In this lesson, we will set up our new project and import the photos that we have chosen to use in our Winter Wonderland holiday opener video, in preparation to add the effects that will animate the still images.

Our first step is to decide on which frame of the Motion Timeline we want each image to appear first and the duration of each image on the screen. Our first scene will have the static image of the two berries as the snow falls. In the second scene, we have the two squirrels eating some berries. This scene will begin with a shot of the squirrels and moves in closer. The third scene begins with the top of the trees, the view moves downward and ends with the decorations at the bottom of the trees. Scene 4 begins with a sparkling star over the area on the right of the trees, as the holiday text appears. Because these faux camera movement animations have only a few seconds duration, the movements are very subtle. So here is the break down of the timeline.

Scene 1: Starts on frame 1 and ends on frame 120 (4 sec)
Scene 2: Starts on frame 121 and ends on frame 330 (7 sec duration, 11 sec total)
Scene 3: Starts on frame 331 and ends on frame 510 (6 sec duration, 17 sec total)
Scene 4: Starts on frame 511 and ends on frame 750 (8 sec duration, 25 sec total)

Let's Start the Motion^R Project

1. Let's begin a new eight second project with a 1280 x 720 pixels resolution at 29.97 fps.
   
   
2. From the Zoom Level menu at the upper right, choose the Fit option.
   
   
3. From the Channels menu at the upper right, choose the Transparent option.
   
   
4. From the View menu, choose Show Overlays and then Overlays - Safe Zones.
   
   
5. In the Layers pane, rename the Project layer to the name of your project.
   
   
6. With that layer selected, go to Inspector - Properties - Background and choose the Solid option. For the Background Color, choose black.
   
   

Now, we will add a background layer that stays on the Canvas for the duration of the video.

Add a Background Layer

1. In the Layers pane, rename the Group layer to Background.
   
   
2. With the Rectangle tool, draw a rectangle over the entire Canvas.
   
   
3. Go to Inspector - Shape - Style, uncheck Outline and check Fill. Set the Fill Color to white.
   
   

Import First Image

We will import this image on frame 1 and keep it on the screen through frame 120.

1. With the Playhead on frame 1, click File - Import and choose the image for the first scene.
   
   
2. Rename the new Group layer to Scene 1.
   
   
3. On the Timeline, drag the right edge of the image layer to frame 120.
   
   

Import Second Image

This image begins on frame 121 and stays on the screen through frame 330.

1. As before, import the image for scene 2.
   
   
2. Rename the new Group layer to Scene 2.
   
   
3. On the Timeline, drag the left edge of the image layer to frame 121 and the right edge to frame 330.
   
   

Import Third Image

Import the third image and keep it on the screen from frame 331 to the end of the video. Repeat the previous steps for this image and set the beginning frame to frame 331.