Layer Motion Graphics

Overview

Motion graphics on Layer split into two jobs that must not be mixed. Pictures that move (a logo assembling, an emblem catching light) are a generation with a video model. Words are never generated: video models misspell, cannot use a font file, and drift between frames. Words go on as text items in a

render_video_timeline

edit, set in the brand font.

Generation mechanics are in the

layer

skill and motion prompting in

layer-video

. Timeline assembly basics (cutting, safe areas, audio length) are in

layer-video-timeline

, and exact text on stills is

layer-typography

. Reusing one motion design for many variants is

layer-motion-templates

; a shared colour and texture finish is

layer-video-looks

If a sibling skill named here is missing from your available skills, ask the user to install it (

npx skills add layerai/skills --skill <name>

); unattended, proceed from tool schemas and flag the gap.

Quick reference

Job	Route
Logo reveal	`image_to_video` , exact logo as `last_frame` , an abstract or empty plate as `first_frame`
Idle logo loop	`image_to_video` , the logo as both `first_frame` and `last_frame` , `loop` capability
Title, lower third, CTA	Timeline `text` item with `font_file_id` , never a prompt
Text entering or leaving	A transition between items: `slide` , `wipe` , `iris` , `clockWipe` , `flip` , `fade`
Word-by-word kinetic type	Consecutive `text` items, one word or phrase each, stepped on `start_frame`
Shaped reveal of an image	`mask` on an `image` or `video` item: `circle` , `ellipse-horizontal` , `ellipse-vertical`
Plate behind type	A `solid` item under the text, or the text item's own `background_color`

Reveals and loops: generate the picture, pin the frame

A reveal is judged on its last frame, which is the one the viewer reads. Filter

list_base_models

with

filter.use_case: "image_to_video"

and

filter.guidance_file_types: ["first_frame", "last_frame"]

, take the first result, and

get_base_model

for its durations and trigger word. Pass the exact logo file as

last_frame

, so the landing frame is the artwork rather than the model's memory of it.

first_frame

is what the reveal grows from: an empty plate in the brand colour, an abstract shape, or particles, from an existing still or one

text_to_image

run (

layer-image

), sized with

width

and

height

to the reveal's frame. Describe only the transition in the prompt ("gold shards converge and lock into the emblem, light sweep across it at the end"), never the logo's letters.

render_video_timeline

takes

{workspace_id, template, videos, images, audios}

template

{width, height, fps, tracks: [{id, name, items, transitions}]}

; an item is

{id, type, start_frame, duration_in_frames}

plus

file_id

slot

, and optionally

layout {left, top, width, height}

effects

start_from_in_seconds

to trim a clip's head, and

volume

; a

solid

takes

color

{red, green, blue, alpha}

. The render returns a

generation_id

for

get_generation_run

An idle loop takes the logo as both

first_frame

and

last_frame

, and a model with the

loop

capability where the clip must repeat without a jump. Keep its motion small (a breathing glow, a slow rim light) so the mark never leaves its own silhouette.

Set

duration_seconds

on a model filtered with

fixed_duration: true

when the sting must land on a beat. Estimate with

estimate_forge_price

using the same files, then execute and poll

get_forge_run

poll_interval_seconds

Type: set it, then move it with cuts

A timeline

text

item takes

text

font_file_id

(an uploaded .ttf or .otf; upload local fonts with

request_file_upload_url

) or

font_family

font_size

font_weight

letter_spacing

line_height

text_align

color

stroke

(

{color, width}

shadow

(

{color, x, y, blur}

background_color

, and a

layout

box

{left, top, width, height}

in composition pixels.

The timeline has no keyframes. An item's position, opacity and effects hold for its whole span. Motion comes from two sources only:

Transitions on a track's
```
transitions
```
, each
```
{id, type, from_item_id, to_item_id, duration_in_frames, easing}
```
, with
```
direction
```
(
```
from-left
```
,
```
from-right
```
,
```
from-top
```
,
```
from-bottom
```
) on
```
slide
```
,
```
wipe
```
and
```
flip
```
.
```
easing: "spring"
```
gives the overshoot that reads as designed motion;
```
ease-out
```
suits an entrance,
```
ease-in
```
an exit. A transition joins two adjacent items on one track, so a title that slides in needs a
```
solid
```
or empty-looking item before it.
Stepped items. Kinetic type is a run of
```
text
```
items on one track, each one word or phrase, back to back on
```
start_frame
```
with no overlap. Hard cuts on the beat read as rhythm; a short
```
fade
```
or
```
wipe
```
between them reads as flow.

Anything that must glide continuously (a slow push on the title, a sweep of light across the type) is a generated clip of the type rendered as an image, not a timeline effect:

render_text

the line, then animate that still with

image_to_video

as both frames and a "light sweep only, letters unchanged" prompt, and check every frame for warping. Report the gap rather than promising a keyframe move.

Reading time and placement

Hold a title at least as long as it takes to read twice aloud, and convert that to frames at the template's

fps

. A lower third holds for the whole time its speaker is on screen. Keep type and logos well inside the frame edges, since social players overlay their own UI top and bottom; check the platform's current safe-area spec rather than guessing a margin. Tracks composite in reverse order: Track 1 is on top, so type goes on the first track and plates below it.

Worked example

"A 4-second logo sting for our trailer, then a lower third naming the studio."

The logo PNG and the brand font are on the user's machine: upload both with
```
request_file_upload_url
```
.

list_base_models

with

filter.use_case: "image_to_video"

filter.guidance_file_types: ["first_frame", "last_frame"]

and

filter.capabilities: {fixed_duration: true}

. Take the first result;

get_base_model

for its durations.

```
estimate_forge_price
```
with a dark brand-colour plate as
```
first_frame
```
, the logo as
```
last_frame
```
,
```
duration_seconds: 4
```
, and the prompt "embers drift inward and fuse into the emblem, a single light sweep across it in the last half second, camera locked". Above 20 CUs, ask first.
```
execute_forge
```
, poll
```
get_forge_run
```
, and step to the last frame of each output against the logo file. Reject any that changed the mark.
Timeline at 30 fps: Track 1 holds a
```
solid
```
(8 frames) then a
```
text
```
item "Studio Name" in the brand font, joined by a
```
slide
```
transition
```
direction: "from-left"
```
,
```
easing: "spring"
```
,
```
duration_in_frames: 12
```
. Track 2 holds the sting video item.
```
estimate_video_timeline_price
```
with that template; then
```
render_video_timeline
```
with the same arguments and poll
```
get_generation_run
```
. Watch it end to end.

Common mistakes

Prompting the logo's name or letters into a video model instead of pinning the logo as
```
last_frame
```
.
Generating titles, lower thirds or CTA copy as video rather than setting them as text items.
Expecting a keyframe slide or scale on one timeline item; motion is transitions or stepped items.
A transition with only one item on the track, so there is nothing to transition from.
Overlapping items on one track instead of stacking them on separate tracks.
Titles cut before they can be read twice, or set outside the platform's safe area.
A logo loop with motion big enough to break the mark's silhouette.

layer-motion-graphics

NPX Install

Tags

SKILL.md Content