Motion 5 - Drawing Masks and Shapes Using Bezier Splines

Drawing Masks and Shapes Using Bezier Splines

This section describes how to draw a Bezier shape from scratch. These methods are
identical whether you use the shape or masking tools. This section focuses on drawing
shapes. For more information on drawing masks, see

Using Masks to Create Transparency

.

To draw a Bezier shape

1

Choose the Bezier tool from the pop-up menu in the toolbar (or press B).

Note: The Bezier Mask tool is located in the mask tools pop-up menu in the toolbar.

The Bezier Tool HUD appears. (If it does not appear, press F7.) To change the color of the
shape before it is drawn, use the color controls in this HUD. Select the Outline checkbox
to create an outline with the shape. The Width slider adjusts the width of the outline.
After you create the shape, the Shape HUD appears.

Note: Outlines can be added and edited after a shape is drawn.

2

Click in the Canvas to draw the first point.

3

To add points to further define the shape, do one of the following:

• Click to make a linear corner point.

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Using Shapes, Masks, and Paint Strokes

• Click, then drag to make a curved Bezier point, adjusting it to the shape you want.

Note: Press Shift while making a curved point to constrain its tangents to 45-degree
angles.

While you’re drawing a shape, you can also use any of the point-editing procedures
described below to move and adjust existing control points before finishing the shape.
You can adjust any control point except the first one you created, because clicking the
first point closes the shape.

Tip: If you need a closer look at what you’re doing, magnify the Canvas while drawing a
shape. Press Command-Equal Sign (=) to zoom in and Command-Hyphen (-) to zoom
out. You can scroll around by pressing the Space bar as you drag in the Canvas. If you
have a Multi-Touch trackpad, it’s even easier: pinch open or closed to zoom in or out,
and use a two-finger swipe to scroll around.

4

To finish the shape, do one of the following:

• Click the first point you drew to create a closed shape.

• Press C to close the shape, joining the first point you created to the last.

• Double-click anywhere in the Canvas to create the last point of an open shape.

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Using Shapes, Masks, and Paint Strokes