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Manipulating Media in Drop Zones
I am using a Motion project with drop zones and I need to be able to manipulate the picture/footage within the drop zone. I can’t select the media to move it around or resize it. I read several threads that say you can’t do it within motion and need to resize it outside of motion to achieve the desired area of the picture I want to appear.
The reason why I am posting this is because I have been able to randomly select the media before. It has been a while since this has happened to me so I thought i was just making it up in my head. I just opened a project with drop zones in it and the first drop zone allowed me to select the picture within the drop zone and I was able to move it an re-size it to my liking. When I moved on to the next drop zone, i was unable to select it like I did the first. Why is this?
If I wasn’t able to do this in the first one then I would just resort to re-sizing it in Photoshop like I always have. But the fact that I can do it randomly with some, makes me want to look into it more. I would really like to get to the bottom of this because it is SO much easier to be able to manipulate the picture/footage within the drop zone.
I would appreciate if anyone could help me with this. THANKS!
Jose M.
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22 Replies
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yeah I find them to be somewhat inflexible. If you’re using them a lot I’d suggest simply rebuilding the whole template and doing it that way.
Noah
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Wish I had the answer too. I have a similiar problem with a soundbite (10 seconds long) I want to put in a drop zone – the interview (media) is 7 minutes long. Is there a simple way to trim it in Motion or do I really have to export it from FCP?
Cheers,
John doggett-williams
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You can always slip your media in Motion to the appropriate point by option-dragging on it in the mini-Timeline (it needs to be trimmed first just like in FCP).
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Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net -
thanks Mark, I’m still getting the hang of it. Option dragging still isn’t as efficient as exporting from FCP is it? For example my media is 7 minutes long and contains 3 10seconds soundbites I need, that’s a lot of option dragging to do each time (but I’ll survive). Is it better to export the bits I need directly from FCP and once in Motion copy and past into the template I want to use?
John doggett-williams
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Yes I would just export from FCP the bits you need.
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Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net -
Great that clears that one up. One last really basic question, is there a shortcut to toggle between projects?
John doggett-williams
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Sure, Command-` (The “grave” key) will toggle amongst all your open windows, including all open projects.
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Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net -
Great, thanks
John doggett-williams
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I discovered a method that allows you resize images inside a drop zone. Best of all, it works in 3D projects as well. I’m actually going to create a mini tutorial on my You Tube page that shows off the technique if you’re still interested.
Andy
https://www.timesavertutorials.com
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Yes, definately, I’ll keep an eye on your site.
Thanks,
John doggett-williams
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