(upbeat electronic music)
- Hello, and welcome to the 19th episode
in this Beginner's guide to Adobe After Effects.
In this tutorial, we are going to look at
type and animating type in After Effects.
So in the last episode, we learnt about effects and presets.
Now, as you move further into the course, we are going
to be learning more about effects and presets
and we are going to be using more of them
to animate and build a video presentation.
Now, one of the cool things we can use
effects and presets for is to animate type.
Now, animating type is hugely popular
in After Effects for designers.
In this video, I'll be discussing type in After Effects
and looking at how we can use some
common effects and presets to animate type.
So in this video, we will be covering the following topics.
Animating type with presets,
and animating type manually.
After this video you should feel more comfortable
using and animating type in After Effects.
So, let's get into it.
So here I am in After Effects and I have a project
open here that I'm going to use to demonstrate
some type animation presets and how to use type.
So let's take a look at what we have here.
Now, if you have the Project folder,
you can open up the document I have here.
With the project folder open,
click into the S2 Essential Practice folder,
into folder 19, Type and Animating Type,
and open the Type and Animating Type After Effects file.
And you will have the same document I have open here.
This is a document you can use to quickly experiment
with text effects and presets with me in this video.
Now, if you do not have the Project folder
and you want to follow along with this tutorial
using this document, I have prepared especially for you,
you can download this project folder for a small fee.
The download link with instructions is in the description.
The download folder comes with lots of exercise documents
we will be using on this course that have been
carefully developed to aid your learning experience.
The folder also comes with document resources
such as videos, graphics, and images you can use
to build your first video presentation
from scratch later on in this course.
To get the full learning experience,
I recommend you get the project folder.
Download link with instructions is in the description.
So with the project folder open,
click into the S2 Essential Practice folder,
into folder 19, Type and Animating Type
and open the Type and Animating Type Affect Effects file,
and you will have the same document I have open here.
Now, just a quick thing to mention here
that's pretty important.
When you open this file,
you make get an error message saying you don't
have the font installed.
Now, if you do get this error message,
to follow along with this tutorial
you're going to need to install the font first.
Now, this is not included in the project folder
as I can not supply it with the download.
The font we're using in this document is LemonMilk
and can be downloaded for free online.
If you come into the Project folder,
into the Project Assets folder,
click into the Typeface folder,
you will see a text document here
and if you open this up it will tell you exactly
where to get the font from online.
Simply click on the link in the text document
and it will take you to the site where you can download it.
Once downloaded and installed,
close down After Effects then reopen the file
and you should be able to follow along just fine.
So once you've downloaded the font
and installed it, let's continue.
So, in the last episode, we looked at
the Effects and Presets panel
over on the right of the interface.
Now, if we toggle down the Animation Preset category,
we can see we have a folder called Text.
In here, we can see many effects and
presets for animating type.
Now, if I toggle down the Animate In folder for example,
there are lots of presets just for this category.
Just like we applied effects and presets to
our layers in the last episode,
we can apply effect and presets
to our type much the same.
And you will soon learn that there are
quite a few to choose from.
In the previous episode, we learned how to apply
simple animation to shapes and images.
Now, we can also animate our type manually
in After Effects to add very simple effects.
But if we want to create something
a little more dynamic, we can use some of these presets.
So now I want to draw your attention
over to the Project panel.
Here you can see I have a Type Animations folder
with 11 examples of animated type.
Now, we are going to have a go at applying
type preset animations very shortly.
But let's first take a look at some examples.
So first, double click on
the first composition here,
Animate In, Slow Fade On,
and it will appear in the Composition panel.
So I'll make sure the time indicator
is at the start of the timeline and I'll press
Space Bar to activate preview.
So here we can see the nice fade in animation.
To create this effect, I simply dragged on a preset.
Now if we look down in the Timeline panel,
we can see we have just two key frames.
So right now this animation is happening over four seconds.
