The Library contains the following categories of content that you can add to your project:
Behaviors: Sophisticated animation and simulation effects (Spin, Grow, Gravity, and so on) that you can apply to objects and images in your project. Some behaviors can only be applied to specific objects. For example, Text Animation and Text Sequence behaviors can only be applied to text objects. For more information, see Apply behaviors overview.
Filters: Special effects used to modify the appearance of images, objects, and video clips in your project. You can apply filters to create artistic effects (blurs, glows, stylized looks), to perform image corrections (color balancing, sharpening), or to create complex compositing effects (green screen keying). Third-party FxPlug filters appear in the category to which they belong. Most filters can be applied to any layer (text, images, shapes, video footage, particles, and so on) in your project. For more information, see Filters overview.
Generators: Computer-generated art such as checkerboards, noise patterns, color rays, and animated text objects that you can add to your projects. For more information, see Generators overview.
Particle Emitters: Animated swarms of small particles that let you add effects ranging from simulations of smoke, fire, and explosives to animated abstract textures. All premade particle systems can be customized after you add them to your project. For more information, see Particles overview.
Replicators: Patterns of repeating elements used to create kaleidoscopic effects (static or animated) in your compositions. All premade replicators can be customized after you add them to your project. For more information, see Replicator overview.
Shapes: Premade geometrical forms that you can use as visual elements or as image masks in your project. Each shape is a Bezier shape and can be customized using Motion’s shape-editing tools. For more information, see Shapes, masks, and paint strokes overview.
Gradients: A selection of premade color spreads that can be applied to shapes, text, particles, and replicators in your project. For more information, see Gradient editor controls.
Fonts: A browser containing all the fonts available on your computer, organized into subcategories based on the categories defined in the Font Book application. Simply select a font, then apply it to text in your project. For more information about Font Book, see Mac Help (in the Finder, choose Help > Mac Help). For more information about using fonts in Motion, see Preview and apply fonts.
Text Styles: Thematic type styles (Antique, Fantasy, Grunge, and so on) that let you modify the look of 2D text and 3D text in your project. For more information, see Use preset text styles.
Shape Styles: Preset shape styles that add artistic line strokes (Abstract, Flora, and Liquid, for example) to shapes in your project. For example, dragging a shape style onto a shape instantly applies that style. For more information, see Shapes, masks, and paint strokes overview.
Materials: Preset 3D text materials that give 3D text a natural and realistic appearance, as they respond to lighting, exhibit reflectiveness, and so on. All premade materials can be customized after you add them to your project. See Materials overview.
iTunes: A browser for locating and importing files from your iTunes library. The subcategories include the library and playlists created in iTunes. The contents of each playlist appear in the Library stack. See Add iTunes and photo files from the Library.
Photos: A browser for locating and importing image files from your selected photo library. The contents of each photo album or photo library appear in the Library stack. The photo application that is available in the Photos category of the Motion Library is set in the General pane of Motion Preferences. See Add iTunes and photo files from the Library.
Content: Graphical elements used in the templates and presets that ship with Motion. Use these images, text elements, patterns, and animations to create custom design elements, such as particles and replicators, which can be saved to the Library for later use.
Favorites: A place to save objects—built-in or custom-made in Motion—for future use, including cameras, layers, or groups. You can also place frequently used media files (such as PDF or TIFF files) into the Favorites category. Objects you place in the Favorites category are available to every project you create in Motion.
Favorites Menu: Objects you place in the Favorites Menu folder appear in the Favorites menu, for even faster access. When you choose an item from the Favorites menu, that item is placed into the selected layer and is positioned at the center of the Canvas. Objects you put in the Favorites Menu are available to every project in Motion.