Motion 5 is always recording 3D Keyframes?

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Level 1

59 points

Motion 5 is always recording 3D Keyframes?

Hello,

I am new to Motion 5, after I create a 3D transpose, when I try to reposition a layer , it is always recording a Keyframe ? The correct layer is selected, the record button is not turned on, It seems to me that when the Select tool is selected this should by-pass the 3D key framing. When the Adjust 3D Transform is selected it does not seem to make a difference.

First I hope I am making some sense, I'll to explain with an example.

Lets say I create a circle, in the center of the canvas, I create a camera layer pull back on the Z space, record a keyframe then advance a 25 frames and bring the circle in. ok no problem. I press play and the play back is what I was expecting, the circle comes into the frame and stops in the middle.

No I realize, I want place the circle in the lower third of the screen, this were the problems start. If I back all the way out and reposition the circle it records a key frame and creates unwanted movements. How can I turn this off? Did I perhaps change the default settings ? I don't see anything that would cause this.

Any Ideas would be appreciated.

John

iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2011), Mac OS X (10.7.3), Power Mac G4, iPad 2

Posted on Apr 6, 2014 8:15 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Jim Wanamaker

Level 5

6,311 points

Apr 7, 2014 12:12 PM in response to Deadcowboy

That is the way Motion works. Once you set a keyframe for a parameter then anytime you change the value of that parameter Motion creates a new keyframe whether the record button is on or not. This is very useful when constructing complicated movements. In your example just delete the keyframes after the initial position, place the playhead back to the beginning and then reposition to the desired location and Motion will change the value of that first keyframe and you can then do the Z axis change and Motion will create a new keyframe. Once you get used to the way Motion works viz keyframes I think you will appreciate the advantages of the automatic adding of keyframes.

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Answer 2

Deadcowboy Author

Level 1

59 points

Apr 7, 2014 2:04 PM in response to Jim Wanamaker

Thanks Jim,

This solved my problem, I needed to duplicate a layer, and the original layer had keyframes set, I selected the duplicated layer, then to the keyframe editor and deleted those keyframes ( Like you suggested ) and I was able to reposition the new ( duped ) layer where I wanted.

Thanks again!

Have a great day !

John

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Answer 3

Deadcowboy Author

Level 1

59 points

Apr 7, 2014 6:53 PM in response to Deadcowboy

Sorry, One More Thing:

There is no way, to even temporally, shut this off ? Just a simple way to adjust the postioning ?

In the current project that I am working on, there are numerous times that I would want to reposition an item to

get the movement to line up just right.

Having to go back, delete the keyframes and try again, seems counter productive and takes a lot of time.

On a side note:

I am working with a video tutorial and I dont see this done in the video or mentioned, maybe it was an earlier version of Motion 5 ?

Thanks for your help

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Answer 4

Apr 7, 2014 7:53 PM in response to Deadcowboy

If you have animation path set in the view menu you can see the path of your object and the keyframes. In the viewer you can select keyframes and drag them where you like to shape the path and fine tune with the bezier handles. You can put your cursor anywhere on the path and click to add new keyframes.or select a keyframe and delete it. Also by selecting the start or end points you can move them where you like. With these controls you can reshape the path to your liking a lot easier than starting over.

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Answer 5

fox_m

Level 6

12,208 points

Apr 7, 2014 8:35 PM in response to Deadcowboy

You can use Groups to create levels of 3D "universe". All coordinates are "Local" to the group in which they exist. Group coordinate systems can be oriented anywhere. Any keyframes you created for an object (or a group) can be repositioned to a different area of space by selecting the item and creating a new Group (Command-Shift-G). Then move (or animate!) the group to a different location (not the shape itself!). The animations of the objects inside the group will be the same as they were **relative** to the coordinate system inside that group.

Basic motion path of Rectangle shape:

The same motion path but rotated by parent group:

The shape's path is exactly the same in both screenshots. In the second shot, the shape's coordinate system (the group it's in) has been reoriented in space. Its behavior/animation will be exactly the same, it's just your view of it has been altered.

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Answer 6

Apr 8, 2014 4:44 PM in response to Deadcowboy

Deadcowboy wrote:

Sorry, One More Thing:

There is no way, to even temporally, shut this off ? Just a simple way to adjust the postioning ?

In the current project that I am working on, there are numerous times that I would want to reposition an item to

get the movement to line up just right.

Having to go back, delete the keyframes and try again, seems counter productive and takes a lot of time.

On a side note:

I am working with a video tutorial and I dont see this done in the video or mentioned, maybe it was an earlier version of Motion 5 ?

Thanks for your help

If you hold cmd+option when you drag the path, the object's centerpoint or a KF in the animation, you'll offset the animation as opposed to adding a new KF.

More info in the docs if you're interested.

http://help.apple.com/motion/mac/5.1/#motn14748beb

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