Now, remember we can use these key frames to control
the speed and duration of the sequence over time.
So I'll press Space Bar to stop the preview
and if I select the first key frame,
I can drag it inwards.
And I'll press Space Bar to activate preview,
and now we can see the effect is happening
but just a little faster.
And if I drag it out, we can see
the effect is happening slower.
Okay, so this time in the Project panel,
double click on the second comp,
Animate In, Typewriter.
And I'll make sure the time indicator is at
the start of the timeline and I'll press
Space Bar to activate preview.
And here is another type animation preset.
This one is Animating Type In, with a typewriter effect.
Again, for this effect we only have
one setting applied, with two key frames.
Next, in the Project panel, double click on the third comp
and I'll make sure the time indicator
is at the start on the timeline and I'll press
Space Bar to activate preview.
Now this time, instead of the Fade In effect
we have a Fade Out effect.
Again, for this effect we only have one
setting applied with two key frames.
Next, in the Project panel
double click on the fourth comp
Organic, Ripple.
And I'll make sure the time indicator
is at the start of the timeline and I'll press
Space Bar to activate preview.
So this time we have quite a dynamic effect
applied to the type.
Notice this time, applied to the layer we have
two key frames for two separate settings for this sequence.
Next in the project panel, double click on the fifth comp,
Fill and Stroke, Rotate Hue.
And I'll make sure the time indicator
is at the start of the timeline and I'll press
Space Bar to activate preview.
And this time, we have a color effect applied.
For this effect, we only have one setting
applied to the layer with two key frames for this sequence.
So lastly, in the project panel, double click on
the sixth comp, Blurs, Jiggy.
So I'll make sure the time indicator
is set at the start of the timeline and I'll
press Space Bar to activate preview.
So on this type, we have an interesting blur effect applied.
Now notice in the Timeline panel,
we don't have a key frame for this effect.
This is something we have not yet seen on this course.
This effect is actually created by what is
referred to in After Effects as an expression
but this is a bit more advanced
so we won't be going into that right now.
So that's a few examples of type presets.
Now, there's a few more to look at
in the Project panel but for now, I think you get the idea.
Let's now move on and have a look
at how we can apply these ourselves.
Now, if you come into the Project panel
you will see a folder below called Worksheets.
This includes a few comps I have set up
for you to jump right in.
So first, double click on Worksheet One
and you should have this blank comp
with a blue solid layer.
So first we need to create
some type in our composition.
To use the Type Tool, we can either come up
to the Tools Menu on the top and select it,
or we can press the keyboard shortcut
Command + T on Mac or Ctrl + T on PC.
With the Type Tool active, the mouse cursor
will change letting us know it's active.
So when placing type in your composition,
there are two ways of doing this.
You can either click once to type one
line of type, or you can click and drag
out a box and upon release you will create a
regional text box to place a paragraph
of type into within a more restricted area.
So I'll just select these layers and delete them for now.
On this occasion, I just want one line of type.
So with my type tool I'll click once,
and for now I'll just type in Type Animation.
So once you have created a type layer,
to deselect it you can either
click on the selection tool in the Tools Menu,
or you can click off the layer in the Timeline panel.
To edit the type, you can either double click on
the type layer in the Timeline panel,
this will select the type and you can then click
into it to edit or with the Selection Tool active,
you can click the Type Element to move it around
and then double click to select the type
and click into to edit.
Now when you start to work with type,
you will want to pay close attention to the Character panel
over on the right hand side of the interface.
In this instance it's appeared automatically
for me but you can click it down.
If you don't see the Character panel
for whatever reason, you can come up to
Window and make sure it's checked.
So the Character panel works much like any other
Character panel in Adobe products.
Here you can set your type face and tweak all the settings.
So with my type selected, I'm going to
make sure the font is set to LemonMilk,
I'll set the size to about 160,
I'll make sure that the color is white,
and I'll deselect the type.
