Apple Motion 4 - Manual (Page 849)

Text can be animated using behaviors, keyframes, or a combination of both. While you
can apply different behavior types (Basic Motion, Parameter, or Simulation) to text, Motion
has special class of text behaviors. Text behaviors create animation by applying a range
of values to text parameters specific to titling effects—without creating keyframes.
For more information on Basic Motion, Parameter, and Simulation behaviors, see Using
Behaviors .
Text behaviors are an ideal way to test different text treatments without setting keyframes.
You can quickly 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 of
the 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. Or 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.
Of course, behaviors are not required to animate text. You can create text animation via
traditional keyframing, or by combining both techniques.
Note: Although you can apply keyframes and behaviors to text, you’ll need to think about
the effect you are trying to create because this workflow can defeat the purpose of
behaviors. Mixing keyframes and behaviors can also 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). Format parameters
such as text position, scale, rotation, tracking, and style attributes such as outline, glow,
and drop shadow can be animated. Text can be placed and animated on a path, used as
an image mask source, or used as a particle or replicator cell source.
This chapter covers the following:
• Text Animation and Text Sequence Behaviors (p. 850)
• Sequence Text Behavior (p. 853)
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Animating Text 14