Apple Motion Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac

Open a project

Cmd+O

Create a project

Cmd+N

Create a project from the Project Browser

Cmd+Opt+N

Open the project's Properties Inspector

Cmd+J

Save a project

Cmd+S

Save a project as a new project

Cmd+Shift+S

Close a project or active window

Cmd+W

Import a file

Cmd+I

Import a file from Image Playground

Opt+Shift+P

Import a file as a project

Cmd+Shift+I

Export movie

Cmd+E

Export a selection as a movie

Cmd+Opt+E

Undo the last change

Cmd+Z

Redo the last change

Cmd+Shift+Z

Cut the selection

Cmd+X

Copy the selection

Cmd+C

Paste the selection

Cmd+V

Duplicate selection

Cmd+D

Select all items

Cmd+A

Deselect all items

Cmd+Shift+A

Delete the selection

Fwd Del

Minimize the active window

Cmd+M

Open Motion Settings

Cmd+,

Display Page Setup dialog

Cmd+Shift+P

Hide Motion

Cmd+H

Hide other open application files

Cmd+Opt+H

Quit Motion

Cmd+Q

Play or pause a project

Space

Turn animation recording on or off

A

Go to the start of a project

Home

Go to the end of a project

End

Show or hide the toolbar

Cmd+Opt+T

Open Motion Settings

Cmd+,

Hide Motion

Cmd+H

Hide other open application files

Cmd+Opt+H

Quit Motion

Cmd+Q

Create a project from the Project Browser

Cmd+N

Open a project

Cmd+O

Close a project

Cmd+W

Save a project

Cmd+S

Save a project as a new project

Cmd+Shift+S

Import a file

Cmd+I

Import files as a project

Cmd+Shift+I

Close all open projects

Cmd+Opt+W

Open the Page Setup window

Cmd+Shift+P

Print the current canvas view

Cmd+P

Undo the last change

Cmd+Z

Redo the last change

Cmd+Shift+Z

Cut

Cmd+X

Copy

Cmd+C

Paste

Cmd+V

Paste special

Cmd+Opt+V

Duplicate

Cmd+D

Delete

Fwd Del

Ripple deleteRemoves the current selection and closes the gap in the Timeline.

Shift+Fwd Del

Transform control points

Cmd+Opt+Shift+T

on a complex shape

Select all items

Cmd+A

Deselect all items

Cmd+Shift+A

Open the project's Properties Inspector

Cmd+J

Show spelling and grammar

Cmd+Shift+;

Find and replace

Cmd+F

Start DictationPress Fn twice.

Fn,Fn

Emoji and Symbols

Cmd+Ctrl+Space

Mark In point of a selected object or set the play range when no object is selected

I

Mark Out point of a selected object or set the play range when no object is selected

O

Move the selected object's In point to the location of the playhead

Shift+[

Move the selected object's Out point to the location of the playhead

Shift+]

Add a project marker at the current frame (with no selection) or add object marker (with selection)

M

Add a project marker at the current frame (with no selection) or add object marker (with selection)

`

Open the Edit Marker dialog

Cmd+Opt+M

Mark In point of play range

Cmd+Opt+I

Mark Out point of play range

Cmd+Opt+O

Reset play range

Opt+X

Play selection

\

Turn on Loop Playback

Shift+L

Turn animation recording on and off

A

Open the Recording Options window

Opt+A

Go to the start of a project

Fn+Left

Go to the end of a project

Fn+Right

Go to the start of the play range

Shift+Fn+Left

Go to the end of the play range

Shift+Fn+Right

Go to the previous frame

Left

Go to the next frame

Right

Go backward ten frames

Shift+Left

Go forward ten frames

Shift+Right

Go to the previous keyframe

Opt+K

Go to the next keyframe

Shift+K

Go to the previous marker

Cmd+Opt+Left

Go to the next marker

Cmd+Opt+Right

Go to the selection In point

Shift+I

Go to the selection Out point

Shift+O

Perform a RAM preview of the play range area

Cmd+R

Perform a RAM preview of the current selection

Cmd+Opt+R

Perform a RAM preview for the whole project

Cmd+Opt+Shift+R

Add an empty group to the project

Cmd+Shift+N

Add a camera to the project

Cmd+Opt+C

Add a light to the project

Cmd+Shift+L

Add a drop zone to the project

Cmd+Shift+D

Add a rig to the project

Cmd+Ctrl+R

Add a 360-degree environment to the project

Cmd+Shift+E

Move the selected object to the top of the Layers list

Cmd+Shift+]

Move the selected object to the bottom of the Layers list

Cmd+Shift+[

Move the selected object up the Layers list by one level

Cmd+]

