Apple Motion 5.1.1 - Manual (Page 709)

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Generators overview
Generators are objects in the Library that you add to a project to create instant graphical
treatments such as colors, bars, stripes, noise, or gradients. Some generators create animated
patterns. However, most default to static, patterned images that can be animated using
behaviors or keyframes.
There are two categories of generators in the Library:
•
Generators: Static images, such as the Checkerboard generator, and images animated by
default, such as the Clouds generator. Although static generators are not animated by default,
you can keyframe their parameters to create an animated pattern.
•
Text Generators: Animated text treatments.
You can use any generator as is or modify its settings to create different effects. Like all other
objects in Motion, generators can be moved, rotated, duplicated, copied and pasted, and
animated. Generators can be reordered in the Layers list and set to different blend modes. Also,
as with other objects, you can apply behaviors to generators and apply Parameter behaviors
to the individual parameters of a generator. You can also apply filters to generators, or use a
generator as the source for a particle or replicator cell. After you modify a generator, you can
save it to the Library for later use.
To learn more about working with generators, choose a topic in the Help table of contents (the
sidebar to the left of this window).
Add a generator
You add generators to a project in the same manner as other files—by dragging the generator
into your project from the Library. Alternatively, you can apply generators from the Add
Generator pop-up menu in the toolbar. After you add a generator, it becomes a layer in the
Layers list (and Timeline) and appears in the Canvas. The generator is set to the duration and size
of your project by default. For example, if you are working on an NTSC D1 project and you add a
generator, the generator has a 720 x 486 (.90) pixel aspect ratio.
Note: The duration of the generator depends on the Project settings in Motion Preferences.
If Create Layers At is set to “Start of project,” the generator starts at the first project frame
regardless of where the playhead is when the generator is added. If set to “Current frame,” the
generator starts at the playhead’s frame.
Add a generator to a project
1 In the Library, click the Generators category.
2 In the stack, click a generator.
The generator preview appears in the preview area. If the generator is animated, such as Clouds,
the animation plays in the preview area.
Generators
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