How to create text with Gradient?

[Thorsten Miess]

make a new Text layer and type in your text

Then make sure your textlayer is selected and go to the effects panel and type in Ramp.

So there it is
Change the Colors and points so you like it.

There is also a nother way to create it:

Make your text layer

Then make a new solid in comp size; color doesnt matter.
Go to the effectspanel and type in ramp and aply it to your solid

Drag your solid beneath your text layer and go to the Mattes menu (hit F4 if you dont see it, its near the blending modes, in your timeline)

then select Aplha Matte “Your Text layer” (make sure its right under your text) (if aplha doesnt work try other ones)

Now you can change the colors and points and then take the pick whip from the solid and parent it to your text, so if your text is movin the ramp follows it.

I prefer the first method, but with the second one you can edit your solid ramp however you want (eg:paint on it)
You can also use a PreComp instead of a solid layer and go in the precomp and change how u like it,(eg: adding textures or whatever)

[Brent Ho]

I try both method and it work! Thanks! Too bad the gradient feature not as good as Photoshop.
Question..When I import Photoshop gradient text into AE it lose the gradient..do you know why?

[Thorsten Miess]

sry, i dont know. BTW: im very bad at PS!

I think I saw a tutorial here on creativeCow from Aharon Rabinowitz that shows you how to create multi color gradients directly inside after effects. if your interested in it check the tutorial page from aharon and enjoy watching it!

[Lance Clayton]

I often do this by using Layer Styles.

Using Layer Styles is far simpler and lets you use multiple colour gradients.

Just beware of the catch with using Layer Style on layers in a scene with 3D layers; a layer with an applied Layer Style will always render in front (on top) of a 3D layer, even if both layers are 3D and the layer with layer style is further back in Z space.

While this is somewhat a catch, it’s also an extremely useful trick to make a layer render as if on top of the stack without changing your layer position in the layer stack of your comp.

L