Save custom objects to the Library in Motion

You can save nearly any object in Motion to the Library, including animated cameras and lights, customized behaviors, filters, particle systems or replicators, shapes and text, as well as layers and groups. After an object is placed in the Library, it can be added to a project like any other element in the Library.

You can save multiple objects to the Library as one file or multiple files. For example, if you create an effect using multiple filters and you want to save the cumulative effect of those filters to apply to other objects, you can save the filters as one item in the Library.

Although you can save custom objects into their namesake folders, it’s better to save customized objects that you use frequently to the Favorites category. Because some Motion Library categories contain numerous items, placing custom items in the Favorites or Favorites Menu categories can save you search time. In the Favorites category, you can create additional folders to better organize custom items.

Note: You can create folders in the built-in categories, such as the Color filters subcategory; however, those folders appear only in the Library stack and not the sidebar. Folders added to the Favorites category appear in the Library sidebar.

Save a custom object to the Library

In Motion, open the Library and select the Favorites or Favorites Menu category, or another category.
Note: To save a custom object to a category other than the Favorites or Favorites Menu category, the object type must match the category. For example, you can save custom filters to the Filters category, but not to the Behaviors category or Generators category.
Drag a customized object from the Layers list, Timeline, or Inspector into the stack at the bottom of the Library.
The item is saved to the Library in the category you selected and appears with a custom icon.
When you save a customized item, it’s placed in the /Users/username/Library/Application Support/Motion/Library/ folder.

Save multiple custom objects to the Library

In Motion, open the Library and select the Favorites or Favorites Menu category, or another category.
Note: To save a custom object to a category other than the Favorites or Favorites Menu category, the object type must match the category. For example, you can save custom filters to the Filters category, but not to the Behaviors category or Generators category.
In the Layers list, select all objects to save and drag them to the stack, pressing and holding the mouse button.
When the drop menu appears, choose “All in one file” or “Multiple files,” then release the mouse button.
“All in one file” saves objects together, as one item in the Library. “Multiple files” saves them as individual objects in the Library.
Note: When saving objects of different types, it’s best to save them to the Favorites or Favorites menu category (or a folder you specifically create) for organizational purposes. If multiple objects of different types are saved, such as a shape with an applied behavior and text, the objects are added to the Content folder as “Untitled.”

Create a custom note for a saved Library object

In Motion, Control-click the object’s icon in the Library stack, choose Edit Description from the shortcut menu, enter notes in the dialog that appears, then click OK.

For information about renaming and organizing custom Library content, see Manage Library folders and files in Motion.

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Motion User Guide

Save custom objects to the Library in Motion

Save a custom object to the Library

Save multiple custom objects to the Library

Create a custom note for a saved Library object