Can't save a template as a project file

Question

Level 2

191 points

Can't save a template as a project file

If I open any template from Motioin 5's New from Project Browser, and I edit it like normal, I can't save it as a Project! It only give me the ability to save it as a template. What am I missing here? I can't save the file in my own custom project folder as a project file? I don't remember this being like that in Motion 4?

The only way I can save a file as a project file is if I open an empty project file from the New from Project Browser/Blank/Motion Project.

This doesn't seem right.

Any help would be very appreciated!

Thank you,

micdim

OS X Mavericks (10.9.2), AMD Radeon HD 7950, 14GB Ram, Quad

Posted on Apr 16, 2014 11:18 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 16, 2014 12:02 PM in response to micdim

In the Project Browser the top left icon is for a Motion Project. Clicking on it will open a Motion Project which you can save as a project where ever you like using Save or Save As. Are you saying this doesn't work for you? The other choices in the Project Browser are templates to be used in FCP X and when you save them they are put in the Motion Templates folder (in a folder appropriate to what the template is i.e. Title, Effect etc.) in your Movies folder on your Boot Drive. You access them in FCP X using the tool bar. You can right click any effect you have created and open it in Motion to revise it.

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Answer 2

micdim Author

Level 2

191 points

Apr 16, 2014 1:31 PM in response to Jim Wanamaker

Hi Jim,

I'm not sure I've made myself clear, sorry...

I'm opening an effect template in Motion 5, which is in essence a FCPX template, then modifying it, and trying to save it as a Project, but when I press Save or Save as, all I get it the Save as an effect template, and give me an option for Template Name, Category, Theme.

I don't get it. I don't understand why I can't open up any effect template, modify it, and save it as a Project file.

If I open up a new project file, then I can't bring in the exact same effect from the Motion Template (FCPX templates)

I Hope you understand Jim.

Micdim

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Answer 3

Apr 16, 2014 2:27 PM in response to micdim

Okay, then do this. Select all layers in your effect template and copy from edit menu. close the project and open a new Motion Project. Then paste into pfoject and save or save as. It will be seved as a .motn project.

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Answer 4

fox_m

Level 6

12,226 points

Apr 16, 2014 4:14 PM in response to micdim

Motion templates have "special features" you may have noticed. The Effect Souce, Title Background and Transition A/B layers that are provided. These can only exist in the "templates" they were designed for and they are only supposed to be used by FCPX.

If you want to open any of these up as a plain Motion Project, then find the original template in the Motion Templates folder. It will have an extension of .moef (effect), .moti (title) or .motr (transition) [generators are plain Motion Projects, just pre-installed from Motion for you automatically -- their file extension is the same as a regular Motion Project (.motn)]

What you do is Option-Drag the .mo[extension] file to another part of your system. That will create a duplicate copy of the original so as not to disturb the original. Change the extension to .motn. Double click on that file and it will open in Motion as a regular project and you can save it to any location you like.

Do not expect the specialized drop zones (FCPX Placeholders) to survive the translation from one type of project to another. If you keep the altered project as a self-contained Motion Project only, then I *think* you can use the Effect Source, Title Background, or Transition A/B placeholders as regular drop zones (but no promises!) I would recommend substituting those with "regular" drop zones though.

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