What features would you like to see in Motion?

Although Apple have probably decided what will be new in version 5.1.3, what features would you like to see in version 5.1.4?

@Alex4D

Puppet tool like in AE, direct round-tripping with FCPX.

• TC-Generator in use in FCPX allows to display source' time-code, not just project-TC
• TC-Generator supports 'metrical' display, "85:00", not only "01:25:00"
• time-based Behaviors "Every/After/… XX min/sec/fr… do/not… "
• logic-based Behaviors "If… then … else"
• or, at last a detector-Behavior, to create bounces, color-/size-/…- changes, explosions (we need more explosions!) :woohoo:

… yeah, that's mostly inspired by my narrow Soccer-reports perspective … 

reg. GUI:
a) Why doubles the Project-pane the list of objects from Timeline-pane…? never understood that…
b) Why is the list of Behaviors (with same same icons) much larger than its preview …?
c) What about a 'POSITION SENSITIVE Hud'? - depending, on where you put it, it displays diff. content …? ok, needs some rethinking…

Something similar, but much better implemented, to cineware in After Effects, motion tracking and particles improved,
and as BenB said previously puppet tool and round trip.

Xan,

Thanks for replying...

It has been a long time since I used After Effects. What do you mean by 'puppet' and cineware?

When you say 'motion tracking and particles improved,' what do you want?


@Alex4D

Cineware let you bring cinema 4d files directly into After Effects with no render, you can change anything in Cinema 4D and is updated in your comp, also I meant to cinema 4d lite it´s a free version of cinema 4d made for after effects you can do 3d in your Motion graphics in After Effects, I know you can import c4d files in Motion but is not the same at all also need not to be specifically Cinema 4d
Regarding motion tracking sometimes I need a more advanced tool like Track X or Mocha, Particles I´d settle with better emitters in the library. The puppet tool add motion to raster images, vector graphics, stills, text, you add "points to a picture and a few frames later you modify those points by dragging them

and I prefer Motion to After undoubtedly

Remember, Apple has stated they are making a core product, for dirt cheap, that we add what we won't on to, via 3rd party developers. It is never going to be a super feature rich product out of the box. I think what 3rd party developers have been doing has been amazing, and better than what Apple would have provided.

After buying Motion, mObject, and Track/SliceX, you're still WAY cheaper than buying (renting for two years) AE. Add Blender to that mix, and you've got a ton more power for a ton less money.

As for emitters, if you're dependent on the Library, I doubt that's going to change. I'd say learn to create your own in Motion. It'll open up a whole lot of creative options to you.

The puppet tool lets you add rigging to shapes. Say I have a picture of a rag doll, I can specify arms, legs, neck, etc, and have it bend at those spots quickly and easily.

Ben:
I know MObject and I agree with what you've exposed Maybe it's silly but prefer to pay more and have integrated all these options. Anyway I don´t like the workflow Cineware-4dlite-after effects at all

Apple has to do a lot with a few programmers. I'd rather third party developers make it BETTER, because they're more dedicated to specific features, and overall pay less.

Are you upset because your camera didn't come with all the lenses and tripods and rigs you need? No, you buy a body, then add on what you need, don't pay for what yo don't. Same thing.

alex4D wrote: Although Apple have probably decided what will be new in version 5.1.3, what features would you like to see in version 5.1.4?

@Alex4D

Roundtripp.
More simulations behaviors
Ability to add own behaviors
"Save" a effekt/behavior pack for use inside motion.
Better tracking/keyframing of single points in shapes
Better tracking
3D lines
Puppet tool
Hardbody/edges on particles (and other objects/shapes).

Curious, what do you mean by 'Hardbody/edges on particles (and other objects/shapes)"?

Sort of like Newton for AE

Morgan Hazard wrote: Sort of like Newton for AE

What I called in my post a detectorBehavior

...or crashBehavior ... With a nice drop-zone in the HUD to inidicate what should be detected and a list of what if then ....

What is Newton in AE?

It's a plugin from motion boutique
www.motionboutique.com/newton/

"Morgan Hazard wrote:
Sort of like Newton for AE

What I called in my post a detectorBehavior

...or crashBehavior ... With a nice drop-zone in the HUD to inidicate what should be detected and a list of what if then ...."

Yes that would be nice.

I will always add to this discussion!

So if Apple wants 3rd party developers to improve motion, then I at least have basic functionalities with what is already there improvements.

1. Right now there is only one keyframe option for all the points on a shape or mask shape. I would like the ability to have a keyframe for every single point. Of course I still like the one option in certain cases...so to allow for both key framing abilities would be awesome!

2. It would be nice if the shapes pane had more options that are similar to photoshop shapes options. All I have now are fill and edge. Put in a glow, bevel, inside edge, outside edge.

3. Put the ability to change frame rate after making a project. If I can go under the hood and change it in script then i know it can be done in code!

4. I don't know if this is possible, but when working in a motion path you have access to Z space for a path...but in regular lines and paths you only have x and y. I would like to be able to have access to Z in my lines/paths!

5. When moving the keyframes of shape points, the keyframes become out of sync, break, and always cause problems.

Just several hiccups I have had in the past few weeks.


I still want new features though. I think us motion users have been patient for a big update from Apple itself. Don't get me wrong, going from M4 to M5 had a lot of great stuff but it really didn't give motion users more creative options, it just helped us work with FCP a lot better. So, if you look at it that way, motion hasn't really gotten an update since 2009. Thats 5 years and some change. A lot of what has been said in the post is what i agree with, especially something similar to cineware for AE, but I would like to add to pool.

-Cinema 4d has great shape path presets and options inside of those presets. we could have this in motion and still be under the rule of not being a compound shape path. (which motion isn't able to do)
-A bit better than puppet tool, but maybe some sort of bone schematic which we can apply our own characters too. Maybe it could even see the photoshop layers if we name it correctly.
-Pixelmator/Affinity support for their own layers.

I'm not entirely sure but I think this is done with Newton

FIRST to fix the God Damn Bugs because they are all over the place especially on text behaviors.
Featutres:
- keyframe control for individual shape points.
- more publishing options for Final Cut X like audio in transitions, audio behavior publish to FCPX, shape points publish to FCPX,
- option to group and hide published controls
- more control for anchor points, auto center anchor point, auto edge anchor point
- more control Sequence Text keyframe options.
- some sort of scripting will be nice.