Motion 5: Create, Save & Reuse Templates

Whether you purchase a template or create your own, Motion 5 makes it easy to create a visual effect once, then modify and reuse it as many times as you want. This article was suggested by Richard Osso, who wanted to know how to create an open for a series, then modify it for each episode.

BACKGROUND

There are three types of files that Motion 5 creates:

• Template. This is a master file with elements and animation in place. Templates can be modified without changing the template. Saving a template ALWAYS creates a project. Templates are used to save time creating projects that only differ by minor degrees.
• Project. This is a Motion file that contains all the elements necessary to create an animated motion graphic video. Projects can be extensively modified. When saved, you are saving the instructions on how to create a movie, not the movie itself.
• Movie. This is a video file which can not be modified. It is the end result of exporting a Motion project. You can not convert a movie file back into a Motion project.

CREATE A TEMPLATE

NOTE: If you purchased a template, skip to the next section.

This is the Project Browser in Motion. Normally, we ignore the sidebar on the left, but it has a special value today: it’s where we can create, access and delete templates.

For now, in the top right corner, set the parameters for the template you want to create, then double-click Motion Project.

NOTE: While you can change parameters after you start creating elements, it’s a pain in the neck. Make sure, before you start, that your settings are correct – ESPECIALLY project duration.

(Click to see a larger image.)

Here, I created a simple template consisting of three Groups:

• Animated text
• Two animated drop zones for images
• Animated background

I like using Groups, though they are not required, because they help keep the Layers panel organized.

Drop zones are elements (Object > New Drop Zone) which are designed to have an image dropped into them later. This allows you to scale, position, and animate a drop zone once, then have those effects applied to whatever image is dropped into that drop zone later. Drop zones are ideal to use when creating templates because it makes switching images later very easy.

Because I’m not illustrating how to create complex motion graphics in this tutorial, let’s pretend this template is perfect and move along.

When you are done creating, you need to save your work. This is the critical step, choose File > Publish Template. NEVER save a template, that only creates a project.

Give the template a name, then, if the category you want to save it in does not exist, click New Category. A category is simply a folder which is displayed in the Project Browser sidebar.

Here, I named the category with the project number.

Finally, click Publish. That’s it. You’ve created a new Motion template.

NOTE: You can store multiple templates in the same category. You only need to create the category once.

ACCESSING A TEMPLATE

(Click to see larger image.)

The new category we just created now shows up in the Compositions section of the sidebar. (Other sections are devoted to templates specifically created for Final Cut Pro X.)

Select the category you want to view. Then, double-click the template you want to use. Motion remembers all the project settings from the original template, which is why it’s so important to get those right when you first create the template.

The new template opens and, best of all, is given the name “Untitled.” This means that you can’t accidentally erase the template if you save the file without renaming it.

MODIFYING A TEMPLATE

To change any text, simply retype it. Formatting, position and animation are retained.

To change the image in a drop zone, drag the image you want to use on TOP of the drop zone in the Layers panel. The old image will be replaced with the new one and the new image will inherit all the parameters associated with that drop zone: size, position, filters and animation. VERY cool!

The key is to drop images into the Layers panel. This allows them to inherit all attributes.

EXPORT A MOVIE

Now, when you click File > Save, you are not saving the template, you are saving the modifications to this template; an all-new Motion project.

To export a master file for Final Cut or any other NLE, choose Share > Export Movie (shortcut: Cmd + E).

Then, choose Apple ProRes 4444 to match the color space of Motion 5. If you have transparency in your Motion project, ProRes 4444 will save it with the file.

SUMMARY

And that’s it.

• Whenever you need to save a template, always choose File > Publish Template.
• Whenever you need to save a project created by a template, choose File > Save.
• Whenever you need to create a movie from a Motion project, choose Share > Export Movie.

EXTRA CREDIT

To replace one image with another image, drop the new image on the layer that contains the old image in the LAYERS panel, not the Viewer.

If you’ve added an image that you want to turn into a Drop Zone, select the image in either the Viewer or the Layers panel, then choose Inspector > Image and turn Drop Zone on.

NOTE: You may need to rescale the image and verify that the rest of your settings are correct.

If you’ve created a Motion project that you want to turn into a template, open the project, make any necessary modifications (such as converting images to drop zones), the chose File > Publish Template.

NOTE: Remember, you can’t convert a Motion movie back into a project.

To delete a category you don’t need, select it in the Project Browser, then click the Minus button in the lower left corner. (You can also use the Plus button to create a new category.)

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