Behaviors: Sophisticated animation and simulation effects (Spin, Grow, Gravity, and so on) that you can apply to objects and images in your project. Some behaviors can be applied only to specific objects. For example, Text Animation and Text Sequence behaviors can be applied only to text objects. See Intro to applying behaviors.
Filters: Special effects used to modify the appearance of images, objects, and video clips in your project. You can apply filters to create artistic effects (blurs, glows, stylized looks), to perform image corrections (color balancing, sharpening), or to create complex compositing effects (green screen keying). Third-party FxPlug filters appear in the category to which they belong. Most filters can be applied to any layer (text, images, shapes, video footage, particles, and so on) in your project. See Intro to filters.
Generators: Computer-generated art such as checkerboards, noise patterns, color rays, and animated text objects that you can add to your projects. See Intro to using generators.
Particle Emitters: Animated swarms of small particles that let you add effects ranging from simulations of smoke, fire, and explosives to animated abstract textures. All premade particle systems can be customized after you add them to your project. See Intro to particles.
Replicators: Patterns of repeating elements used to create kaleidoscopic effects (static or animated) in your compositions. All premade replicators can be customized after you add them to your project. See Intro to replicators.
Shapes: Premade geometrical forms that you can use as visual elements or as image masks in your project. Each shape is a Bezier shape and can be customized using Motion’s shape-editing tools. See Intro to shapes, masks, and paint strokes.
3D Objects: Premade 3D objects in the USDZ file format (a zero-compression, unencrypted zip archive of the Universal Scene Description format) that can be added to a 2D or 3D project. Some 3D objects are animated. See Intro to 3D objects.
Gradients: A selection of premade color spreads that can be applied to shapes, text, particles, and replicators in your project. See Gradient editor controls.
Fonts: A browser containing all the fonts on your computer, which you can apply to text selected in the canvas. See Preview and apply fonts.
Text Styles: Thematic type styles (Antique, Fantasy, Grunge, and so on) that let you modify the look of 2D text and 3D text in your project. See Use preset text styles.
Shape Styles: Preset shape styles that add artistic line strokes (Abstract, Flora, and Liquid, for example) to shapes in your project. For example, dragging a shape style onto a shape instantly applies that style. See Intro to shapes, masks, and paint strokes.
Materials: Preset 3D text materials that give 3D text a natural and realistic appearance, as they respond to lighting, exhibit reflectiveness, and so on. All premade materials can be customized after you add them to your project. See Intro to 3D text surface materials.
Music: A browser for locating and importing files from your music library. The subcategories include the library and playlists created in Apple Music. See Add music and photo files.
Photos: A browser for locating and importing image files from your selected photo library. See Add music and photo files.
Content: Graphical elements used in the templates and presets that ship with Motion. Use these images, text elements, patterns, and animations to create custom design elements, such as particles and replicators, which can be saved to the Library for later use.
Favorites: A place to save objects—built-in or custom-made in Motion—for future use, including cameras, layers, or groups. You can also place frequently used media files (such as PDF or TIFF files) into the Favorites category. Objects you place in the Favorites category are available to every project you create in Motion.
Favorites Menu: Objects you place in the Favorites Menu folder appear in the Favorites menu, for even faster access. When you choose an item from the Favorites menu, that item is placed into the selected layer and is positioned at the center of the canvas. Objects you put in the Favorites Menu are available to every project in Motion.

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