Common selector properties – Adobe After Effects CS4 User Manual
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USING AFTER EFFECTS CS4
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Last updated 12/21/2009
Use a Wiggly selector to vary a selection within a specified amount over time. Use expression selectors to use
expressions to dynamically specify how much you want characters to be affected by an animator property.
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To add a selector using the Timeline panel, select an animator group in the Timeline panel and choose Selector
from the Add menu for the animator group, or choose Animation
> Add Text Selector. Choose Range, Wiggly, or
Expression from the submenu.
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To add a selector using the Composition panel, select a range of characters in the Composition panel, right-click
(Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) the text, and choose Add Text Selector from the context menu. Choose
Range, Wiggly, or Expression from the submenu.
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To delete a selector, select it in the Timeline panel and press Delete.
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To rename a selector, make sure that it is the only thing selected, and then press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac
OS); or right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) the name and choose Rename.
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To copy a selector, select it in the Timeline panel and choose Edit > Copy. To paste the selector, select a layer and
choose Edit > Paste.
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To reorder a selector, drag it to a new location in the stacking order in the Timeline panel.
Adding a new range selector to an animator group
More Help topics
Common selector properties
Mode
Specifies how each selector combines with the text and with selector above it, similar to how multiple masks
combine when you apply a mask mode. For example, if you want to wiggle only a specific word, use a range selector
on that word and then add a Wiggly selector and set it to Intersect mode.
Amount
Specifies how much the range of characters is affected by animator properties. At 0%, the animator properties
do not affect the characters. At 50%, half of each property value affects the characters. This option is useful for
animating the result of animator properties over time. Using an expression selector, you can use expressions to
dynamically set this option.
Units and Based On
The units for Start, End, and Offset. You can use either the percentage or index units and base the
selection on the characters, characters excluding spaces, words, or lines. If you select Characters, After Effects counts
spaces and effectively pauses the animation between words as it animates the spaces between words.