Since it's introduction, Motion has revolutionized the approach to creating 2D and 3D animated motion graphics and effects commonly seen in title sequences, show opens, interstitials, commercials, dvd menus and more. The title of our tutorial is also our mission: to get you up to speed in Motion 4 faster than you thought possible, while empowering you with the skills and techniques necessary to confidently approach any motion graphics projects you or your clients can dream up.
Motion 4 Fast Forward is presented in 20 individual lessons with a running time of just over 4 hours. The tutorial also includes over 80 project files for following along in Motion 4. Each lesson focuses on building fundamental Motion skills such as working with cameras, motion tracking, working with particles, lights, replicators, masks, text and audio behaviors and more! And you'll learn all of this while creating real-world projects you can instantly put to use in your own projects.
For full descriptions of what's in each lesson, check out the table of contents below.
No one on the planet knows Motion like Mark Spencer. Mark has been using and teaching Motion since version 1, is an Apple-Certified Mentor Trainer, has written numerous books and blogs on the subject and is the author of our best selling Motion 3 Fast Forward and Motion 3D Deep Dive tutorials that have sold thousands of copies worldwide. His teaching style is energetic, straight forward, and best of all, he's passionate about helping people learn Motion.
Who is this Tutorial for?
This tutorial was designed for people with little or no experience using Motion as well as for those who are familiar with other motion graphics applications but would prefer learning Motion 4 from the ground up. Lesson 1-12 covers basic Motion fundamentals, and lessons 13-20 cover more advanced applications of Motion's 2D and 3D toolset. Anyone using Final Cut Studio 3 will benefit from this tutorial including, but not limited to, Final Cut Pro editors, broadcast designers, animators, visual effects artists, producers, directors, and even graphic artists working in traditional print media.
This product is based on tutorial content originally presented in Motion 3 Fast Forward and Motion 4 Up & Running.If you already own Motion 3 Fast Forward, you can purchase Motion 4 Fast Forward as an upgrade byclicking here
Our Tutorial doesn't just show you Motion's amazing toolset, but actually guides you, step-by-step in the best ways to put them to use, even if you've never used a 3D application before. Some of you might even be saying, "but wait, I've never even used a 2D animation program before..." That's ok. Motion is comfortable working with either 2D or 3D elements and our goal is to get you comfortable working in 2D before moving you into the 3D world.
Below is an image from lesson 6 on 3D Photo animation. You will learn how to work with layered Photoshop files, a camera and keyframes to give your flat images depth and perspective.
Motion was born to create DVD menus. Perhaps that's why they are often referred to as Motion menus. With Motion 4's paint tools, audio behaviors, loop point markers and more, you will learn why Motion is the perfect compliment to DVD Studio Pro.
In lesson 4 you will deconstruct and animate a corporate logo. This is the perfect lesson to get your head around working with keyframes in Motion.
Motion has trackers that will help you avoid tedious keyframing. In lesson 11, learn how to track graphics onto moving subjects using various tracking behaviors.
Altering the speed of a video clip is a common visual effect. In Lesson 10 Mark focuses on the various options Motion gives you for retiming your video.
In lesson 13, Mark shows you his bag of reflection tricks and what to watch out for when applying reflections to Emmiters, Replicators and Paint Strokes.
Pulling a good key is never without its challenges. In lesson 9, you will learn techniques to achieve good chroma keys using the Primatte Keyer, B-Splines and mattes.
Where there's light, there's shadow. In Lesson 14 learn how layers work with shadows; how replicators and paint strokes interact with shadows and how to approach scenes with multiple light sources.
With only a few mouse clicks, Motion 4's new framing features will allow you to set up complex camera animations. In lesson 16, learn how to "fly" your camera from one scene to another.
With 3D projects in Motion 4, you can focus the camera on specific objects and throw other elements out of focus. In lesson 15 you will learn how to animate the camera's focus to create realistic depth of field effects.
About the Instructor
Mark Spencer is a bay area-based producer, editor, teacher and writer. He runs a website dedicated to Motion users (www.applemotion.net). Mark is also an Apple-certified instructor teaching regularly at BAVC, Stanford University and MacWorld. Mark is the author or coauthor of 5 books on Motion, including the Apple Pro Training Series book Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Studio, and the APTS Motion 4 book, all from Peachpit Press.
