Create and manage projects overview

Creating a project is the first step in the Motion workflow. The easiest way to create a new project (or to open an existing project) is to use the Project Browser window. When you open Motion, the Project Browser appears.

Project Browser

Use the options in the browser to specify the type of project you want to open:

  • A new standard (“blank”) Motion project

  • A previously opened Motion project

  • A predesigned composition template that you can customize

  • A new blank project based on one of the supplied Final Cut Pro templates (effects that you build in Motion for use in Final Cut Pro X)

Before opening the new project, you can also use the Project Browser to modify your project properties—resolution (width and height), frame rate, and duration. For example, you might want to choose properties that will match your planned output format.

Regardless of the project properties you choose, after you create a project, Motion lets you import nearly any kind of media file supported by QuickTime. Further, you can mix media files with different properties in the same project. For example, you can combine video clips of different frame sizes with graphics files. In the end, the file you output uses the frame size and frame rate specified by the project properties.

After you create a project, you can or save or revert it, play it back, or modify its properties.