Now, If my type is not well positioned in the frame,
I'll press V to activate the Selection Tool,
I'll click the type and move it
into a better position, like so.
Now, another panel you will need to
pay attention to when working with type
is the Paragraph panel.
This is usually under the Character panel.
So now I'll select my type and in the Paragraph panel,
I'll click the Justify Center button.
I'll press V to activate the Selection Tool,
I'll grab my type and move it into the middle.
So now we are ready to apply an animation preset.
So just like we did earlier,
let's come into the Effects and Presets panel,
into the Animation Preset folder,
and down into the Text folder.
And in the Text folder, I'll toggle down
the Animate In folder.
Now there is something you may find useful here.
So here in the Effects and Presets folder,
we have so many presets to choose from
as a beginner it's hard to know what any of these do.
Wouldn't it be nice to somehow preview them first?
Well, we can!
So if we come up to the top right
of the Effects and Presets panel,
and click the line to activate the menu,
we will get a menu drop down.
And there, there is an option here called Browse Presets.
If I click this, Adobe Bridge will open.
Now, it's important to mention that
to do this you will need Adobe Bridge installed.
For those of you not familiar with Bridge,
Bridge is a separate program by Adobe that allows you
to explore creative content on your computer.
Now we're going to use Bridge here to preview
the presets so we can get an idea
of what it's going to look like.
Now, if you don't have Bridge installed,
don't worry too much.
This won't stop you applying the presets in After Effects.
Okay so here in Bridge, all these folders are
representing the folders in the Effects and Presets panel.
So if I double click on Text,
and then double click on Animate In,
here we will get some thumbnails of the sequences
to give us an idea of what the preset will look like.
So if I click on Random Fade Up,
this one is looking quite interesting.
So back in After Effects, let's come down
and select the Random Up preset.
Now, remember wherever the time indicator is
on the timeline, the effect will start from there.
So I'll make sure my time indicator
is towards the start of the timeline
and I'll click and drag this preset onto the type layer.
Upon release, the type will disappear.
So I'll press U with the layer selected
and this will reveal two key frames now applied
to my layer for the settings over on the left.
So I'll press Space Bar to active preview
and we can see the animation effect has been applied.
So this is an Animate In effect.
So that's why it starts invisible.
And I'll press Space Bar to stop the preview.
So upon applying the effect, it has set
the duration to around two seconds.
If I want to alter the duration, I can come and click
on the last key frame and drag it along.
And I'll press Space Bar to activate preview again,
and now the sequence is animating over a longer duration.
So I'll press Space Bar to stop the preview and I'll press
Command + Z on Mac or Ctrl + Z on PC to undo to preset.
So now I'll come and apply another effect.
So back in Bridge, let's come back a step
and this time double click into Graphical.
So this white trim effect here
looks a little different.
So back in After Effects, let's come down
and toggle down the Graphical folder.
With white trim selected, I'll make sure my time indicator
is towards the start of the timeline
and I'll click and drag this onto my type layer.
And all of a sudden, upon release
we will see a lot of white.
I'll press U so I can see the key frames
applied to the layer, and here we can see
we have quite a few key frames applied
for the settings for this one.
So I'll press Space Bar to activate preview
and we can see the animation sequence.
Quite an interesting effect here.
So I'll press Space Bar to stop the preview
and again, if I want to alter the duration
I can come and drag over the last set of key frames
to select them and drag them inwards like so.
I'll press Space Bar to activate preview
and now the sequence is happening a lot quicker.
So that's how easy it is to apply
presets to type in After Effects.
At this point I would say continue to explore
and have some fun with the type presets.
When applied make sure to look at the key frames
set to the layer so you can see what is going on
and what you can do to tweak and customize the duration.
And if you have Abode Bridge installed,
be sure to use it to preview the effects
so you have a rough idea of how they're going to look.
So we have just looked at how we can apply
animation presets to type layers
to add quite dynamic effects.
