Work with 3D replicators in Motion

Two replicator pattern styles in the Shapes pop-up menu have 3D properties: Box and Sphere. The Box and Sphere shape options are available only when the 3D checkbox is selected in the Replicator Inspector. Box and Sphere replicators build a pattern of elements in 3D space. The 2D Rectangle and Circle replicator shapes have columns (in the Y plane) and rows (in the X plane), but Box and Sphere have an additional Ranks parameter, which adds depth (in Z space) to the replicator.

Although the Rectangle, Circle, Line, Wave, Image, and Geometry replicators have no inherent 3D parameters, as with any other Layer in Motion, they can be moved and rotated in 3D space. Additionally, Line and Wave replicator shapes have quasi-3D properties: Their start and end points can be moved into Z space. In the following image, the Z Start Point and Z End Point have been adjusted to give the replicator depth.

Canvas comparing Line replicators with start and end points set to different points on the Z axis

Create a 3D replicator

After adding a replicator to a Motion project, select the 3D checkbox in the Replicator Inspector.
For more information on adding a replicator to a project, see Add a replicator in Motion.
In the Replicator Inspector, click the Shape pop-up menu, then choose Box or Sphere.
If your project is not yet 3D, the replicator pattern appears flat.
If your project does not contain a camera, click Add Object in the toolbar, choose Camera, then click Switch to 3D.
A camera is added to the project, and your layers are converted to 3D layers.
In the 3D view tools (in the upper-right corner of the canvas), drag in the Orbit tool (the center tool).
As the camera rotates, you can see that the replicator cells are aligned in Z space.
Tip: Use Simulation behaviors to create animated replicators in 3D space that interact with other objects in the project. For example, use Orbit Around to make replicator elements circle around a target object. See Intro to Simulation behaviors in Motion.

Make replicators interact with other objects

When a replicator is a member of a 3D group, certain behaviors can be applied to pull replicator pattern elements out of their X and Y planes.

After adding a replicator to a Motion project, select the 3D checkbox in the Replicator Inspector.
This example uses a burst replicator shape. For more information on adding a replicator to a project, see Add a replicator in Motion.
If your project does not contain a camera, click Add Object in the toolbar, choose Camera, then click Switch to 3D.
A camera is added to the project, and your layers are turned into 3D layers.
In the Layers list, select an object (a white circle shape in this example), and in the Properties Inspector, click the Position disclosure triangle, then drag in the Z value slider.
In this example, the white circle’s Z Position is set to 225.
In the Layers list, select the replicator, click Behaviors in the toolbar, then choose Simulations > Attracted To.
No animation occurs until an object is assigned to the Attracted To behavior.
With the Attracted To behavior selected in the Layers list, drag the target object (in this example, the white circle) to the Object well in the Behaviors Inspector.
With the default Attracted To settings, the entire replicator pattern moves (as a single unit) toward the target object.
In the Behaviors Inspector, select the Affect Subobjects checkbox.
To play the project, press the Space bar.
As the project plays, each replicator element moves individually forward in Z space, toward the attractor. Under the behavior’s influence, the replicator elements move past their attractor element, then return to their original position.

For more information about working in 3D, see Intro to 3D compositing in Motion.

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Motion User Guide

Work with 3D replicators in Motion

Create a 3D replicator

Make replicators interact with other objects