Apple Motion 3 - Manual (Page 257)

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Basic Compositing
The most fundamental part of 2D compositing involves
arranging the visual elements in your composition by
moving, rotating, scaling, and adjusting the transparency of
each object in your project.
Compositing is the process of combining at least two images to produce an integrated
final result. The process can be as simple as placing text over an image, or as complex
as combining live actors with drooling space aliens that shoot laser beams from their
eyes. Motion graphics artists move multiple objects simultaneously onscreen using a
strong sense of visual design. Motion graphics artists typically use techniques such as
changing group and object order, transforming the physical properties of objects (such
as scale), adjusting object opacity and blend mode settings, applying filters to objects,
and creating text and shapes. Motion graphics projects often combine layout and
design techniques with techniques borrowed from special effects work such as keying,
masking, color correction, and creation of particle systems.
Once you import the objects you need for your project, the first step is to arrange the
objects within the Canvas to come up with the general design of your piece. Even
before you animate anything, you should decide what size each object should be,
where everything should be positioned, if any objects need to be rotated to fit where
they need to be, and so on. You can also make more extreme manipulations to create
other effects. For example, you could crop out unwanted parts of a particular object.