Working with Themes in the Library
The Library lets you create new custom themes (categories that contain effects and
content), assign content to existing themes, edit how themes are displayed, remove
themes, and search for themes.
Library Themes and Project Browser Themes
Library themes are different from Themes in the Project Browser. Project Browser themes
are applied to entire Motion projects and shared between Motion 5 and Final Cut Pro X
when creating templates. Library themes help you organize projects or related projects
that may share elements by allowing you to label specific objects with a default theme,
such as Abstract, Nature, or Sci-Fi, or to assign elements to a custom theme. For more
information on creating templates for Final Cut Pro, see
Creating Templates for
Final Cut Pro X
.
To create a new custom theme
1
In the Library, below the preview area, choose New Theme from the Theme pop-up menu.
2
In the Create New Theme dialog, type a theme name, then click OK.
A new theme is added to the Library. New themes appear in the Theme pop-up menu.
Custom themes are saved in the “themes” document in your
/Users/username/Library/Application Support/Motion/Library/ folder.
To assign custom content with a theme
µ
Control-click a custom item in the Library stack (such as a shape saved to the Favorites
folder), choose Theme from the shortcut menu, then choose a theme from the submenu.
An item must be saved in the Library before you can assign the item to a theme. For more
information on saving items to the Library, see
Saving and Sharing Custom Library
Elements
.
Items that can be assigned a theme include the following:
• Replicators
• Emitters
• Shapes
• Gradients
• Text styles
• Shape styles
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Chapter 2
The Motion Interface
• Layers or groups
Note: You cannot assign a theme to behaviors, filters, fonts, images, image sequences,
or movies.
To sort using the Theme pop-up menu
Do one of the following:
µ
Select a category in the Library sidebar or stack, then choose a theme from the Theme
pop-up menu.
µ
To sort using the default themes, select the Content category, then choose an item from
the Theme pop-up menu.
To remove a custom theme
1
Choose the theme to remove from the Theme pop-up menu.
The Remove Theme item becomes available in the Theme pop-up menu.
2
Choose Remove Theme from the Theme pop-up menu.
The theme is removed from the list.
Note: You can only remove custom themes.