the Toolbar in Motion^R 5 and what each tool does. You will find that most of the tools are very similar to their counterparts in other Apple^R software.

• Paint Stroke Tool
  
  With this tool, you can draw a freehand line on the Canvas. This line will have both a Fill and Outline (stroke).
  
  
• Text Tool
  
  You will use this tool many times for adding text to your project. As in other software, just click the Canvas to get the blinking cursor and type your text. Select the text to format and style.
  
  
• Mask Tools
  
  You have several tools for drawing masks on the Canvas, ranging from a simple rectangle to a B-Spline Mask. You will use masking to hide areas of a layer in order to create several types of effects.
  
  Rectangle Mask Tool
  Circle Mask Tool
  Freehand Mask Tool
  Bezier Mask Tool
  B-Spline Mask Tool
  
  
• Time Display
  
  You have several options for the Time Display. The default is to show the Timecode and the Current Time (position) for the Playhead. But you may use the pop-up menu to display frames or the project duration.
  
  

On the right of the Time Display we have several Effects and Object controls.

• HUD Icon
  
  The first icon to the right of the Time Display is the HUD icon, which opens the floating HUD panel. The HUD will display the most common parameter controls for the selected object or effect.
  
  
• Object Tools
  
  
  • Camera
    
    Adds a new camera to the project, which requires switching to 3D group.
    
    
  • Light
    
    Adds a new light to the project, which requires switching to 3D group.
    
    
  • Generators
    
    Click the icon to open a pop-up menu of several types of generators, which will be added to the project.
    
    
• Effect Tools
  
  
  • Behaviors
    
    Use this pop-up menu to add a behavior to layer, group, camera or light. Behaviors are the foundation of animation.
    
    
  • Filters
    
    Use this pop-up menu to add a filter to the selected group or layer.
    
    
  • Particle Emitter
    
    The selected object will be used to create the cell for a particle system. The visibility of this object will be turn off and a particle emitter will be added to the project.
    
    
  • Replicator
    
    The selected object will be used to create the cell for a new replicator. The visibility of this object will be turn off and copies of the object are duplicated on the Canvas in a grid format.
    
    

← Back

Apple, Motion, iBooks Author, GarageBand, TextEdit, Pages, iMovie and Mac are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. BellaOnline is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Screenshots used by permission.