MODULE 3: KINETIC TEXT TUTORIALS

 

STEP 1: opening the Text Tutorial File

Install After Effects + Download the Text Tutorial Project Folder (From Module 3) Before Starting this Tutorial. Leave all files inside of the folder, and make sure to move the folder to somewhere you can easily locate it on your desktop. This tutorial project file can also be used to start your Module 3 Projects.

  1. Opening After Effects for the First Time: double click your After Effects (.aep) file to open

  2. Opening Character Tab: Window > Click Character (make sure it's checked)

  3. Layers: Click and move Layers to change their position with in your composition

STEP 2: TWEENING BASICS

A. POSITION

Note: Turn off the visibility of layers by deselecting the Eye icon next to each layer

  1. Expand Transformation Properties for Layer: Select layer > Click the triangle to expand your layer properties> Click Transform > Select Property (Position) and adjust its (x & y) values to mark the layer's position

  2. Creating a Key Frame - A Start (Point A) and End Point (Point B) in you Timeline: Click the Stopwatch next to the Position property to add a key frame starting position > Click and move the play head in your Timeline > Change the property values (in this case location: x, y values of your text) to create an end (point B) keyframe> Click and drag the play head to scrub through your Timeline to preview changes

  3. Setting Another Key Frame Point: Click and drag the play head forward on the Timeline> Change property values (in this case: the x, y location of your text) to create a new key frame point

  4. Alternate Way to Create Key Frames: Change the time of the play head > Select the Selection tool (hotkey: v) > In the Canvas window select the whole layer and drag it to change the text position

Editing + Navigating with Key Frames:

  • Hold Shift to select multiple key frames

  • Alter Timing: Select the key frame in the Timeline and move it closer to, or further from, the other key frames to change the speed of the moving text

  • Deleting Key Frames: select the key frame and click Delete

  • Copy/Paste: select frame(s) > Edit > Copy (hotkey: CTRL or CMND V)> Move play head forward or backward in time > Edit > Paste (hotkey: CTRL or CMND V)

  • Change the Value: Double-click a key Frame > Change properties values in the Dialog Box

  • Snap Between Key Frames: Hold shift as you move the play head to snap between keyframes

  

B. SCALE + ROTATION

  1. Expand Transformation Properties for Scale and Rotation: Same as Above

  2. Setting Scale Key Frames: Move the play head to the time you want the key frame to begin > Click the Stopwatch icon to create first key frame> Change the time again > Adjust percentage property to increase/decrease the scale and create second key frame

  3. Alternate Way to Adjust Scale Value: Select Layer > Adjust the bounding box around the layer to change scale> Hold shift to make scale adjustments proportional

  4. Creating More Scale Key Frames: Same as Above

  5. Changing the Position of the Scale Layer: Same as Above

  6. Expand Rotation Layer and Edit its Transformation Properties:

  7. Rotate Layer: Click rotation stopwatch to set first Key Frame> Move time play head> Enter values numerically next to the Rotation Property> Scrub through video to see the layer rotate

  8. Change the Position of the Rotation Layer: Same as Above

C. OPACITY

  1. Expanding Transformation Properties for the Opacity Layer: Make the Opacity Layer Visible > Same as Above
    Note: Opacity Values: 0% = fully transparent & 100% = fully visible

  2. Set Key Frames for Transparency Property: Click the Stopwatch > Move forward in Timeline > Change the numerical transparency value to set the next keyframe

  3. Altering the Rate of Change in Transparency Over Time: Click and move your key frames closer to, or further from each other in the Timeline window

  4. Create a new keyframe (helps make transition constant): Hit the blank key frame icon to the left of the layer to add or remover a key frame at that time in the timeline > impute desired value for the key frame by double clicking it or manually changing the numerical value

  5. How to Make a Word Disappear and Reappear into the Same Word:

  • Make Disappear: Select the opacity transformation property > Start the stopwatch > Move the play head forward > Change the opacity value to 0% > Snap to the key frame and zoom into the timeline > Move the play head 1 frame before the last keyframe > set the opacity to 100% then zoom back out

  • Make Reappear: Select the time you want the word to reappear > Set the opacity property to 100% and press enter > Snap to the key frame and zoom in to the timeline > Move the play head forward > change the opacity value to 0% > Snap to the key frame and zoom into the timeline > move the play head 1 frame before the last key frame > Set the opacity to 0% then zoom back out

