Adobe 65008009 - After Effects CS4 Using Manual page 349

Last updated 12/21/2009
Michael Cardeiro provides a script on the
compositions using information from a spreadsheet or database. The script goes through your spreadsheet line by line,
making a new version of your composition with text layers in the composition receiving text from the spreadsheet
automatically.
The After Effects Scripts website
Paul Tuersley provides a script on the
automatically creating animated text layers from them.
Jeff Almasol provides a script on his
Jeff Almasol provides a script on his
typographical representations (for example, (c) is converted to the copyright symbol, ©).
Jeff Almasol provides a script on his
and sets the values to text from a text file; the keyframes are placed at times specified by layer markers on the text layer.
For examples of expressions for the Source Text property, see
"MarkerKey attributes (expression
Enter point text
When you enter point text, each line of text is independent—the length of a line increases or decreases as you edit the
text, but it doesn't wrap to the next line.
The small line through the type tool pointer
marks the line on which the text rests; for vertical text, the baseline marks the center axis of the characters.
When you enter point text, it is created using the properties currently set in the Character panel. You can change these
properties later by selecting the text and modifying settings in the Character panel.
Do one of the following to create a text layer:
1
• Choose Layer > New > Text. A new text layer is created and an insertion point for the Horizontal Type tool appears
in the center of the Composition panel.
• Select the Horizontal Type tool
an insertion point for the text.
Note: The pointer for a type tool changes depending on whether it is over a text layer in the Composition panel. When the
pointer is not directly over a text layer, it appears as a new text pointer
always creates a new text layer.
2 Enter text characters by typing. Press Enter on the main keyboard (Windows) or Return (Mac OS) to begin a new line.
Note: You can also choose Edit > Paste to paste text that you have copied from any application that uses Unicode
characters. Text receives the formatting of the first character in the text layer into which it is pasted.
To end text-editing mode, press Enter on the numeric keypad, select another tool, or press Ctrl+Enter (Windows)
3
or Command+Return (Mac OS).
More Help topics
"Formatting characters and the Character
After Effects Scripts website
provides many scripts for working with text.
AE Enhancers forum
redefinery website for editing the source text of text layers.
redefinery website that converts various plain text punctuation into their "smart"
redefinery website that sets keyframes for the Source Text property of a text layer
reference)" on page 681.
marks the position of the text baseline. For horizontal text, the baseline
or the Vertical Type tool
panel" on page 347
that makes multiple versions of your
for importing Substation Alpha (SSA) karaoke files and
"Writing expressions for source
, and then click in the Composition panel to set
; click to create a new text layer. Shift-click
343
USING AFTER EFFECTS CS4
Text
text" on page 651 and