Apple Pro Training Series: Getting Started With Motion

Lesson 7. Working with Shapes, Text, and Generators

Time Goals

Lesson_07 > 7-1 B-Shapes start

Lesson_07 > 7-2 B-Shapes finished

Lesson_07 > 7-3 Frances start

Lesson_07 > 7-4 Frances finished

Lesson_07 > 7-5 Animated Text start

Lesson_07 > 7-6 Animated Text finished

Master_Project > 07 Master Project start

This lesson takes approximately 1 hour to complete.

Create shapes with the Bezier and BSpline tools

Apply and modify generators from the Library

Add outline and drop-shadow styles to text

Customize and save a gradient preset

Preview and apply LiveFonts

Create particles from text

Manipulating objects and images with filters, behaviors, and particles can give your projects a professional, high-quality look. Now that you understand how to use those tools, it's time to focus on conveying information as well as attracting attention. A motion graphics composite without titles is like a movie without sound. It may be interesting to look at, but it's very difficult to convey the who, what, where, when, why, and how without words. Of course, we're not going to settle for plain old white text, either. Motion's Library includes generators to create background objects from scratch, gradients to add a splash of color, and LiveFonts to bring your text to life.

In the three projects in this lesson, you'll explore shapes, text, and generators in Motion. First, you'll work with the Bezier and BSpline tools to create free-form shapes. Then, in the second project, you'll generate a color background to enhance professional-looking titles for a news bumper. Finally, you'll create and animate text using filters, behaviors, gradients, and particles. Along the way, you'll explore Motion's generators in the Library, using them to create and customize gradients that you'll apply to the text and the project background.