Placing image files as an animated sequence

The Place Sequence command lets you place a numbered set of image files as an animated series. (See Understanding animation terminology.)

The following rules apply:

• When LiveMotion places a sequence, each image file is converted into one frame of an animation.
• Frames are placed sequentially, with the image file numbered first in the set as the first frame in the animated sequence.
• In the Timeline window, each new image in the sequence is represented by a separate Replace property keyframe . For a definition of keyframes, see Understanding animation terminology.
• An initial Shape Resize property keyframe  is added, with additional keyframes each time a different-sized image appears in the sequence.
• The length of the animation is the total of the number of frames divided by the frame rate specified in the Composition Settings dialog box. For example, if you specify a frame rate of 30 frames per second and place a file with 30 frames, the animation will be one second long.

To place files as a sequence:

1. Prepare a folder containing the numbered image files. The files should match these conditions:
• All files must be in the same folder.
• Filenames must contain sequential numbers as part of their name (such as Bird1.jpg, Bird2.jpg, ... Bird37.jpg).
• The numbers can appear anywhere in the file as long as they're in a consistent location.
• The rest of the name must be identical in the named sequence.
• The numbers do not need to be contiguous--that is, you can skip numbers.
• Do not use decimals in the numbers.
2. Move the current-time marker to the frame you want to begin the sequence with. (See Using the Timeline window.)
3. Choose File > Place Sequence.
4. Select one file from the sequence you are placing. This file doesn't need to be the first file of the sequence--LiveMotion automatically looks for the first file and places that as the first file in the animation sequence.
5. Click Open.

To change the length of the animation after placing a file sequence:

Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) the endpoint of the sequence's duration bar to the desired length. (See Using the Timeline window.) The frames are reinterpolated to match the new animation length.

To display a single image in the sequence:

Move the current-time marker to the frame for that image.