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32 Chapter 1 Getting to Know Motion
Create Tools
The Create tools generate new layers. You can modify the attributes for the newly
created layers in the Inspector.
Button Tool name Keyboard shortcut Description
Rectangle tool R Creates a new rectangle shape in the Canvas and adds
a shape layer to the Layers list. Click at the position
where you want one corner to appear and drag to the
position of the opposite corner. Pressing Shift while
you drag constrains the layer to a square.
Circle tool C Creates a new circle shape in the Canvas and adds a
shape layer to the Layers list. Click at the position
where one edge of the circle should begin and drag
toward the opposite edge. Pressing Shift while you
drag constrains the shape to a circle.
Line tool none Creates a new line shape in the Canvas and adds a
shape layer to the Layers list. Click at the position
where one end of the line should begin and drag
toward the opposite end. Pressing the Shift key while
you drag constrains the line to specific angles.
Bezier tool B
Toggles Bezier/
B-Spline tool
Creates a new freeform shape with Bezier point
vertices. To create a shape, click repeatedly in the
Canvas to add points to your shape. To close the
shape, click the first point of the shape or press the C
key. To create an open-ended shape, double-click the
last point.
B-Spline tool B
Toggles Bezier/
B-Spline tool
Creates a new freeform shape with B-Spline vertices.
To create a shape, click repeatedly in the Canvas to
add points to your shape. To close the shape, click the
first point of the shape or press C. To create an open-
ended shape, double-click the last point.
Paint Stroke
tool
P Creates shape-based paint strokes. Click where you
want to start the stroke, then drag to create the
stroke. Command-drag to adjust the size of the brush
stroke before you create the stroke.
Text tool T Creates new text and lets you edit the text of existing
text layers. To create a text layer, click the tool in the
Canvas at the position where you want the text to
appear, then begin typing. Choose the Select/
Transform tool (or press Esc) to grab or move the new
text layer. To change the text of an existing text layer,
select the Text tool, then click the text. The text
becomes editable.