Managing layers in your project – Apple Motion 3 User Manual
Page 219
Chapter 2
Creating and Managing Projects
219
Managing Layers in Your Project
When you add a file to your project, a corresponding layer appears in the Canvas,
Layers tab, and Timeline. Once added, you can duplicate any layer in the Canvas, Layers
tab, and Timeline to create as many copies as you need. Each copy you create has
individual parameters in the Inspector, which gives you the freedom to individually
modify and animate each duplicate layer as necessary.
The Relationship Between Objects in the Layers and Media Tabs
Every file you add to your project creates a new corresponding object in the Media tab,
even if it’s identical to other files you have already added. This means that if you drag
the same file into your project five times from the File Browser, five corresponding
objects are created in the Media tab.
On the other hand, if you duplicate a layer that’s already in your project, a relationship
is maintained between that instance of the object and the previously existing object in
the Media tab. No new layer is created in the Media tab.
By default, objects added to your project are managed automatically by Motion. If you
delete a layer from the Canvas or Layers list, the media object is removed automatically
from the Media tab. You can turn off this feature in the General pane of Motion
Preferences.
Duplicating Files
If you need more copies of an object in your project, either duplicate them directly in
the Canvas using the Duplicate command, or drag an object from the Media tab to the
Canvas or Timeline to create a new corresponding instance of that object. Another way
to duplicate an object is to use the Make Clone Layer command. For more information
on the Make Clone Layer command, see “
It is easier to manage all duplicated layers using the media object’s Media tab
parameters in the Inspector. These parameters define the media object’s essential
properties, including the frame rate, pixel aspect ratio, interlacing, and alpha channel
parameters. There are also additional parameters that allow you to define each media
object’s end condition, reversal, cropping, and timing. Each media object’s parameters
affect all layers in the project that have a relationship to the corresponding media
object in the Media tab, so changing the media object’s parameters simultaneously
updates every layer in your project to which it is related.
For more information on a media object’s Media tab parameters, see “