Now there may be instances where you do not
want to add big effects like that.
You may want to do something more subtle.
So now come over to the Project panel,
and in the Type Animations folder double click
on the 11th comp, Simple Animation Effect.
So I'll make sure the time indicator
is at the start of the timeline
and I'll press Space Bar to activate preview.
So here we have three very simple animations.
With the type simply appears and moves into place.
Now this is something we can achieve quite easily
with some simple manual animation using some of
the same techniques demonstrated earlier in the course.
So let's now see how we can do this.
So now come and double click on Worksheet Two
and I have a type layer here ready for you to have a go.
So what we want to do here is simply
animate the type so it rises from below
and as it does so, it fades in.
To do this, I'll start by selecting the layer
then press P to pull up the position settings.
I'll place my time indicator towards
the beginning where I want to sequence to start,
and I'll carefully click on the stopwatch
to place my first key frame for position.
Next, I'll scrub along my timeline about halfway
and I'll come back and click on the diamond shape
to add a second key frame.
So now I have a start and an end point but now,
I need to set where the type is going to be at the start.
So I'll scrub the time indicator
back over my first key frame, holding Shift
so it snaps bang on the first key frame.
And with the type selected I'll press the
down arrow on the keyboard while holding Shift
to move it down towards the bottom of the the frame like so.
So I'll make sure the time indicator
is at the start of the timeline,
and I'll press Space Bar to activate preview.
So my type starts towards the bottom of
the key frame and then moves up. Easy!
So I'll press Space Bar to stop the preview and
now I want to add an opacity effect.
So I'll scrub the time indicator back over
my first frame while holding Shift so it snaps,
and I'll press T to activate the opacity settings.
Next, I'll click on the stopwatch to place
my first key frame for opacity, then I'll
press U so I can see my position key frames as well.
So I'll click and drag the opacity
down to zero here on the first frame.
Then, I'll scrub the time indicator back over
to my second position key frame
while holding Shift so it snaps to the key frame.
Back over on the opacity settings, I'll drag it up to 100%.
Doing this will automatically add
a new key frame for opacity.
So I'll make sure the time indicator
is at the start of the timeline and I'll press
Space Bar to activate preview.
So now as the type rises up, it also fades in.
So to finish this, I'll add some easing.
So I'll press Space Bar to stop the preview,
and I'll right click on the first position key frame,
come down to Key Frame Assistant,
scroll across and select Easy Ease Out.
Then I'll right click on the last position key frame,
come down to Key Frame Assistant,
scroll across and select Easy Ease In.
I'll make sure the time indicator is
at the start of the timeline and
I'll press Space Bar to activate preview.
And now we have a nice smooth movement effect
applied to the sequence.
Now, what if I want to change the direction of the type?
So instead of animating in from the bottom,
it animates in from the right.
Well, I'll press Space Bar to stop the preview,
and I'll scrub my time indicator back to
the first position key frame while holding Shift to snap.
With the layer selected in the composition panel above,
we can see the layer controls and the animation pathway.
So what I'm going to do now with
the arrow buttons on the keyboard
is move the starting point into a new position.
So holding Shift, I'll click up and right
with the arrow buttons to push it over to the right.
While I'm doing this, I'm keeping
an eye on the animation line to make sure
that this is nice and straight.
Once happy, I'll make sure the time indicator
is set to the start of the timeline
and I'll press Space Bar to activate preview.
And now we have the type animating in from the right. Easy!
So that is how you can easily animate type in After Effects.
You can either chose from lots of dynamic presets
or you can animate the type manually.
(upbeat electronic music)
So now we are starting to learn some fundamental
techniques which we can use to build a project.
In this tutorial, we looked at using
effects and presets to animate type.
Next, we are going to look at how we can use
effects and presets to add transitions
to our video and animation sequences.
So see you in the next video.
(upbeat electronic music)