Import Photoshop and Illustrator Files Into Motion
Motion makes it easy for you to build beautiful, professional animation from your Photoshop and Illustrator files. Learning to prepare and import your files is the first step in this process. After you import, you’ll be able to transform your elements using Motion’s intuitive interface. Your files will be ready for animation in just a few simple steps.
Step 1: Make sure that your Photoshop and Illustrator files are Motion-friendly (see tip below). Keep all of your files for your project in the same folder.
Step 2: Open Motion. Create a new project. Select an appropriate project preset from the Select Project Preset dialog.
Step 3: From the File menu, choose Import. Motion has a File Browser window as well, but it will automatically flatten layered Photoshop files.
Step 4: If you are importing a layered Photoshop file, the Pick Layer to Import dialog will appear. Choose All Layers to maintain your Photoshop layers.
Step 5: Your imported file will automatically appear in the Canvas. From the Window menu, choose Media. The Media window will appear, which is where you can access all of your imported files.
Step 6: Imported files are automatically converted to Objects and organized inside of Layers. Open the Layers window by clicking on the Layers tab. You can rename and rearrange Layers and Objects.
Step 7: The Dashboard is a handy window that gives you quick access to commonly edited attributes. Click on a Layer or an Object and the Dashboard will pop up. If you can’t see the Dashboard, press its Interface icon near the top right corner.
Step 8: The Inspector window lets you perform more complex transformations. Open the Inspector window by clicking its icon near the top right corner. Click on the Properties tab. Select a Layer or an Object to reveal its controls.
Step 9: Change whatever you like using the Dashboard, the Inspector, or simply click and drag Objects on the Canvas. Once your Layers and Objects are in order, you are ready to start animating.
