Apple Motion 4 - Manual (Page 312)

For more information on working with shapes and masks, see Using Shapes, Masks, and
Paint Strokes .
Using the Adjust Glyph and Adjust Item Tools
The Adjust Glyph tool, available when a text object is selected, activates onscreen controls
that allow you to modify the position and X, Y, or Z rotation for individual characters
(glyphs) in a text object.
For information on using the Adjust Glyph tool, see Adjusting Glyph Attributes .
The Adjust Item tool activates onscreen controls that allow you to manipulate filters,
behaviors, generators, and other objects. For example, you can use the Adjust Item tool
to adjust the center point of a blur filter, the shape of a particle emitter, or the settings
of a gradient.
Adjusting Object Properties in the Inspector
Groups and objects have many of the same parameters in the Properties tab of the
Inspector. Manipulating an onscreen transform handle also changes the corresponding
parameter in the Properties tab of the Inspector. If you want to transform an object more
precisely than the onscreen controls allow, you can change that parameter’s value directly.
When you select a single object and open the Properties tab of the Inspector, the object’s
parameters are displayed. Making changes to the values in the Properties tab affects the
selected object. If more than one object is selected in the Canvas, Timeline, or Layers tab,
the parameter values displayed in the Properties tab of the Inspector become inaccessible.
However, you can still adjust the onscreen controls. Manipulating any of the onscreen
transform handles affects every selected object equally.
To modify parameter values in the Properties tab of the Inspector
Do one of the following:
µ
Select a parameter value field, type a new number, then press Return.
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If the parameter has a graphical control, such as a slider or dial, adjust the control.
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To reset a parameter to its default state, either click its reset button, or choose Reset
Parameter from the parameter’s Animation menu.
Important: The Lighting and Reflection parameter groups are available only in a 3D
project.
312 Chapter 7 Basic Compositing