Adobe 65008009 - After Effects CS4 Using Manual page 601

Last updated 12/21/2009
Value/Offset/Random Max
Specifies the number of places to the right of the decimal point.
Decimal Places
Select for time and date numbers to be based on the current time and date.
Current Time/Date
The position of the numbers on the layer.
Position
Specifies the use of a fill or stroke or a combination of both on the text. Fill Only fills the characters
Display Options
with a color. Stroke Only strokes the edges of the characters with a color. Fill Over Stroke overlaps the fill color onto
the stroke color. Stroke Over Fill overlaps the stroke color onto the fill color.
Size of the characters.
Size
Average distance between characters.
Tracking
Numbers use proportional spacing instead of monospacing.
Proportional Spacing
Text is composited on top of the original image. If Composite On Original isn't selected, the
Composite On Original
original image isn't visible.
Alternatives to using the Numbers effect
Use text layers for greater control over text formatting and text animation. (See
page 341.)
Apply the Current Time Format animation preset to a text layer to show the current time in the format corresponding
to the time display setting for the project.
Colin Braley provides a tutorial and example project on
Text property to animate text to overcome some of the limitations of the Numbers effect.
For a similar example, see
Timecode effect
The Timecode effect creates a text overlay that displays timecode or frame number information on a layer. This effect
doesn't modify timecode embedded from external sources, such as QuickTime.
Use text layers for greater control over text formatting and text animation. (See
page 341.)
Apply the Current Time Format animation preset to a text layer to show the current time in the format corresponding
to the time display setting for the project. (See
This effect works with 8-bpc color.
Specifies whether timecode is displayed in the SMPTE format, in frame numbers, or in feet and frames
Display Format
of 35mm or 16mm film.
Frame rate in frames per second (fps) to be used by this instance of the Timecode effect. This setting affects
Time Units
only the numbers displayed by the Timecode effect; it has no influence on composition frame rate or the frame rate of
the source footage item for the layer.
Select Drop Frame to generate drop-frame timecode or deselect it to generate non-drop-frame timecode.
Drop Frame
The frame number assigned to the first frame of the layer.
Starting Frame
The position of the text overlay, in composition space.
Text Position
The size of text, in points.
Text Size
Varies based on the chosen type and whether Random Values is selected.
"Example: Animate text as a timecode
"Example: Animate text as a timecode
"Creating and editing text
his website that show how to use an expression on the Source
display" on page 371.
"Creating and editing text
USING AFTER EFFECTS CS4
Effects and animation presets
layers" on
layers" on
display" on page 371.)
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