Move the selected object down the Layers list by one level

Cmd+[

Group the selected objects into a new layer

Cmd+Shift+G

Ungroup a group of objects

Cmd+Opt+G

Make an object active or deactivate an object

Ctrl+T

For an audio track, enable/disable the Solo button of the selected track; for an object, solo the object

Ctrl+S

Isolate the selected group or layer

Ctrl+I

Lock/unlock an object

Ctrl+L

Unsolo only the video portion of a file that contains video

Ctrl+Shift+S

Convert a 2D group to 3D, or convert a 3D group to 2D

Ctrl+D

Add an image mask to the selected object

Cmd+Shift+M

Add a keyframeTo the last modified parameter for the selected object.

Ctrl+K

Convert the applied behaviors to keyframes

Cmd+K

Convert a simple shape to a complex shape

Cmd+Opt+B

with editable control points

Make the selected object the cell source for a particle emitter

E

Replicate the selected object

L

Clone the selected layer

K

Open the Media list and Inspector to display the source and properties of media objects

Shift+F

Zoom in

Cmd+=

Zoom out

Cmd+-

Zoom to 100 percent

Opt+Z

Zoom to fit in window

Shift+Z

Zoom Timeline in

Cmd+Opt+=

Zoom Timeline out

Cmd+Opt+-

Zoom Timeline to project duration

Cmd+Opt+0

Show full view areaThe portion of layers that extend beyond the edge of the canvas.

Shift+V

Set 3D view to active camera

Ctrl+A

Set 3D view to perspective camera

Ctrl+P

Set 3D view to 360-degree Look Around

Ctrl+V

Set 3D view to 360-degree Overview

Ctrl+O

Set 3D view to Mirror VR Headset

Ctrl+H

Set 3D view to next camera

Ctrl+C

Select the current active camera

Ctrl+Opt+C

Reset 3D camera view

Ctrl+R

Fit the selected objects into view

F

Frame the selected object

Cmd+Shift+F

Focus on the selected object

Ctrl+F

Show all color channels

Shift+C

Show the transparent channel

Shift+T

Show the alpha channel overlay

Opt+Shift+T

Show the RGB channels only

Opt+Shift+C

Show the red channel

Shift+R

Show the green channel

Shift+G

Show the blue channel

Shift+B

Show the alpha channel

Shift+A

Show the inverted alpha channel

Opt+Shift+A

Switch between the current channel and alpha channels

V

Show the out of gamut exposure overlay in the canvas

Opt+Shift+O

Show the canvas at full resolution

Shift+Q

Enable/disable lighting in the canvas

Opt+L

Enable/disable shadows in the canvas

Ctrl+Opt+S

Enable/disable reflections in the canvas

Ctrl+Opt+R

Enable/disable depth of field in the canvas

Ctrl+Opt+D

Enable/disable motion blur in the canvas

Opt+M

Enable/disable field rendering in the canvas

Opt+F

Enable/disable frame blending in the canvas

Ctrl+Opt+B

Show overlays

Cmd+/

Show the rulers

Cmd+Shift+R

Show/hide the grid

Cmd+'

Show/hide the guides

Cmd+;

Show/hide the dynamic guides

Cmd+Shift+;

Show/hide the safe zones

'

Show/hide the film zones

Shift+'

Lock the guides

Cmd+Opt+;

Enable/disable snapping to guides

N

Show 3D overlays

Cmd+Opt+/

Show 3D grid

Cmd+Shift+'

Show the Font dialog

Cmd+T

Show the macOS Colors window

Cmd+Shift+C

Export movie

Cmd+E

You can change keyboard settings so the function keys work as Motion keyboard shortcuts.

Minimize the active window

Cmd+M

Set the Motion window to Classic layout

Ctrl+U

Set Motion window to Cinema layout

Ctrl+Opt+U

Show the Properties Inspector

F1

Show the Behaviors Inspector

F2

Show the Filters Inspector

F3

Show the Object Inspector

F4

Show/hide the Project pane

F5

Show/hide the Timing pane

F6

Show/hide the HUD

F7

Show/hide the Background Task list

F9

Enter/exit Player mode

F8

Output to VR headset

F10

Show/hide the Library

Cmd+2

Show/hide the Inspector

Cmd+3

Show/hide the Layers list or Project pane

Cmd+4

Show/hide the Media list

Cmd+5

Show/hide the Audio list

Cmd+6

Show/hide the Video Timeline

Cmd+7

Show/hide the Keyframe Editor

Cmd+8

Show/hide the Audio Timeline

Cmd+9

Enter/exit full screen

Cmd+Ctrl+F

Open Motion Help

Cmd+Shift+/

Activate the current transform tool

S

when another item in the transform tools pop-up menu is selected

Choose the Select/Transform tool

Shift+S

Cycle through the transform modesPress repeatedly until the transform mode you want is selected.

