[Mark Spencer]

One way is to replicate a small circle and use the motion path as the shape source for the replicator.

—
Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net

[Mark Spencer]

You have to draw it by hand by double-clicking on the path to add control points and moving them….

—
Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net

[Mark Spencer]

The workaround is to not use a shape, which is always a 2D plane. You can use a replicator or an emitter on a motion path – the control points of a motion path have x, y, and z.

—
Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net

[Mark Spencer]

Shape control points only include x and y as you can see in the Inspector – they are always flat planes (that you can rotate in 3D space)

—
Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net

[Mark Spencer]

Export it using a codec that supports transparency information (an alpha channel) like Animation or ProRes 4444.

—
Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net

[Mark Spencer]

This should work – only thing I can think of is in FCP, select the sequence, to go Sequence > Settings, to the Render Control tab, and check the checkbox for Always Render at Best Quality for Motion projects.

Otherwise, if you are on Motion 3, it could be because your cache file is so huge that it’s causing you problems – before Motion 4, OF would analyze the entire underlying media, not just the between the In and Out points. Check the size of the cache file (you can get there from Motion’s preferences)

—
Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net

[Mark Spencer]

Peter’s is great, here’s another one

https://avseikkailuja.blogspot.com/2009/06/tapios-fxpack-11.html

—
Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net

[Mark Spencer]

Use an image mask instead of a blend mode

—
Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net

[Mark Spencer]

To your first question, you have to apply the behavior to each text layer, but you could use the Link parameter behavior to link the parameters together so when you change the parameters of one behavior, they all change.

To the second, if you apply an effect (filter, behavior, or mask) to a group, it affects all layers within the group, something akin to an adjustment layer. Perhaps the Bulge filter will do what you want in this case.

—
Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net

[Mark Spencer]

To make a layer swing on it’s edge, you first move its anchor point to the edge, then animate it with behaviors or keyframes.

—
Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net