Using keyframes versus using behaviors – Apple Motion 3 User Manual
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Chapter 7
Using Text
To create text tracking keyframes:
1
Go to the frame where you want to start the tracking animation.
2
Select the text.
3
Enable Record (press A).
When enabled, the Record button pulses red and a keyframe is automatically created
whenever you change the value of a parameter.
4
In the Format pane of the Text Inspector, enter the first Tracking value.
Because keyframing is enabled, a Tracking keyframe is created. The lower the Tracking
value, the closer the text characters are to each other.
5
Go to the frame where you want to end the tracking animation.
6
Enter the end tracking value.
To create text opacity keyframes:
1
Go to the frame where you want to start the opacity animation.
2
Click Style, and set the first Opacity value.
3
Go to the frame where you want to end the opacity animation.
4
Enter the end Opacity value.
5
Disable Record.
Using Keyframes Versus Using Behaviors
The text animation method you use (keyframing or behaviors) depends on your
project, or more specifically, your timing needs. In general, if you need a very specific
action to happen at a specific point in time in your project, use keyframing. For
example, if you want text to be completely transparent at frame 1, become
completely opaque at frame 60, become transparent again at frame 90, and opaque
again at frame 120, use keyframing. Keyframes apply specific values to a layer’s
parameters at certain frames.
If the effect is more general, for example, you want the text to be completely
transparent at frame 1, become opaque over frames 60-90, and become transparent
by frame 120, use the Fade In/Fade Out behavior. Behaviors generate a range of
values that are applied to a layer’s parameters.
You can combine keyframing and behaviors on all layers in Motion. For example, if
you keyframe text opacity, you can then apply the Tracking behavior to automatically
animate the text tracking, or you can keyframe the Tracking parameter. Keep in mind,
however, that if you keyframe the text Opacity parameter, and then apply a Fade In/
Fade Out behavior to the text, unexpected results may occur. For more information
on combining behaviors and keyframes, see “