STEP 3: KEYFRAME PROCESSES

1. Copy and Paste Keyframe Properties from One Layer to Another: Select all the key frames in the property you want to copy > click CMND C (CTRL C for pc users) to copy them > Collapse that layer property menu > Select the layer you will paste onto > Move the play head to desired time > Paste the key frame property values (CMND V, or CTRL V for pc users)

 

STEP 4: LAYERS IN AND OUT OF FRAME

  1. Make Objects Leave the Frame by Adjusting Opacity: Repeat Steps Above under Opacity

  2. Make a word move onto/ off of the Screen: Select your layer > Select and position the bounding box of your text outside of the canvas > Hit the stopwatch to create a position keyframe > Move your play head forward in time > Move your text onto the canvas to create the Point B keyframe

  3. Make a Word Disappear and Reappear Once by Limiting the Time a Word is Visible: Make your word layer visible > Hover your cursor over the beginning of the red-time block > Click and drag the edge of the block to define what will be seen (red) and what wont (gray) > Hold down shift to snap the play heads > Repeat this step to make adjustments to the end of the red block

STEP 5: CHANGING TEXT PROPERTIES

  1. Change Paragraph Properties and Align Text: Highlight the text > click left align under Paragraph

  2. Change Color properties of words in a text:

  3. a. Highlight the text you want to change the color of > Click the color box under Charater and choose the color > Click OK
    b. Use Source Text to Make Words and Other Properties Appear and Disappear: Select text layer and expand its properties > Expand the Text properties > Click the stop watch next to Source Text to create a key frame > Move the play head to desired time > Highlight the text you want to change and alter its color
    Note: by moving the play head to a new time and then altering a property of the text (Ex: adding/removing words, font color, font style, etc.) new key frames are made > scrub through your timeline to preview the property changes you make

  4. Change Scale Property of your text layer: Review setting scale key frames from step 2 B.2

  5. Don't forget to save your file frequently!

  1. Change the Source Text of a Text Layer that already has Transformation Properties:
    a. Working with one word: Double-click your layer in the canvas window > Change your word > All animations done to the previous word are retained after it is changed
    b. Working with Changing Words: Move the play head to where you want the Stopwatch to begin > Click the Stopwatch > Make sure the Paragraph setting is left-alined > change your word, letters, or sentence to create a new a keyframe

Step 6: Importing Audio

STEP 7: EXPORTING TO VIDEO

Once ready to export, download and install Adobe Media Encoder, as this will make several additional compression formats and codecs available. In the video and steps below, I use the H.264 codec within the Quicktime format. If this is not available after installing the Adobe Media Encoder (you will need to re-open After Effects after installing Media Encoder), try the MPEG-4 format options instead.

1. Exporting your Composition: Make all of your layers visible > Click Composition > Click Add to Render Queue > Click OK > Then in the Render Queue change the following:

a. Go to "Output To" and click to edit > Select your project folder > Hit save
b. Go to "Render Settings" and click to edit > Set Quality to Best > Resolution to full > The rest of the default settings are ok (match with canvas requirements) > Click OK
c. Go to " Output Module Settings" and click to edit > Set format to QuickTime > Video Output > Click Format Options... > Set Video Codec to H.264 > Click OK > Then hit OK in the Output Module Setting Window
d. Click Render in the top right-hand corner of the Render Queue dialog box

2. After you Render: Click x in the top left-hand corner the Render Queue to close out the dialog box

3.Check your Rendered File: Go to your desktop project folder > Double click the .mov file to see your text animation

4. Save your project files and then upload video to YouTube or Vimeo.

Optional Text Effect Tutorials

Tutorial 1 - Text Moving Along a Path

Tutorial 2 - Typewriter Effect

Also, a few reminders of your options with this different video format:

  1. Pop out of Canvas and watch in a new tab if any of the features aren't working

  2. There are fullscreen and CC (Sub-title) options available in the right hand corner. For being YouTube auto-captions, these are pretty clear. I think they must have improved their algorithm. Please email me with any accessibility needs.

  3. If you are feeling pressed for time, but don't want to miss anything, you can watch with audio in 1.5 speed by hitting that little gear icon.