[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

That is next to impossible to do in After Effects, plugins included. There are really no 3D paths in AE, except for things moving in 3D space through time.

You need to model the text along path in a 3D modeling software and then bring into After Effects via Cinema 4D lite or Element 3D to render them. Even then, it is almost easier to do the whole thing in a 3D program including rendering, unless you have AE effects that you want to integrate into it which involve a camera move.

Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

You’re using a text layer as a displacement map for itself and then try and turn it into a 3D layer.

There are at least two problems with that: Using the layer itself for displacement (I didn’t realize you can even do that) and, more problematically, using a 3D layer for displacement, when displacement is a 2D effect.

IF you want to displace the text by itself — which already seems pretty strange — you would to duplicate the text layer, precompose it with some sort of background (such as medium gray) and use the precomp as a displacement. More likely you don’t want to use the text but something different to displace it.

Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

How about using the previous effect? You should find it under “Obsolete Audio Effects”.

Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

L = text.sourceText.length;
T = time * effect("Speed")("Slider") - effect ("Start At")("Slider") * effect ("Speed")("Slider");
F = Math.round (time% 1);

if (F == 1 | (T == 0)) {Fl = "|"} else {Fl = "";}
mytext = thisComp.name.toString();
mytext.substr (0, T) + Fl

Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

While I haven’t used it myself, Video Copilot Sure Target might be worth checking out.

Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

High-contrast Fractal Noise and small amount of natural Vector Blur would be my take.

Or could be Dynamic Fractal Noise, no Vector Blur.

Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

I would try

100/pick-whipped-scale

Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

Click with the mouse on the time ruler where you want the current time indicator to go.

Or are you asking for something like a keyboard shortcut for it? There isn’t one, but here are some useful timeline navigation shortcuts: https://www.ericmaierson.com/blog/2009/12/05/navigating-the-after-effects-timeline

Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

Sounds like you have turned on stroke for type. Type would usually be fill only.

Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer

[Kalleheikki Kannisto]

Sounds like you’re not using the VR tools in AE. Skybox tools are made for this, they take six cameras (cubic arrangement) and make it possible to turn that into a equilateral VR image. Since you don’t need the top or the bottom, you can crop those out. If you render Particular or any other 3D effect using Skybox tools, you will get proper wrapping in the 360 image. The particles will arrive from one direction, go past you and disappear in the opposite direction, curving in the same way as the 360 panorama in between.

Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer