Motion 5 - Animation Menu

Every keyframeable parameter has an Animation menu, available by Control-clicking a
parameter’s name to reveal a shortcut menu, or by moving the pointer to the right side
of a parameter row in the Inspector, and clicking the downward arrow that appears.

Note: If the Animation menu corresponds to a parameter that cannot be animated, the
Enable Animation and Keyframe menu items are dimmed.

The Animation menu contains the following options:

• Show in Keyframe Editor: Opens the Keyframe Editor and displays the parameter’s

keyframes and curves. For more information, see

Animating in the Keyframe Editor

.

• Reset Parameter: Removes keyframes and settings for this parameter. The parameter

value is reset to its default value.

• Add To Rig: Lets you add a parameter to an existing rig, or to a new rig that you create

to control multiple parameters with a single checkbox, slider, or pop-up menu. Rigs
are useful when you create templates for Final Cut Pro X. For more information, see

Using Rigs

and

Creating Templates for Final Cut Pro X

.

• Add Parameter Behavior: Opens a submenu listing all available Parameter behaviors

you can use to animate the parameter. For more information, see

Applying Parameter

Behaviors to a Behavior

.

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• Publish: Sends the parameter control to Final Cut Pro X when you create and save a

template for the editing application. The Publish command also lets you send rig
controls (widgets) to Final Cut Pro. For more information on the Publish command, see

Publishing Parameter Controls from Motion to Final Cut Pro X

. For more information

on rigging, see

Using Rigs

.

• Enable/Disable Animation: Activates or deactivates the keyframed value. Choosing

Disable Animation hides the keyframes already set, restoring the parameter to its default
value. However, the keyframes are not thrown away. (A dash appears in the parameter
row to indicate the animation is disabled.) Choosing Enable Animation again returns
the parameter to its last keyframed state.

• Add Keyframe: Adds a keyframe at the current frame in the project. If the playhead is

positioned on a frame where a keyframe has been added, this menu command is
dimmed. To add a keyframe without accessing the Animation menu in the Inspector,
press Control-K. A keyframe is added to the last modified parameter of the object
(regardless of the status of the Record button) at the current frame.

• Delete Keyframe: Deletes the keyframe. The Delete Keyframe option is available only if

the playhead is positioned on a frame where a keyframe exists.

• Previous Keyframe: Moves the playhead to the previous keyframe for this parameter.

The Previous Keyframe command is available only if a keyframe exists earlier in the
project.

• Next Keyframe: Moves the playhead to the next keyframe for this parameter. The Next

Keyframe command is available only if a keyframe exists later in the project.

Note: You can also choose Mark > Go To > Previous Keyframe (or press Option-K) or
Mark > Go To > Next Keyframe (or press Shift-K) to move from keyframe to keyframe.

To set keyframes using the Animation menu

1

Change the value of the parameter you want to keyframe.

2

Click the Animation menu, then choose Add Keyframe.

A keyframe is added at the frame and the affected parameter appears red in the Inspector,
indicating any further edits at other playhead locations will add keyframes.

3

To set another keyframe for the same parameter, move the playhead to the next location,
then change the value of the parameter.

To delete a keyframe

1

Move the playhead to the frame where the keyframe is currently set.

2

Click the Animation menu for the parameter you want to change, then choose Delete
Keyframe.

Note: To delete all keyframes for a parameter, choose Reset Parameter from the Animation
menu.

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