AFTER EFFECTS NOTES 3rd WORKSHOP

Working with text in After Effects:

anchor layer is moved (therefore anchor point is centralized):

'pan behind tool' allows you to move anchor point, rather than layer:

'continuously rasterize' button is constantly checked with text layers (allows you to resize text without loosing quality)

text options:

using 'source text' within text layer.

Add key frame, then edit text between start and end point:

(see video)

using the 'animate' option. Clicking on this brings up a range of tools:

experimenting with the opacity:

experimenting with Animate >skew:

using 'range selector' to edit specific areas using anchor points:

this allows you to be specific with which words/elements you want to edit:

(see videos)

editing 'advance settings'> 'based on' and then selecting whether you want the opacity to animate character, word or line at a time:

(see videos)

animating text scale:

 use 'range selector' to edit specifically where the scaling will animate:

editing the 'anchor point grouping' via 'more options':

changing it to 'all' creates one anchor point per character:

this keeps the characters from overlapping:

(see video)

MASKS IN IN AFTEREFFECTS:

create a solid layer:

create a shape using shape tool whilst the solid layer is selected, this creates a mask.

this shape is vectorised and can be manipulated:

bounding box allows you to alter scale:

mask properties:

'mask expansion' allows you to control how much of the layer is shown:

'mask opacity' allows you to alter the opacity:

'mask feather' allows you to add a soft edge:

'mask path' allows you to alter the bounding box via 'shape':

if you enable keyframing and edit the shape, the shape can become animated:

(see video)

practical application would be using the mask as a view finder e.g. slowly revealing text...

(see video)

illustrator outlines can be brought on to after effects. Import artwork as either:

a) As a composition, or

b) Copy and paste it as a mask (make sure a layer is selected)

Shapes will become masks.

When animating, select all masks as this makes it easier, then you don't have to keep selecting the correct mask.

Taking advantage of 'paths' within text editing.

pen tool a path:

path options; (select path) makes text fit to path:

altering first and last margins allows you to move text along path:

adding key frames allows you to animate

(see video)

Illustrator shapes cannot be manipulated on After Effects in this way unless they are copy and pasted (and automatically become Masks). However these masks can be used as the art work and animated accordingly.