Replacing Media on the Layers Tab


Another time-saving feature in Motion is the ability to replace one file with another directly on the Layers tab. In this exercise, you'll exchange seven of the eight Sunset objects with other still images.

To replace media, you simply drag a new file from the File Browser and drop it onto the object on the Layers tab.

When you drop a new file onto an object on the Layers tab, the object's row is highlighted with a black border, and a small curved arrow appears to show you that you are replacing the contents of the file.

Let's try it.

NOTE

If you did not complete the previous exercises and wish to continue the lesson from this point, close your current project and open 3-3 Photo Groups from the Lesson_03 folder.


1.

On the Layers tab, click the Top sublayer's disclosure triangle to view its contents.

Remember: Objects on the Layers tab appear in the order in which they were added to the project, from bottom to top. The original Sunset object was the first object in the layer, so it is in the lowest position on the Layers tab. You placed the original Sunset object in the upper-left corner and then made copies one at a time, moving toward the right of the frame. To select the objects in the Canvas from left to right, you need to select the lowest object first and then work your way up.

2.

Select the lowest object in the Top sublayerin this case, the original Sunset object.

The first object in the top row of pictures in the Canvas becomes selected. We'll replace this object first.

TIP

It's a good idea to select an object before you exchange media so that you can locate the selected object in the Canvas and verify that it is the object you want to change.

3.

Drag the DFB Tower01.jpg file from the File Browser to the selected object on the Layers tab.

The first object in the top row of the Canvas changes to the DFB Tower01 still.

As you can see, it's quite easy to replace media files on the Layers tab.

Replacing the Remaining Objects

Now that you know how to select and replace media files on the Layers tab, you can replace the rest of the stills on your own. Follow the sequence here to complete the task. Start with the Top sublayer and then move to the Bottom sublayer. Since you can't read the names of the files in the Canvas, let's rename the objects in the sublayer based on their positions to make them easier to identify.

1.

Double-click the name of the lowest object in the Top sublayer and type Left in the name field; then press Return.

2.

Change the name of the object above Left to Left Center.

3.

Change the name of the object above Left Center to Right Center.

4.

Change the name of the object above Right Center to Right.

Now that you've made the objects easier to identify, let's replace their media.

5.

Select the Left Center object on the Layers tab and replace it with the South Korea 505 file.

6.

Select the Right Center object on the Layers tab and replace it with the Big Ben London file.

7.

Select the Right object on the Layers tab and replace it with the Blue Mesa Turkey file.

8.

Click the disclosure triangle for the Bottom sublayer to view the contents.

9.

Select the lowest object in the Bottom sublayer and replace it with the Israel 110 file.

10.

Rename the objects in the Bottom sublayer from the lowest to the highest to correspond with their positions in the Canvas as you did with the Top sublayer (Left, Left Center, Right Center, Right).

Now let's replace the remaining objects on the Bottom layer.

11.

Select the Left Center object on the Bottom layer and replace it with the Inverness Castle_1 file.

12.

Select the Right Center object on the Bottom layer and replace it with the Greece 176 file.

We'll leave the Right object on the Bottom layer with its original media file.

You should now have eight different photographs showing in the Canvas.

13.

Press Cmd-5 to view the files on the Media tab.

All of the files that you added to the project are listed in the order that you imported them, from top to bottom. The Media tab lists the objects by their filenames in the File Browser instead of by the names that you gave the objects on the Layers tab.

14.

Press Cmd-4 to return to the Layers tab.

15.

Press Cmd-S to save your progress.

Checking the Details

The project looks pretty good, but did you notice any problems with the image sizes?

If you look closely, you'll notice that several of the objects don't match the height of the other objects in their row. Also, the spacing between the last two objects in the bottom row is off. Finally, there's a blue line at the bottom of the Left object in the Top layer object that looks like digital noise and should be removed.

Rule #2: Pay attention to details, because if you see an imperfection in your work, others are likely to see it, too.

Attention to detail is one of the things that separates amateurs from professionals in the graphic design world, and in most other professions.

If you turn in a written document full of misspellings and grammatical errors, whoever reads it will get the impression that you didn't care enough to make it right. The same principle goes for your motion graphics projects.

Your projects are a direct representation of you and your professionalism. I'm not saying everything always has to be perfect. Sometimes, keeping things a little rough around the edges is the look you are going for. However, in most cases, if something looks off, or out of alignment, or too big or too bright, or whatever, chances are good that you won't be the only one who notices it. Take the extra time to fix the little details as you build a project so that you won't be stuck dealing with them all at the end.



    Apple Pro Training Series Getting Started with Motion
    Apple Pro Training Series: Getting Started With Motion
    ISBN: 0321305337
    EAN: 2147483647
    Year: 2005
    Pages: 283
    Authors: Mary Plummer

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