Set preferences before you add text

You can set Motion to create text at either the current frame (the frame where the playhead is positioned when you add the text) or at the start of the project. You can also specify a default duration for new text layers.

Set layer creation and duration preferences

  1. Choose Motion > Preferences (or press Command-Comma), then click the Project icon.

  2. In the Still Images & Layers section of the Project pane, select a Default Layer Duration preference:

    • Use project duration: New text layers (and any other new layers you add) run the length of the project. This means that if you’re working in a 300-frame project and you create text, the duration of the text (in the Timeline) is 300 frames.

    • Use custom duration: New text layers (and any other new layers you add) run for the duration you enter in the adjacent text field (measured in seconds or frames, depending on the option you choose in the pop-up menu).

  3. Select a Create Layers At preference:

    • Current frame: New text layers (and any other new layers you add) are created at the current location of the playhead.

    • Start of project: New text layers (and any other new layers you add) are created at the beginning of the project, regardless of the playhead location.