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In addition, you can apply a stroke to the original layer or to a transparent layer. Applying a
stroke on a transparent layer is useful when you want to use the brush stroke as a track
matte or when you want to combine it with other layers using blending modes. With this
effect, you can use an open path to create the stroke.
For more information, see the After Effects product section on Adobe's Web site.
Text effects
Use these effects to create text and numbers for overlays, credit scrolls, titles, and other
text.
Basic Text
Use this effect to create text and text animation. Specify font, style, and alignment of text;
select horizontal or vertical text orientation. Animation is created by changing the Position
point over time. Basic Text also gives you the choice of either compositing the text over
the layer image or using the text by itself. Best quality creates anti-aliased text that
animates smoothly.
The Basic Text effect places text on an existing layer (unlike imported text created in
Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator, which becomes its own layer). Use it for basic title
text; for more flexibility in working with text, import text created in an illustration or
imaging program, or use the Path Text effect. The font you select when creating text must
be available on the system you use to render the composition. If the font is not available,
an available font is substituted. After Effects creates an alpha channel for text it creates.
You can use a text effect's alpha channel with features such as track matte.
Note: The width and height of text are not constrained by the dimensions of the layer; the
layer dimensions merely define the visible region of the text. This feature makes it simple to
scroll text over a layer.
For more information, see the After Effects product section on Adobe's Web site.
Numbers
This effect generates random and sequential numbers in different formats. Use it to
display random times and dates or timecodes.
For more information, see the After Effects product section on Adobe's Web site.
Path Text
This effect simplifies the process of animating text along a path. Use it to animate words or
groups of characters on a single layer instead of animating each character on a separate
layer. Define a path as a straight line, a circle of any diameter, or a Bezier curve; or import a
path created in another application, such as Adobe Photoshop. You can also add
randomness to a number of controls to make text jump or dance.
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Applying Effects
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