‘text on a path’

[Steven L. gotz]

Rob,

If you start off with an empty composition, then click on the T in the tools, you can type directly on the comp window. Is that what you are doing?

The problem is that when you apply the path text effect, it wants you to type the text again. So I normally just type a placeholder. Just something to create the layer, then I type in the text in the effect’s text box. That deletes the text in the placeholder.

If you mess around and select the empty text box placeholder in the comp window after applying the path text effect, and delete it, you can get that “empty text layer” thing happening. So don’t do that. Leave the empty box alone. Or, you can go back to the way we used to do things. Create a new solid and apply the Path Text effect to that. It means you have to label the layer yourself, but you will not have to worry about messing with the empty box, because there will not be one.

Steven
Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5.1 / After Effects 6.5 Pro https://www.stevengotz.com
Learning Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 https://www.lynda.com
Contributing Writer, PeachPit Press, Visual QuickPro Guide, Premiere Pro 1.5

[Rob Dunford]

Steven, thanks for the input, so far having those ’empty text layer’ is not causing a problem, but I will tryout your method.
One thing I do find frustrating, is with one text path, I wanted the text to make a gentle arc, but I struggled for quite a while fiddling with the handles to make the arc look symetrical and centred. I did wonder if there was a short cut.
What is ironic for me, I bought Motion thinking that would do everything I needed to make this logo, but I found that AE actually did some tricks that Motion couldn’t do. I love both programs, but the one effect I was looking for I couldn’t find in Motion but made it happen in AE. This was to create the text effect similar to LiveType font “Spotlight” but using the clients preferred font.
Rob D
UK

[Steven L. gotz]

I see. I can’t do much with the default handles either. So try this. Search the help on the words “text path”. The first item that shows up should be “Creating and animating text on a path”. Follow the steps to create some text, then create a mask, then apply the text to the path. Much easier that way.

Steven
Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5.1 / After Effects 6.5 Pro https://www.stevengotz.com
Learning Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 https://www.lynda.com
Contributing Writer, PeachPit Press, Visual QuickPro Guide, Premiere Pro 1.5

[Jim Kanter]

I always do my path text by creating a type layer, drawing an open mask path with the pen tool, then making that mask the text path. To animate the text along the path animate the start % (left-aligned text) or end % (right-aligned text).

Jim Kanter,
Digital Film Institute
http://www.dfilminst.com