Multimedia Tools Assignment #2
Motion 3: 3-D Motion Graphics Software (Part of Final Cut Studio 2)
Motion 3 is the latest version of Apple's cutting edge motion graphics software that is packaged with Final Cut Studio 2. The several features and available content to play with is daunting. 2-D or 3-D animation is possible, including manipulating cameras, and there is an incredible library of available particle and font animation. One of the tutorials I took on particle emitters said even a novice could enjoy spending hours just playing around with Motion 3 and I have to say I wholeheartedly agree.
The interface (screenshot below) is user-friendly and the "record" button is worth its weight in gold. You can still keyframe in the traditional timeline manner, a la Flash, but quick animations like movements or fades can be done by simply clicking the record button which then saves your subsequent actions without you having to enter a single keyframe. Such a simple idea and yet I have not used any other animation software that has such a feature. An employee at the Apple store told me that Motion has become so popular that it is hurting sales of Shake 4, Apples's digital compositing software. Motion 3 lacks several standard compositing features, but when paired with Final Cut Pro's capabilities it is obvious to see why some users would opt to forego traditional compositing software.
Motion 3 is easy to evaluate on its own merits: it's great. Other than the two crashes I experienced in under an hour, I have no complaints. The interface and organization is intuitive and user-friendly. Even with little prior experience with the program, I was able to create a video that demonstrates a couple features in a short amount of time. However, I barely even scratched the surface of the many available features. The significant drawbacks are the cost and the overall sophistication of the software. Unless you are planning to do professional video editing or just have money to burn it is difficult to reccommend Motion 3 to a casual video editor. On the other hand, Motion 3 would be a great stepping stone for anyone who is thinking about getting in to motion graphics and digital compositing.