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Path Text


    This effect simplifies the process of animating text along a path. Use it to animate words or groups of characters on a single layer instead of animating each character on a separate layer. Define a path as a straight line, a circle of any diameter, or a Bezier curve; or import a path created in another application, such as Adobe Photoshop. You can also add randomness to a number of controls to make text jump or dance.

    Animate text on an existing layer; or, for additional control over placement of text, you can create a solid and animate the text on it. The layer on which you animate text is transparent, unless you specify compositing. To modify and animate text, type the text using a specified font, define the path, and then create keyframes for the text properties you want to change over time. To move text along a path, create keyframes for the left margin or right margin.

    Path Text applied to a motion path
    Path Text applied to a motion path

To enter text:

  1. In the Timeline window, select the layer on which you want to animate text, or create a new layer by choosing Layer > New > Solid.
  2. Choose Effect > Text > Path Text.
  3. In the dialog box that appears, choose the font and style for your text, and then type the text. You can display the text in the font you've chosen by selecting Show Font.
  4. Click OK. The text appears on the layer in the default color of red; by default, the layer itself is transparent. To display the layer, select Composite on Original in the Effect Controls window.
  5. If you need to change the text or font, click the Options button in the Effect Controls window.
  6. Path text is animated primarily on the location of the path control points. Text will move with the position of these points or on a closed path that can be selected from the Path Control Points option. You can also animate text by creating keyframes for margin, kerning, tracking and size.

To animate path text:

  1. In the Timeline window, select the layer that has the Path Text effect applied. Display the properties for Path Text and expand the controls under Path Control Points.
  2. Move the current-time marker to a point where you want to add a keyframe.
  3. Adjust the path control points so that the text is displayed as desired.
  4. Click the stopwatch next to the path control points or other properties for which you will be creating keyframes. See Setting keyframes.
  5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you have created the keyframes needed to animate the text.
  6. Select the Path Text effect name in the Effect Controls window to make the path visible in the Composition window; then select one of the following shapes from the Shape Type menu:
    • Select Bezier to shape text along a Bezier curve, defined by four control points (Vertex 1/Circle Center, Tangent 1/Circle Point, Tangent 2, Vertex 2). Characters that don't fit on the path are placed off the end in a straight line.
    • Select Circle to shape text around the circumference of a circle, defined by two control points (Tangent 1/Circle Point, Vertex 1/Circle Center). If the text is longer than the circumference of the circle, the text overlaps itself. If an arbitrary path is chosen and if the path is closed, this property forms the text around the path, as opposed to looping it.
    • Select Loop to shape text around the circumference of the circle, defined by two control points (Vertex 1/Circle Center, Tangent 1/Circle Point). If text is longer than the circumference of the circle, it flows off the Tangent 1 point in a straight line. You can also use margin controls to make text enter or exit a circle in a straight line.
    • Select Line to shape text in a straight line, defined by two control points (Vertex 1/Circle Center, Vertex 2). Note that, as with the Bezier path, the distance between the two control points does not affect the spacing of the text, unless alignment is set to Force (see Alignment below).

    For more information, see the After Effects product section on Adobe's Web site.