5.5

Table Of Contents
78Motion User Guide
Manage source media
Intro to source media in Motion
When you import an external media file into a Motion project, two things occur:
An instance of that media (an image or video clip) is placed in your project, and is
visible in the Layers list, canvas, and Timeline.
A link to the external source media file on your computer or other connected device is
shown as an item in the Media list in the Project pane.
Media used in Motion must remain connected to the source media files on your computer
or networked device. If you move, delete, or rename external media files that correspond
to media used in a Motion project, the source media link (in the Media list) and any layers
in your project using that source media go “offline.” Its easy to reconnect offline media in
your project (as long as the external files are still available on your computer or networked
device). See Reconnect offline media files in Motion.
Because Motion is a nondestructive effects application, changes you make to media layers
in your project are not applied to the external media on your computer or connected device.
Rather, any changes you make to a media layer are applied to the instance of the media
in Motion.
You can view information about source media in two places in the Motion window:
Media list: The second list in the project pane, itemizes all source media files (audio,
image, image sequence, and QuickTime movie files) in your project. The items in this
list are links to source media files that remain on your computer or networked device.
Applied effects (such as filters or behaviors) and graphics content created in Motion
(such as masks, shapes, or text) do not appear in the Media list. Columns in the Media
list display information about each source file, including format, duration, frame rate,
and so on. See Media list in Motion.
Media Inspector: Available when you select a media item the Media list, displays
information about the selected source media file (format, duration, frame rate, and
so on). The Media Inspector also contains adjustable media controls for modifying
instances of the source media file used in your project. See Display the Media Inspector
in Motion.