About relative coordinates

In Motion, the coordinates of an object are relative to the coordinates of the group that the object resides in. For example, if you position an empty group at X, Y, and Z coordinates of 100, 100, 100, then add a layer (a porcupine image in the example shown below) to the group, the layer’s coordinates are shown in the Properties Inspector as 0, 0, 0. However, in the Canvas the image layer appears offset (100 pixels right of center, 100 pixels above center, and 100 pixels “closer” to you). The layer’s absolute coordinates in the Canvas may be the same as those of its parent group (100, 100, 100), but the Properties Inspector displays the layer’s relative coordinates (0, 0, 0—the center of the layer’s parent group).

Rotation values are also relative to an object’s parent. For example, rotating the group 45° also rotates the porcupine layer 45° in the Canvas; however, in the porcupine layer’s Properties Inspector, the Rotation value remains 0°—the rotation value of the porcupine relative to its parent group.