Why convert MOTR to MOTN?
A .motr transition is designed to sit between two clips and animate from one to the other, while a .motn generator is a standalone graphic such as a background or animated pattern. Because their behaviours and template metadata differ, Motion treats them as distinct project types rather than interchangeable files.
How to convert MOTR to MOTN
Apple Motion (rebuild as generator) APP
Open the .motr in Motion, copy the layers you want, then start a new project via File > New and choose the Final Cut Generator template so it saves as .motn.
Apple Motion (export a preview instead) APP
If you only need the visible result, use File > Share > Export Movie to render the transition to a .mov rather than trying to force it into a generator.
About these formats
A .motr file is an Apple Motion transition template, a Final Cut Pro transition that was built and published in Motion on macOS. It stores the transition's layers, published controls, and…
Open .MOTR details →
.MOTN
Apple Motion Motion
A .MOTN file is associated with Apple Motion Motion, a misc file.
Open .MOTN details →Quality & what to watch
- This is a rebuild, not a conversion - the transition-specific timing (its A-to-B behaviour) has no equivalent in a generator.
- Neither template stores media; both only reference source assets, so a rebuilt generator still needs those assets present.
- Only Apple Motion can author these templates, so there is no third-party tool that does this.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a tool that converts .motr to .motn directly?
What is the difference between the two?
.motr is a transition (plays between two clips); .motn is a generator (a standalone graphic like a background).
