Apple Motion 2 - Manual (Page 836)

836 Chapter 12 Using Shapes and Masks
Additional Shape Parameters in the Dashboard
When you create and select shapes, additional parameters appear in the Dashboard
along with the standard Opacity, Blend Mode, and Drop Shadow controls.
Note: To adjust the opacity of a shape (or its outline) in the Inspector, use the
Properties tab.
Fill: Turn on this checkbox to fill the shape with the color specified with the color
control next to it.
Outline: Turns on an outline for the shape. By default, this is off for closed shapes, and
on for open shapes. When Outline is on, you can select the outline color with the color
control next to it.
Feather: Feathers (softens) the edges of a shape. Positive feathering values soften the
edge of the shape from its edge outward. Negative feathering values soften the edge
of a shape inward from the edge.
Note: You cannot feather a shape with the outline turned on.
Shape Parameters
The Shape tab in the Inspector appears when you select a shape in the Canvas, Layers
tab, or Timeline. This tab contains parameters that let you further customize the shape.
Shape Type: Use this pop-up menu to change the type of control points that are used
to define the shape. For example, if you originally created a Bezier shape, you can
choose B-Spline from this menu to change each Bezier control point into a B-Spline
control point. Changing the shape type does not move the control points, although the
shape is changed, sometimes dramatically.
• Linear: All control points are joined by hard angles, and the resulting shape is a
polygon. The control points of a Linear shape lie directly on its edge.
• Bezier: Control points can be a mix of Bezier curves and hard angles, creating any
sort of shape. The control points of a Bezier shape lie directly on its edge.
01112.book Page 836 Sunday, March 13, 2005 10:36 PM