Tab

Constrain the movement of an object to the X axis or Y axis

Shift+Dragthe object

Override snapping while moving an object

Cmd+Dragthe object

Duplicate a selected object

Opt+Dragthe object

Nudge a selected object by a single pixel

Cmd+UpDownLeftRight

Nudge a selected object 10 pixels

Cmd+Shift+UpDownLeftRight

Scale an object proportionally

Shift+Dragthe object handle

Scale an object from its anchor point

Opt+Dragthe object handle

Scale an object proportionally from its anchor point

Opt+Shift+Dragthe object handle

Snap the rotation of an object to 45-degree increments

Shift+Dragthe object rotation handle

Select the 3D transform tool

Q

Crop an object proportionally

Shift+Dragthe object handle

Crop an object from its center

Opt+Dragthe object handle

Crop an object proportionally from its center

Opt+Shift+Dragthe object handle

Pan a cropped object within the bounding box

Cmd+Dragover the object

Move the bounding box around a cropped object

Dragover the object

Move the bounding with the cropped object

Cmd+Opt+Dragover the object

Add a point to a path

Double-clickthe path

or

Opt+Clickthe path

Convert a point to linear

Cmd+Clickthe point

Convert a linear point to Bezier

Cmd+Dragthe point

Scale a tangent proportionally

Cmd+Dragthe tangent handle

Break or relink a tangent handle

Opt+Dragthe tangent handle

Constrain a tangent handle to 45-degree increments

Shift+Dragthe tangent handle

Adjust a B-Spline point bias

Cmd+Dragthe B-Spline point

Switch a B-Spline point bias

Cmd+Clickthe B-Spline point

Convert a simple ellipse, rectangle, or mask to a complex shape or mask

Cmd+Opt+B

with editable control points

Select the Pan tool

H

Select the Zoom tool

Z

Zoom out with the Zoom tool selected

Opt+Clickin the canvas

Select the Rectangle Shape tool

R

Select the Circle Shape tool

C

Draw a shape proportionally

Shift+Dragin the canvas

Draw a shape from its center

Opt+Dragin the canvas

Draw a shape proportionally from its center

Opt+Shift+Dragin the canvas

Snap the rotation of an object to 45-degree increments

Shift+Draga rotation handle

Select the Bezier tool

B

Switch between the Bezier and B-spline tools

B

Close shape

C

Add a point to the path

Cmd+Clicka path

Add a point to the path

Double-clicka path

Convert a point to linear

Cmd+Clicka point

Create tangents on a point

Cmd+Draga point

Scale a tangent handle proportionally

Cmd+Draga tangent handle

Break or relink a tangent handle

Opt+Draga tangent handle

Constrain a tangent handle to 45-degree increments

Shift+Draga tangent handle

Cancel shape drawing and delete the open shape

Esc

Exit shape-drawing mode

Return

Select the B-Spline tool

B

Switch between the Bezier and B-Spline tools

B

Close the shape

C

Add a point to the path

Double-clicka path

Add a point to the path

Cmd+Clicka path

Adjust a B-Spline point bias

Cmd+Draga B-Spline point

Switch a B-Spline point bias

Cmd+Clicka B-Spline point

Cancel shape drawing and delete the open shape

Esc

Exit shape-drawing mode

Return

Select the Paint Stroke tool

P

Adjust stroke width

Cmd+Draga control point in the canvas

with the Adjust Item tool selected

Select the Text tool

T

Move the insertion point to the next character

UpDownLeftRight

Move the insertion point to the next word

Opt+Right

Move the insertion point to the previous word

Opt+Left

Move to the beginning of a line of text

Cmd+Left

Move to the end of a line of text

Cmd+Right

Move to the beginning of a paragraph

Opt+Up

Move to the end of a paragraph

Opt+Down

Move to the beginning of a text object

Cmd+Up

Move to the end of a text object

Cmd+Down

Select characters from the insertion point

Shift+RightLeft

Select words from the insertion point

Opt+Shift+LeftRight

Select text from the insertion point to the beginning of a line

Cmd+Shift+Left

Select text from the insertion point to the end of a line

Cmd+Shift+Right

Select the rest of a paragraph from the insertion point

Opt+Shift+UpDown

when Layout Method is set to Paragraph, in the Text Inspector's Layout Controls

Select the rest of a text object from the insertion point

Cmd+Shift+UpDown

Increase kerning from the insertion point

Cmd+Opt+]