Table of Contents
The Motion Interface
Launching Motion
The Interface
The Utility Pane
The Canvas
The Project Pane
The Timing Pane
The Heads Up Display (HUD)
Opening a Template
The Layers Tab
The Inspector Tab
Exploring the Timing Pane
Viewing in Full Screen
Keyboard Shortcuts
Navigating in the Canvas
Compositing
The Motion Hierarchy
Adding Objects
Changing Object Properties
Changing Tools
Library Objects
Working with the Text Tool
Working with Groups
Using the Inspector
Creating Lower Thirds
Viewing Project Properties
Safe Zones
Creating Text
Modifying Text
Saving Text Styles
Duplicating Text Layers
Aligning and Nudging Layers
Building the Background
Using the Gradient Editor
Saving a Gradient Preset
Animating a Lower Third
Animating Text with Behaviors
Animating off the Screen
Using Replicators and Emitters
Masking a Background
Building an Animated Corporate Logo
Building the Background
Adding a Light
Replacing a Layer with a Still Image
Working with PDF Files
Changing the Display Resolution
Adding a Tag line
Adding Audio
Working in the Mini-Timeline
Tips When Working with Audio
Animating the Logo
Adding Markers
Using Keyframes
Methods for setting Keyframes
Keyframing Shortcuts
The "Key" to Manual Keyframes
Changing Keyframe Interpolation
Animating a Mask
Recording Keyframes
Introduction to 3D
Position and Rotation in 3D
The Adjust 3D Transform Tool
HUD 3D Controls
Understanding 2D and 3D Groups
Manipulating a Group in 3D
Adding a Camera
Manipulating the Camera with the HUD
Canvas 3D Interface Elements
Working with the Compass
Inset View and Layouts
Toggling 3D Overlays
Understanding Views
Adding a Light
3D Photo Animation
Preparing Photos in Photoshop
Importing PSD Files
Scaling a Group
Changing Project Duration
Changing the Anchor Point
Recording Animation
Manipulating Keyframes in the Timeline
Changing Keyframe Interpolation
Animating in 3D
Soloing Layers
Adding a Camera
Changing Z Position and Scale
Recording a Camera Move
Animating a Behavior
Adding and Animating a Light
3D Camera Animation
Adding and Modifying Text
Building "Sets"
Replacing Layer Content
Using a Text Style
Adding a Camera
Switching Views
Positioning the Sets in 3D Space
Setting up the Camera for Animation
Using View Layouts
Isolating Layers
Animating the Camera
Changing Keyframe Interpolation
Changing the Background Color
Separating the Text from the Photos
Changing the Render Quality
Changing Camera Fade
Adding a Sweep Behavior
The Wonderful World of Particles
Creating Particles
Adjusting the Emitter in the HUD
Adjusting the Emitter in the Inspector
Making Particles Appear "Random"
Setting the Color Mode
Working with the Gradient Editor
Replacing and Adding a Cell
Interleaving Particles
Animating Particles with Behaviors
Using Preset Particle Emitters
Modifying a Preset Emitter
Using Special Characters
Animating a Group
Keying
Correcting for Aspect Ratio
Creating a Garbage Matte
Keying the Footage
Suppressing "Spill"
Choking and Feathering the Matte
Creating a Holdout Matte
Using the B-Spline Mask Tool
Animating a Mask
Adding a Background
Adding Particles
Working with Particles in 3D
Moving a Layer in Z-Space
Retiming
Understanding the Timing Controls
Making Constant Speed Changes
Making Variable Speed Changes
Keyframing Speed Changes
Adding Keyframes in the Keyframe Editor
Changing Keyframe Interpolation
Retiming with Behaviors
Working with the Flash Frame Behavior
Working with the Hold Frame Behavior
Behaviors vs. Keyframes
Setting the Speed Behavior
Working with Frame Blending
Working with Optical Flow
Tips for Working with Optical Flow
Motion Tracking
Using the Stabilize Behavior
Adding and Positioning a Tracker
Adding Text to a Track
The Tracking Approach
Applying and Analyzing Motion Behavior
Increasing the Search Size
Viewing Analysis Results
Adding the Match Move Behavior
Changing the Text Anchor Point
Tweaking the Track with Keyframes
Using the "Un-stabilize" Behavior
Corner Pinning
Applying Match Move for Corner Pinning
Using "Mimic Source"
Building a DVD Motion Menu
Breaking Down the Project
Adding an Image Mask
Setting up for the Audio Behavior
Applying the Audio Parameter Behavior
Using Paint
Using Shape Behaviors
Smoothing a Stroke
Making Paint Strokes with the Shape Tool
Using a Preset Paint Stroke
Prepping the Project for DVD Studio Pro
Creating an Overlay
Setting the Loop Point
Reflections
Setting up a Project for Reflections
Placing the Ground Plane
