5.5

44Motion User Guide
2. While holding down the Command key, drag the item onto the canvas.
Objects in the canvas shrink and separate in an exploded view so you can see them all.
Moving the pointer over an object reveals its Layers list name.
Note: You cannot Command-drag non-image objects (shapes, Motion projects,
particles, and so on) to the canvas.
3. Release the mouse button to drop the object onto its target.
The object replaces its target, and the canvas view returns to normal.
Template guidelines in Motion
When you work with templates, consider the following guidelines:
• Use descriptive group and layer names: Group and layer names in a template should
describe each object’s function. For example, text objects in a titling template might be
named “Main Title,” “Starring,” “Guest Star,” and so on. If you use visual elements in the
template’s composition, their layer names should describe their function—“Background
Texture,” “Divider,” and “Main Title Background,” for example. Descriptive layer names
are especially important if others use the template.
• Create alternate versions of a template for each resolution you need: If you regularly
create projects for a variety of output formats, you can build different display aspect
ratios into a single template. For example, when you create a template with a 16:9
aspect ratio, you can add an alternate version customized for 3:2 displays. For more
information about creating alternate display versions in a single template, see Add
multiple aspect ratios to templates in Motion.
• Place all media files used in a template in a central folder: To avoid problems with
offline or missing media, move all media files for the template into a central folder on
your computer before you begin working on the project. Although customized templates
are saved in the /Users/username/Movies/ folder on your computer, media added to
the template remains in its original location on disk. A central location for all media
resources ensures that files are not lost. Alternatively, you can choose the File > Save
As command, and use the Collect Media option. See Save, autosave, and revert projects
in Motion.