Apple Motion 2 - Manual (Page 171)

Chapter 2 Creating and Managing Projects 171
The practical difference between bitmap files and PostScript-based files is that scaling a
bitmap beyond 100 percent results in the image progressively softening the more you
increase its size. PostScript-based illustrations remain sharp and clear no matter how
large or how small you scale them.
When importing a PDF file, its size is relative to the original page size of the file. As a
result, even small graphics may have a large frame size, with a lot of empty space
surrounding the graphic. When exporting a graphic as a PDF file for use in Motion, you
may want to scale the graphic up to fit more closely within the page, or reduce the
page size in the source application’s Page Preferences to more closely fit around the
graphic.
Fixing the Resolution of a PDF Object
Although PDF files have unlimited resolution, large PDF objects can consume a lot of
video memory, which could potentially limit Motion’s performance. To avoid this, you
have the option of limiting the resolution of each PDF image used in your project in
order to save video memory. By using the fixed resolution parameters, the files only
need to be rendered once. This allows for faster performance.
If you decide to fix the resolution of a PDF file, the width and height values you assign
should be equal to the largest scale at which you plan on using that object in your
project. For example, you might add a PDF of a map to your project with the intent to
scale it up to zoom into a particular country. To conserve video memory, you can set
the Fixed Width and Fixed Height parameters to the maximum size of the zoomed in
image. If at first you don’t assign enough resolution, the Fixed Width and Fixed Height
parameters can be changed at any time.
The fixed resolution parameters for PDF objects can be adjusted in the Media tab of the
Inspector. Select the PDF object in the Media tab of the Project pane to activate the
Media tab of the Inspector.)
Fixed Resolution: A checkbox that fixes the resolution of a PDF object in the Media tab
to the size specified in the Fixed Width and Fixed Height parameters.
Fixed Width: A slider that sets the maximum horizontal resolution to which a PDF
object can be smoothly scaled.
Fixed Height: A slider that sets the maximum vertical resolution to which a PDF object
can be smoothly scaled.
01112.book Page 171 Sunday, March 13, 2005 10:36 PM