Apple Motion is a motion graphics and compositing application, used to create and edit motion graphics, titling for video and film production, and 2D and 3D compositing for visual effects. The latest version, Motion 5, was introduced on June 21, 2011. Motion 5 is much easier to learn if users have no previous experience with motion graphics software, as it has a much more simplified user interface and is very easy to understand, compared to professional motion graphics software like Adobe After Effects. It also allows you to do more in less time, without compromising on quality. Still not sold on using Motion 5 for creating motion graphics? Here are 7 more reasons why you should give Motion 5 a shot.
Redesigned Interface For Easier Use
The Motion 5 interface has been redesigned with Final Cut Pro editors in mind, sporting a familiar look and feel that makes it easy to switch between the two applications. A new single-window layout puts all the tools you need at your fingertips, and redesigned icons make it easy to identify available tools and options. The darker look of the interface is also designed to enhance color perception as you work with combinations of video, stills and motion graphic elements. Keyframe editing is also much more accessible thanks to a new view that displays the Keyframe editor below the timeline.
Utilizing Behaviors For Realistic Animations
Motion introduced a system of pre-set ‘behaviors’ which can be combined to create realistic animations. A Behavior can be something as simple as a Fade In/Fade Out, or as complex as a rotation in 3D space. Just apply a behavior to any object, then adjust the duration and position in 2D or 3D space. For instance, the ‘throw’ behavior will move an object across the screen, and the effects can be tweaked utilizing various parameters. You can combine behaviors for more complex motion effects and you can even use behaviors for lifelike simulations of wind, gravity and other natural movements.
Parameter Rigs A Boon To Control
Rigging combines related parameters into groups that can be controlled all at once, allowing users to save steps when working with a large number of parameters. For example, using rigs, you can now change the colors of all the objects in your project in a single step. Simply right-click on the parameter’s shortcut menu in the Inspector and choose ‘Add to Rig’. Here you can create a new Rig or add to an existing Rig. To create a rig, first select the parameters you wish to control, then assign them, one by one, to a master rig that will control all of them. The control type can be set as a checkbox, pop-up or slider. Rigs are extremely simple to setup and use, which means that Motion enables you to focus more on the artistic work and less on figuring out how the program works.
Fantastic, Easy-To-Use Chroma Key
On the compositing side, Apple has added a much improved chroma keying feature, and creating chroma keys has never been easier. Just drag and drop the new Keying filter onto a color in your footage (such as a green screen), for an instant chroma key that is accurate for most projects. If the green screen background is unevenly lit, or if there are other problems in your original footage, you can use onscreen controls and a simple slider to adjust the key color and edge softness. For additional adjustments, there are advanced controls available for you to use, including an intuitive color wheel.
Create Moving Sequences With The Replicator Tool
The Replicator is a fantastic tool unique to Motion 5, and one that if used correctly, can create very cool effects. With this tool, users are able to instantly create animations where the graphic elements of a replicated pattern move in sequence, an improvement from previous tools that would have required tedious duplications and repositioning of elements in the canvas, move in sequence. Simply select the layer you want to replicate, hit a button, and you now have multiple versions of that selected layer. The best part of the replicator is that you can create 3D extruded logos and text very easily with it.
Real-Time Visual Tweaking Fun And Fast As Ever
One of the advantages Motion 5 has over other motion graphics software is that it has real-time playback of your compositions. The idea is to allow users to constantly experiment with the various effects, make adjustments to the visuals as the motion plays and instantly see results. Simply create whatever you want, press the spacebar, and watch your visuals playback in real-time. Take for example, you have footage of a white car driving by, and you want to change the color of the car. Well, all you have to do is play the video on loop, add the necessary effects, constantly edit as the video plays and see the results in real-time.
Incredibly Low Price
Perhaps the best thing about Apple’s Motion 5 is its US$50 price point. At US$50, it is an absolute bargain for the amount of stuff it does – from customizing Final Cut Pro, to creating visual effects for videos, to making intro sequences to series. The license can also be used on up to 5 Mac computers authorized from your iTunes/ App Store account.
Now that you have 7 more reasons why you should give Apple Motion 5 a shot, head on over to the Apple store and purchase Motion 5 for all your motion graphics needs. Being a natural companion to Final Cut Pro (FCP) X, it also accommodates users who need to quickly create graphics, or dedicated motion graphics designers wishing to collaborate with editors using FCP X.
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