Expose layers in the Canvas

Expose layers in the Canvas

Motion’s expose commands provide a way of viewing multiple layers at once, exploding and rescaling them. The expose commands allow you to access all layers in a project in the Canvas without having to drill down into the Layers list. Expose commands also let you select inactive layers at the playhead’s current position or jump to a selected layer’s In point.

Expose layers that are active at the playhead position

  1. Click anywhere in the Canvas.

  2. Press X.

    Layers active at the current position of the playhead temporarily scale down and spread out over the Canvas. Each active layer is represented by a white frame in the Canvas. Moving the pointer over a frame reveals the layer’s name.

  3. Select the layer to work on.

    The elements move and rescale back to their original positions; the element is selected in the Canvas; and the playhead moves to the first frame of the selected layer.

Expose all layers in your project

  1. Click anywhere in the Canvas.

  2. Press Shift-X.

    Layers in the project temporarily scale down and spread out over the Canvas. Each layer in the project is represented by a white frame in the Canvas. Moving the pointer over a frame shows the layer’s name.

    Canvas showing the effect of the Expose All Layers command

  3. Select the layer to work on.

    The layers move and rescale back to their original positions; the element is selected in the Canvas; and the playhead moves to the middle frame of the selected layer.