Apple ships Motion

Apple today began shipping on August 25th, highlighting the motion graphics package at its retail stores, select authorized resellers, and CompUSA stores.

"Motion grabbed the spotlight, along with the best of show awards, at the National Association of Broadcasters convention," said Rob Schoeben, Apple's vice president of Applications Marketing. "With its revolutionary technology, breakthrough ease-of-use and low $299 price tag, Motion will do for motion graphics what Final Cut Pro did for non-linear editing -- bring the ability to create pro-quality results to the broader market."



Motion introduces Behaviors that use procedural animation techniques to create natural simulations, such as gravity and wind, or multi-faceted interaction between multiple objects, such as attraction and repulsion. Apple says that behaviors provide users with the ability to automatically generate simple or sophisticated fluid motion effects with minimal effort and make modifications spontaneously without using keyframes--although users familiar with keyframes can use Motion's Keyframe Editor to plot precise parameter values at specific frames.



"With its real-time functionality and Behaviors, Motion allows designers to work at the speed they think," said Mike Goedecke, founder and creative director of Belief, a Santa Monica-based broadcast design and production studio. "Motion has changed the way we work, enabling us to try new ideas, be more creative and wow clients faster."




Motion also features an advanced particle engine that enables artists to quickly and easily apply realistic particle presets, such as smoke, sparkles and fire to any animation. It also offers instant previews of multiple filters and particle effects. Users can turn virtually any graphic element on the screen into a particle and modify it to create unlimited, customized special effects.



Motion also features "Dashboards," which offer contextual, semi-transparent floating palettes that provide relevant tools and slider parameters for screen objects. Behaviors can applied using a graphical control on the Dashboard. Motion also includes 25 "Gestures" that enable users to focus on the creative process, rather than searching for keyboard commands or menu items. With Motion's Project Pane, users have an easy way to quickly view and manage all layers, filters, Behaviors, masks and objects within a project at once.

by MacNN Staff