Timeline Layers List
The left side of the Timeline is the Timeline layers list. Like the Layers list in the Project
pane, objects appear in the project hierarchy categorized into layers and groups. The
Timeline layers list contains many of the controls as the Layers list in the Project pane:
Activation checkbox:
Turns the visibility of an object on and off. When the object visibility
is off, you can still modify the object’s parameters and manipulate its onscreen controls.
Name field:
Identifies the object by name. (This column is identical to the Name field in
the Layers list.) To edit the name, double-click the text area of an object, enter a name,
then press Return. In projects that contain a camera, the Isolate button also appears in
this column.
Isolate button:
Appears for a layer, group, or camera in a project that contains a camera.
The button has an active and inactive state. Clicking the Isolate button for a layer or group
sets that object to its original face-forward orientation (so you can apply a mask, for
example). Clicking the button again returns to the previous view. Clicking the Isolate
button for a camera takes you to that camera’s view.
Note: When a group or layer is isolated, the name of the item replaces the current camera
listing in the Camera menu (in the upper-left corner of the Canvas).
Mask icon:
Appears when a mask is applied to the layer or group. To turn off the mask,
click the icon. A red slash appears through a disabled mask’s icon.
Behavior icon:
Appears when a behavior is applied to the layer or group. To turn off the
behavior, click the icon. A red slash appears through a disabled behavior’s icon.
Filter icon:
Appears when a filter is applied to the layer or group. To turn off the filter,
click the icon. A red slash appears through a disabled filter’s icon.
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Link icon:
Appears when the layer has a corresponding audio element, such as a
multichannel QuickTime file. To unlink the video and audio (to edit them separately), click
the link icon. When unlinked, a red slash appears through the icon.
2D/3D icon:
Switches a group between 2D or 3D mode. The same icon appears at the
left of the group name and indicates the 2D/3D status of the group. Layers cannot be 2D
or 3D—they are always 2D elements in a 2D or 3D group.
Lock icon:
Locks an object to prevent changes from affecting that object. Locking a group
prevents changes to layers and effects in that group. When the lock is disabled, it appears
“open.”
Timeline Row Size pop-up menu (unlabeled):
Sets the Timeline tracks and Timeline
layers list items display size to Mini, Small, Medium, or Large.
Note: You can also position the pointer over any horizontal row separator and drag up
to decrease or down to increase the height of all tracks.
Show/Hide Effects Buttons
Show/Hide Masks button:
Turns the display of masks on or off in the list and Timeline.
Showing or hiding masks in the list does not control whether the mask effects appear in
the Canvas. This button is located in the upper-right corner of the Timeline layers list.
Show/Hide Behaviors button:
Turns the display of behaviors on or off in the list and
Timeline. Showing or hiding behaviors in the list does not control whether the behavior
affects project objects. This button is located in the upper-right corner of the Timeline
layers list.
Show/Hide Filters button:
Turns the display of filters on or off in the list and Timeline.
Showing or hiding filters in the list does not control whether the filter effects appear in
the Canvas. This button is located in the upper-right corner of the Timeline layers list.
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