Decrease kerning from the insertion point

Cmd+Opt+[

Select All

Cmd+A

Select paragraph

Triple-click

when Layout Method is set to Paragraph in the Text Inspector

Deselect All

Cmd+Shift+A

Exit the Text tool

Esc

Select the Rectangle Mask tool

Opt+R

Select the Circle Mask tool

Opt+C

Select the Freehand Mask tool

Opt+P

Draw a mask proportionally

Shift+Dragin the canvas

Draw a mask from its center

Opt+Dragin the canvas

Draw a mask proportionally from its center

Opt+Shift+Dragin the canvas

Snap the rotation of a mask to 45-degree increments

Shift+Draga rotation handle

Select the Bezier Mask tool

Opt+B

Switch between the Bezier Mask and B-Spline Mask tools

Opt+B

Close the mask shape

C

Add a point to the path

Double-clicka path

Add a point to the path

Cmd+Clicka path

Convert a point to linear

Cmd+Clicka point

Create tangents on a point

Cmd+Draga point

Scale tangents proportionally

Cmd+Draga tangent handle

Break or relink a tangent handle

Opt+Draga tangent handle

Constrain a tangent handle to 45-degree increments

Opt+Shift+Draga tangent handle

Cancel shape drawing and delete the open mask

Esc

Exit mask-drawing mode

Return

Select the B-Spline Mask tool

Opt+B

Switch between the Bezier Mask and B-Spline Mask tools

Opt+B

Close the mask shape

C

Add a point to the path

Double-clicka path

Add a point to the path

Cmd+Clicka path

Adjust a B-Spline point bias

Cmd+Draga B-Spline point

Switch a B-Spline point bias

Cmd+Clicka B-Spline point

Cancel mask drawing and delete the open shape

Esc

Exit mask-drawing mode

Return

Apply a Magnetic Mask

Cmd+Opt+Shift+M

with an image or clip selected

Show/hide the Audio list

Cmd+6

Make object active or inactive

Ctrl+T

Lock/unlock an audio file

Ctrl+L

Enable/disable the Solo button of a selected track

Ctrl+S

Move selection up one level in the Audio list

Up

Move selection down one level in the Audio list

Down

Import

Cmd+I

Play/pause a project

Space

Turn animation recording on or off

A

Enable/disable loop playback

Shift+L

Go to the start of a project

Home

Go to the end of a project

End

Go to the start of the play range

Shift+Home

Go to the end of the play range

Shift+End

Go to the previous frame

Left

Go to the next frame

Right

Go backward ten frames

Shift+Left

Go forward ten frames

Shift+Right

Zoom in

Cmd+=

Zoom out

Cmd+-

Zoom out with the Zoom tool selected

Opt+Clickthe canvas

Zoom to region

Cmd+Dragin the canvas

with the Zoom tool selected

Zoom to 100 percent

Opt+Z

Zoom to fit in the canvas

Shift+Z

Show all color channels

Shift+C

Show the transparent channel

Shift+T

Show the alpha channel overlay

Opt+Shift+T

Show the RGB channels only

Opt+Shift+C

Show the red channel

Shift+R

Show the green channel

Shift+G

Show the blue channel

Shift+B

Show the alpha channel

Shift+A

Show the inverted alpha channel

Opt+Shift+A

Switch between the current channel and alpha channel

V

Show the canvas at full resolution

Shift+Q

Enable/disable field rendering in the canvas

Opt+F

Enable/disable motion blur in the canvas

Opt+M

Show the rulers

Cmd+Shift+R

Lock the guides

Cmd+Opt+;

Show/hide the grid

Cmd+'

Show/hide the guides

Cmd+;

Show/hide the dynamic guides

Cmd+Shift+;

Show/hide film zones

Shift+'

Show overlays

Cmd+/

Show/hide safe zones

'

Enable/disable snapping to guides

N

Expose active layers

X

Expose all layers

Shift+X

Create a particle emitter

E

Add an image mask to the selected layer

Cmd+Shift+M

Zoom incrementally into the Chroma control

Z+Click

in the Green Screen Keyer filter, on the color wheel

Zoom incrementally out of the Chroma control

Opt+Z+Click

in the Green Screen Keyer filter, on the color wheel

Zoom smoothly into the Chroma control

Z+Dragright in the color wheel

in the Green Screen Keyer filter

Zoom smoothly out of the Chroma control

Z+Dragleft in the color wheel

in the Green Screen Keyer filter

Zoom smoothly in or out of the Chroma controlPress Space bar then Command, in that order, before dragging.