Enabling Reflections
Modifying Reflections
Reflections and Particles
Reflections on Groups vs. Layers
Using Casts Reflections
Adjusting Reflection Bounces
Getting Reflections in Text
Reflections and Replicators
Reflections and 3D Emitters
Reflections and Paint Strokes
Disabling Rendering of Reflections
Exporting Reflections
Shadows
Drop Shadows vs. Cast Shadows
Drop Shadows on non-Text layers
Drop Shadows for Text
Enabling Cast Shadows
Modifying a Shadow
How Layers Work with Shadows
Changing Shadow Color
Self-Shadowing
Rasterization and Self-Shadowing
More Shadow Features
Shadows from Multiple Light Sources
Uniform Softness
Disabling Shadows
Exporting with Shadows
Shadow Aliasing
Changing Shadow Properties of Layers
Self-Shadowing on a Replicator
Shadows and Paint Strokes
Depth of Field
Project Structure
Enabling Depth of Field
Working with 2 Viewports
Adjusting Depth of Field
Creating Focus by Moving the Camera
Moving Layers to the Camera's Focal Plane
Adjusting Focus with Focus Offset
Adjusting the Depth of Field Range
Focusing on Layers not Flat to the Camera
Using the Focus on Object Command
Animating Focus by Recording the Focus on Object Command
Using the Focus Behavior
Working with Infinite Focus
Focus Filter and Shape Options
Depth of Field and Reflections
Depth of Field and Particles
Depth of Field and Vignetting
Depth of Field and Paint Strokes
Depth of Field and Replicators
Camera Framing
Framing Project Organization
New Camera Selection Command
How the Orbit Tool Works Now
The Fit Objects into View Command
Returning the Camera Home
Frame Object
Animating the Camera with Fit and Framing Commands
Fixing Keyframe Interpolation Issues
Animating the Camera with the Framing Behavior
Using the Framing Offset Parameters
The Framing Behavior with Flattened Groups
Adjusting Camera Framing in the Canvas
Framing with a Null Object
Adjusting the Camera's Motion Path
Changing the Camera Path in the Canvas
The Power of the Framing Behavior
Text
The Adjust Glyph Tool
Transforming Glyphs
Formatting and Styling Glyphs
Fixing Rasterization Issues
Selecting Multiple Glyphs
Animating a Glyph
Sequencing Behaviors and the Adjust Glyph Tool
Disabling Rendering with Keyboard Shortcuts
Using the Sequence Text Behavior
Using the Adjust Item Tool
Creating Scrolling Credits
RTF Import
Using the Scroll Behavior
Fixing Alignment Issues
Adjust the Text Scroll
Adding Graphics to Scrolling Credits
Text Generators
Using the File Text Generator
Using the Numbers Text Generator
Replicating the Numbers Generator
The Numbers Generator and Particles
Using the Time Date Text Generator
Using the Time code Text Generator
Linking Behavior
Applying the Link Parameter Behavior
Scaling the Link Behavior
Offsetting the Link Behavior
Linking Different Parameters
Advanced Features of the Link Behavior
Limiting the Link Behavior
Working with Linking Offset and Max Parameters
Scaling the Link Behavior
Copying the Link Behavior
Linking 3D Objects
The Grab Bag
New Templates
Modifying the Look of a Template
Changing the Source of a Replicator Cell
Optical Flow Retiming Improvements
New Filters and Generators
Using the Bad Film Filter
Using the Polar Filter
Using the Concentric Shapes Generator
Using the Spirals Generator
Using ProRes 4444
Baking a Selection with ProRes 4444
Keyframing Multiple Layers
Shape Improvements
Adjusting Shape Roundness
Selecting Points on Multiple Shapes
Transforming Shape Control Points
Moving Shape Segments
Converting a Shape to a Mask
Converting a Mask to a Shape
Using the Space Navigator Device
Using the Share Command
Alpha Transitions
How Alpha Transitions Work
Understanding the Clipwells
Understanding the Alpha Matte
Understanding the Wipe Matte
Summarizing the Clipwell Functions
Creating a Full Frame Transition in Motion
Using a Motion Project as a Transition Clip
Modifying the Alpha Transition
Creating a Wipe Alpha Transition in Motion
Minimum System Requirements for Viewing Tutorials
Mac Computer with 1.25 GHz or faster G5, Intel Core Duo or Intel Xeon processor
MacOS 10.4.11 or Mac OS 10.5.5 or later
iTunes 8 or later
SuperDrive for backing up the iTunes lessons
1 GB or more of RAM
QuickTime 7.5.5 or later
Monitor Depth - Millions
1280 x 800 screen size or better
Minimum System Requirements for Following Along in Motion 4
Mac Computer with Intel Core Duo or Intel Xeon processor
ATI or NVIDIA Graphics Processor with 128 MB of VRAM
