Adding Media Files to a Project
Use the following procedures to add media files to Motion.
Note: Although iTunes and iPhoto files can be added via the File Browser, it is better to
add them via the Music and Photo categories in the Motion Library. Using the Library
allows you to browse for files using the playlist or photo album features available in iTunes
and iPhoto. For more information, see
Adding iTunes and iPhoto Files from the Library
.
To add media files to a project in a new group
1
If the Create Layers At setting in the Project pane of Motion Preferences is set to “Current
frame,” move the playhead to the frame in the Timeline where you want the first frame
of the file to start.
Note: If the Create Layers At setting is set to “Start of project,” this step is unnecessary
because imported files are placed at frame 1.
2
Select media files in the File Browser.
3
Do one of the following:
• Drag the files into the Canvas, placing them at any position.
• Click the Import button to add the files to the center of the Canvas.
• Drag the files into the empty lower area of the Layers list.
• Drag the files into the empty lower area of the Timeline.
• Choose File > Import (or press Command-I), select files in the Import Files dialog, then
click Open.
A new group appears the top of the Layers list, and all imported files appear as layers
nested in the group. Each new layer’s start time in the Timeline is set to the position
of the playhead in step 1.
To add media files to a group
1
If the Create Layers At setting in the Project pane of Motion Preferences is set to “Current
frame,” move the playhead to the frame in the Timeline where you want the first frame
of the file to start.
Note: If the Create Layers At setting is set to “Start of project,” this step is unnecessary
because imported files are placed at frame 1.
2
Open the File Browser and Layers list.
3
Select media files in the File Browser.
4
To nest the media files in a group, do one of the following:
• Drag the files on top of a group in the Layers list.
The imported files appear as new layers in the group, placed above existing layers in
the group.
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Chapter 6
Creating and Managing Projects
• Drag the files between any layers in a group.
A position indicator shows where the layers will be placed when you release the mouse
button.
• Drag the files into the Timeline, placing them between any layers nested in an existing
group.
Note: For more information on adding objects to the Timeline, see
Using the Timeline
.
When you add a media file to a project, the file appears as a layer in the Canvas, Timeline,
Layers list, and Media list. Each layer’s start time in the Timeline is set to the position of
the playhead in step 1.
You can also add media files to your project without having them appear in the
composition. You do this by ragging a file into the Media list. This allows you to store
media objects you might want to use in the future.
To drag media files to a project without using them in the composition
1
Open the Media list.
2
Drag media files from the File Browser into the Media list.
The resulting media objects are added to the project but don’t appear in the Canvas,
Layers list, or Timeline.