Cmd+Space+Dragright or left in the color wheel

in the Green Screen Keyer filter

Pan the Chroma control

H+Dragthe color wheel

in the Green Screen Keyer filter

Reset the chroma zoom and center

Shift+Z

in the Green Screen Keyer filter, when the pointer is over the Chroma control

Select the next object above

Up

Select the next object below

Down

Nudge the selected objects one pixel

Cmd+UpDownLeftRight

Nudge the selected objects 10 pixels

Cmd+Shift+UpDownLeftRight

Add/Remove selected objects using the region box

Shift+Dragin the canvas

Select multiple objects in a group or layer

Cmd+Clickan object

Add to selection

Shift+Clickan object

Show/hide the HUD

F7

Cycle through the HUDs from top to bottom

D

when more than one effect is applied to an object

Cycle through the HUDs from bottom to top

Shift+D

when more than one effect is applied to an object

Show/hide the Inspector

Cmd+3

Increase a slider value by an increment of one

Up

Decrease a slider value by an increment of one

Down

Increase a slider value by an increment of ten

Shift+Up

Decrease a slider value by an increment of ten

Shift+Down

Show/hide the Keyframe Editor

Cmd+8

Convert the applied behaviors to keyframes

Cmd+K

Fit visible curves

F

Create a group

Cmd+Shift+N

Bring an object up one level in the Layers list

Cmd+]

Send an object down one level in the Layers list

Cmd+[

Place the selected objects in a new group

Cmd+Shift+G

Ungroup a group of objects so you can manipulate each object

Cmd+Opt+G

Make the object active or deactivate the object

Ctrl+T

Enable/disable the Solo button of a selected track

Ctrl+S

Isolate the selected group or layer

Ctrl+I

Lock/unlock an object

Ctrl+L

Move up one level in the Layers list

Up

Move down one level in the Layers list

Down

Expand a group in the Layers list

Opt+Left

Collapse a group in the Layers list

Opt+Right

Import

Cmd+I

Add an image mask to the selected object

Cmd+Shift+M

Convert the applied behaviors to keyframes

Cmd+K

Open the Media list and Inspector to reveal the source and properties of media objects

Shift+F

Clone the selected layer

K

Show/hide the Library

Cmd+2

Select the first item in the sidebar or list

Space

Move up one item in the sidebar or list

Up

Move down one item in the sidebar or list

Down

Move left one item in the list

Left

Move right one item in the list

Right

Move up one level in the folder hierarchy of the list

Up

Show/hide the Media list

Cmd+5

Move up one level in the Media list

Up

Move down one level in the Media list

Down

Import

Cmd+I

Nudge one frame forward

Cmd+Right

Nudge one frame backward

Cmd+Left

Nudge ten frames forward

Cmd+Shift+Right

Nudge ten frames backward

Cmd+Shift+Left

Move the selected object to the In point

Shift+[

Move the selected object to the Out point

Shift+]

Mark the In point of the play range or selected object

I

Mark the Out point of the play range or selected object

O

Reset the play range by moving the In and Out points to the first and last frames of the project

Opt+X

Bring an object up one level in the Timeline layers list

Cmd+]

Send an object down one level in the Timeline layers list

Cmd+[

Enable/disable loop playback

Shift+L

Open the Recording Options dialog

Opt+A

Go to the start of the play range

Shift+Home

Go to the end of the play range

Shift+End

Go to the In point of the selected object

Shift+I

Go to the Out point of the selected object

Shift+O

Go to the previous frame

Left

Go to the next frame

Right

Go backward ten frames

Shift+Left

Go forward ten frames

Shift+Right

Go to the next marker

Cmd+Opt+Right

Go to the previous marker

Cmd+Opt+Left

Render a RAM preview for the play range

Cmd+R

Render a RAM preview for the selected object

Cmd+Opt+R

Render a RAM preview for the project

Cmd+Opt+Shift+R

Add a marker at the current frame

M

Add a marker at the current frame

`

Open the Edit Marker dialog

Cmd+Opt+M

Play/pause the project

Space

Turn on/off animation recording

A

Go to the start of project

Home

Go to the end of project

End

Convert the applied behaviors to keyframes

Cmd+K

Ripple deleteRemoves the current selection and closes the gap in the Timeline.

Shift+Fwd Del

Paste special

Cmd+Opt+V

Zoom Timeline in

Cmd+Opt+=

Zoom Timeline out

Cmd+Opt+-

Fit Timeline in window

Shift+Z

Zoom Timeline to project duration

Cmd+Opt+0