Moving Layers in Alight Motion (2025 Pro Guide) — Master Smooth Edits

To change when a layer appears:

• Open the Timeline.
• Long-press the layer bar and slide left or right.
• Drag either edge of the bar to change its duration.

Use this for syncing text or clips to beats and voiceovers.

For exact placement:

1. Select the layer and open Move & Transform.
2. Use X/Y numeric inputs for pixel-perfect moves.
3. Use arrow nudges for small increments.

This is best when you need repeatable, precise positions for example, aligning lower-thirds across many clips.

Good results start at the shoot. Before you open Alight Motion, ensure your footage follows these best practices:

• Even Lighting: Avoid shadows on the screen use soft, diffused light sources.

• Distance: Keep your subject at least 3-5 feet from the screen to reduce color spill.

• Solid Color: Use a wrinkle-free cloth or painted wall in pure green or blue.

• High Resolution: Capture at 1080p or above for cleaner keying.

By prepping properly, you’ll spend less time fixing issues later.

To edit individuals:

Select the group and tap Ungroup.
Each item returns to its own layer and you can tweak them separately.

Use groups when:

• Animating a multi-part logo.
• Moving several stickers at once.
• Applying the same effect to many layers.

Groups keep everything aligned and reduce repeated work.

Change how long an element appears:

• In Timeline, drag the left or right end of the layer bar.
• Or open the layer menu > Duration and type exact seconds.

This helps match visuals to music or narration.

• Use handles on the bounding box to scale.
• Use the Transform panel for rotation and X/Y positioning.

Making a layer see-through can add depth:

• Find Opacity in the layer settings.
• Use blending modes when you want creative overlay effects.

• Rename: Tap layer name → rename it (e.g., “Title_Intro”).
• Duplicate: Long-press → Duplicate.
• Merge: Group, then select Merge to flatten layers.
• Delete: Swipe left on the layer or tap trash.

• Use Split at the playhead to cut a layer.
• Copy-paste in the same project, or export presets to reuse in other projects.

• Hide (eye): Turn visibility on/off.
• Solo (headphone): View only one layer.
• Lock (padlock): Prevent accidental edits.

These options help when you have many layers on the screen.

• Name layers clearly. “Title_Main” beats “Text1.”
• Group related items. Keeps the timeline tidy.
• Use anchors and keyframes. For natural motion.
• Merge only when ready. Keep elements separate while refining.
• Save often. Crashes happen frequently and saves avoid lost changes.

A little organization early saves hours later.