Apple Motion 4 - Manual (Page 240)

When importing a PDF file, its size is relative to the original page size of the file. As a
result, even small graphics may have a large frame size, with a lot of empty space
surrounding the graphic. When exporting a graphic as a PDF file for use in Motion, you
may want to scale the graphic up to fit more closely within the page, or reduce the page
size in the source application’s page preferences to more closely fit around the graphic.
Fixing the Resolution of a PDF Object
Although PDF files have unlimited resolution, large PDF objects can consume a lot of
video memory, which could potentially limit Motion’s performance. To avoid this, you
have the option of limiting the resolution of each PDF image used in your project in order
to save video memory. By using the fixed resolution parameters, the files only need to
be rendered once. This allows for faster performance.
If you decide to fix the resolution of a PDF file, the width and height values you assign
should be equal to the largest scale at which you plan on using that object in your project.
For example, you might add a PDF of a map to your project with the intent to scale it up
to zoom into a particular country. To conserve video memory, you can set the Fixed Width
and Fixed Height parameters to the maximum size of the zoomed in image. If at first you
don’t assign enough resolution, the Fixed Width and Fixed Height parameters can be
changed at any time.
The fixed resolution parameters for PDF objects can be adjusted in the Media tab of the
Inspector. Select the PDF object in the Media tab of the Project pane to activate the Media
tab of the Inspector. Adjust the following controls to modify the PDF’s fixed resolution
parameters.
Fixed Resolution: A checkbox that fixes the resolution of a PDF object in the Media tab
to the size specified in the Fixed Width and Fixed Height parameters.
Fixed Width: A slider that sets the maximum horizontal resolution to which a PDF object
can be smoothly scaled.
Fixed Height: A slider that sets the maximum vertical resolution to which a PDF object
can be smoothly scaled.
Use Background Color: When this checkbox is selected, the background color defined
in the Background Color controls is used for the transparent portions of the PDF.
Background Color: Use these color controls to set the background color for the
transparent portions of the PDF.
Mixed Content Within PDF Files
Although PDF files can simultaneously contain PostScript-based art, PostScript text, and
bitmapped graphics, all of these types of image data do not scale the same.
PostScript-based art and text scale smoothly, but bitmapped graphics that are embedded
in a PDF file are subject to the same scaling issues as any other bitmapped graphics
format. As a result, they may soften if scaled larger than their original size.
240 Chapter 6 Creating and Managing Projects