5

You can animate text using behaviors, keyframes, or a combination of both. All standard
behavior types can be applied to text (Basic Motion, Parameter, or Simulation). Additionally,
Motion has a special class of text behaviors that create animation by applying a range of
values to text-specific parameters.
For more information on Basic Motion, Parameter, and Simulation behaviors, see Using
Behaviors.
Text behaviors are an ideal way to test text treatments quickly and easily, without resorting
to keyframes. You can adjust the rate of an applied behavior using the behavior’s HUD
and watch as the animation updates in the Canvas. For more control, you can access all
parameters for a behavior in the Inspector. If your project requires specific timing and
positioning of text, you can use behaviors to test effects and then create keyframes after
you know what you want to do. Additionally, you can create keyframes from the applied
text behaviors by using the Convert to Keyframes feature. This approach allows you to
fine-tune the animation created by the text behaviors.
Behaviors are not required to animate text. You can create text animation via traditional
keyframing, or by combining both techniques.
Note: Mixing keyframes and behaviors can yield unexpected results. For more information
on combining behaviors and keyframes, see Combining Behaviors with Keyframes.
You can animate text as a whole or as individual characters (glyphs). You can animate
format parameters such as text Position, Scale, Rotation, and Tracking, as well as style
attributes such as Outline, Glow, and Drop Shadow. You can animate text on a path, and
you can use text as an image mask source or replicator cell source.
This chapter covers the following:
• Text Animation and Text Sequence Behaviors (p. 900)
• Sequence Text Behavior (p. 902)
• Scroll Text Behavior (p. 924)
• Text Tracking Behavior (p. 927)
• Type On Behavior (p. 928)
899
Animating Text
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