5

Although Motion allows you to rename objects you import from your disk, changing the
object’s name in the Timeline layers list does not modify the name of the file on disk. This
allows you to use one source clip multiple times and name each instance uniquely inside
Motion.
Enabling Timeline Tracks
To the left of each track in the Timeline layers list is an activation checkbox that turns
that track on and off. When a track is turned off (disabled), it is ignored in the Canvas.
Not only can you turn video or audio on and off, you can also disable or enable effects
such as masks, filters, and behaviors.
Disabled tracks appear dimmed.
Activation checkbox is turned off.
To turn visibility for an object on or off
µ
Click the checkbox at the left edge of the track you want to control.
When the box is checked, visibility is on, and when the box is unchecked, visibility is off.
Additionally, when a track is disabled, the entire track is dimmed in the Timeline.
Collapsing and Expanding Groups and Layers
Motion allows you to collapse and expand different parts of the Timeline layers list to
show more or less data to accommodate different working styles. Layers with applied
masks, filters, and other objects can be collapsed to hide those effects bars. Furthermore,
whole groups can be collapsed to hide all objects contained in them.
When a layer or group is collapsed in this manner, it still appears in the Canvas window.
Unlike enabling or disabling tracks, collapsing and expanding the Timeline layers list is
only an organizational tool to help manage the view of the Timeline.
Disclosure triangle
To collapse or expand a layer or group in the Timeline
µ
Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the layer or group name. If no disclosure triangle
is present, that object cannot be collapsed or expanded any further.
323Chapter 8 Using the Timeline