Importing sequential images into timeline in Motion 5.4.3 Not working

The Image and additional descriptions are helpful to understanding what is going on.

First the Preference in Motion is not for image sequences it is for individual still image import. Image sequences always treated like a movie broken up into its individual frames so that preference does not apply. You use the Media tab to control the frame rate after you import.

Now for the timing, if you import 12 frames as an image sequence, Motion treats it like a 12 frame movie clip based on the frame rate you select on import or in the Media Tab for the sequence, this is standard for image sequences in any application. If you want a short sequence to be longer, you need to adjust the Timing in the layer (Properties>Timing). You could change the speed, but this will display each frame longer and create stuttering. Or you can change the End Condition to "Loop" or Ping-Pong and then drag out the end of the image sequence in the timeline.

From your image, it looks like you have an import starting with "vid_pix_004.jpg" and all we can see is up to "vid_pix_014.jpg"

If you are getting the Sequential option, this indicates that you do not have a full sequence, like you may have selected an image we can't see that does not fit the sequence. Sequences can't have breaks. Make sure the file names are sequential.

So in summary

• Make sure the numbers names are sequential (file_001.jpg, file_002.jpg, file_003.jpeg, etc.)
• Make sure there are no breaks in the numbering or inconstancies in the file naming
• If you are using a short number of frames, adjust the frame rate or timing to adjust the length in the project.

I think it would be useful for you to take time to review these parts fo the documentation

https://support.apple.com/guide/motion/import-media-motn38c97503/5.5.2/mac/10.15.6

https://support.apple.com/guide/motion/drag-to-the-timeline-track-area-motn130ad3fa/mac

https://support.apple.com/guide/motion/source-media-controls-motnd8bd71de/5.5.2/mac/10.15.6

https://support.apple.com/guide/motion/timing-controls-motnc0177d04/5.5.2/mac/10.15.6

Motion has had this feature since at least version 2.1 (when I started using it).

If you use Import for a sequence, the sequential images have to be in a directory/folder. They can be any name but they all have to have a numerical sequential set of numbers at the end of the name and before the extension. It *helps* to lead in with an underscore character. I think the minimum amount of numbers to use is two and as many as you need, with leading zeros to accommodate the entire sequence. If you're sequence contains over 10000 images, then you need at least 5 digit characters [e.g., myImageSet_00001.jpg, myImageSet_00002.jpg, etc.]

Sequences need to be the same file type (jpg, png, tiff, anything Motion accepts). Images do NOT need to be all the same size. Sequences only need to have sequential numbers in their file name, but they don't have to start with zero or one. Sequence numbers need to be contiguous... no breaks. If you have 10 jpg and 14 png but the same number "scheme", you can import the jpgs and the pngs as separate sequences (and put them together* in the timeline in Motion). [*You'll need to group them and clone the group.]

Once you have your images set up, then you can import the sequence in Motion.

When you import via the Import button, you *select* the first image in the sequence. At that point, the Import dialog will change to add the following options:

Select Image Sequence then Import.

The Sequence will appear in the Layers List as ImgSequenceName_[####].

When it opens in Motion, ALL the images are aligned to their centers at center screen. If they're all the same size, then it will look like only a single image. However, if you move the playhead over the range, you will see each individual frame has it's own single image, just like video.

There's another way to import an image sequence: Select ALL the images in the sequence in the Finder. Drag the selection to the canvas or the Layers List in Motion and hold the mouse still for a moment. You will be offered a popup menu with the choice to import all the images as a Sequence, or as individual images ("stills"):

[Note: your images do not need to be named "ImgSeq_####.jpg" -- I use a small app ("droplet") that I can drop a folder of images on and they all get renamed in order this way. Since I have very little imagination, I usually just use the default name option.

What part of what you have does not match what I've just described? That's probably where the problem lies and if we can sort that out we can help you better solve your problem.

One more suggestion to check, make sure your naming system doesn't include any "illegal" characters in the file naming. Avoid symbols (#,!,%,%, etc.) in the naming. As others have pointed out, the best practice for file names in image sequences is something like, "myFileName_0001.<extension>". I personally prefer to make sure there is always an underscore because it makes it easier to read. If this is your problem, you can use Automator on your computer to quickly clean-up naming issues.

Here's an example of an Automator script I used to remove [####] from an image sequence. Automator is great for things like this, and it's on your computer already.

The Ask for Finder Items brick will point to the directory, make sure to allow multiple selection or you will have to run this for each image.

In the Replace Finder Items: Replace Text brick, set "Find" to the string you want to remove or change. If you leave Replace empty it will remove the string, or you can replace it with something else if you need it. I'd recommend doing this with a copy of your files in case something goes wrong. You don't want to have to manually rename hundreds of images.

You're working too hard. Import your sequence. Clone it. Retime the Clone.

1) Import your sequence into a group by itself.

2) Clone the Group

3) turn off the Group visibility

4) Go to Clone Layer > Properties > Timing (and "Show"*). Change the Speed to a lower percentage - enough to make each frame play for the amount of time you need.

(Use the Speed control - not the In/Out/Duration controls — those will readjust as you change the speed.)

To get that drag/drop popup menu, you need to select all the images in the sequence you want to import in the finder, then drag them into Motion — either over the Canvas or over the Layers List column. You need to hold the mouse still (with the left button held down) for a few seconds. At that point, Motion will present that option menu to import your selection. (The same is true if you drag in a Photoshop PSD file — you can import PS layers as individual Motion layers with this method).

[*The Timing pane is usually closed by default these days... Mouse over the Timing "bar" and you will see "Show" appear on the right edge of the column - click that to reveal the contents of the pane]

The files have to be named specifically to be recognized as an image sequence. Something like:

ImageName_0001.jpg

ImageName_0002.jpg

etc...

I think you can create Image Sequences with Photoshop and other similar types of software. It can be a very tedious task especially if you have dozens of photos to sequence.

You might want to consider this (if the moderators allow it):

https://fcpxtemplates.com/create-image-sequence/

You can simply drop your folder of images onto the applet and it will convert them all into a properly named sequence (be sure to back up your originals before doing so as this applet will modify the files dropped on it).

As a little addition to what Fox said:

I believe the numerals need to be at leadt three digits long, eg

file01, file02… may not work but file001, file002 will.

Also, import using the Import button or the menu; do not just drag to the timeline.

If you want to convert the images to a movie, use Quicktime Player. File->Open Image Sequence. This feature was present in old Quicktime 7, and although missing for some time, it has returned to the current Quicktime Player some iterations ago. [I believe Fox is still on Mojave and that is probably why his Quicktime Player doesn’t have this feature]