Control and expose drop zones

When constructing your template, you can disable drop zones so you don’t accidentally apply media. Later, when using the template, you can turn drop zones back on.

You can also use the expose feature in Motion to reveal obscured drop zones in the Canvas. The expose command shows an exploded view of valid drop zones in the Canvas.

Turn drop zones on and off

  • Choose View > Use Drop Zones.

A checkmark appears next to the menu item when drop zones are enabled (which means they accept objects dragged to them). When no checkmark appears next to the menu item, drop zones are disabled (which means they ignore objects dragged to them).

Expose all drop zones in a project

  1. Use the Library or File Browser to locate an item to import into the project.

  2. While holding down the Command key, drag the item onto the Canvas.

    Canvas showing exposed drop zones

    Objects in the Canvas shrink and separate in an exploded view so you can see them all. Moving the pointer over an object reveals its Layers list name.

    Note: You cannot Command-drag non-image objects (shapes, Motion projects, particles, and so on) to the Canvas.

  3. Drop the object onto its target.

    The object replaces its target, and the Canvas view returns to normal.