Make Animated Handwritten Text in After Effects

Introduction

Creating an animated handwritten text effect in Adobe After Effects can add a personal touch to your videos. Follow this detailed guide to achieve a beautiful handwritten appearance using any font of your choice, such as the "Beauty" typeface. Below are the steps involved in crafting your animated text.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Create Your Text Layer: Start by creating a new text layer in After Effects with the desired font. You can use "Beauty" or any font that appeals to you.
Duplicate the Text Layer: Once you have your text in place, duplicate your text layer and turn off the visibility of the duplicated layer for now.
Draw a Path with the Pen Tool: Select the top text layer, and then choose the Pen Tool from the toolbar. Create a path that follows the contours of your text. For letters that are separate or do not touch, you can create individual masks.
Apply the Stroke Effect: Navigate to the Effects & Presets panel and apply the Stroke effect from the "Generate" category. Adjust the settings such that the paint style is set to "Transparent".
Select All Masks: Make sure all the masks created in step 3 are selected. This is important to ensure the stroke effect follows the text accurately.
Adjust Brush Size: Increase the brush size of the stroke effect to match the original size of your text. This will enhance the appearance of your handwritten effect.
Animate the End Property: Create an animation for the stroke by animating the "End" property from 0% to 100%. This will simulate the writing effect as it appears on screen.
Set Track Matte: Lastly, set the track matte of your stroke layer to your original text layer. This will ensure that the stroke only appears where the text is visible.
Create a Multicolor Effect: For added creativity, duplicate your stroke layer, change its color, and offset its position in the timeline. This will create a vibrant multicolor handwritten effect.

With these steps, you can confidently create an animated handwritten text effect that looks fantastic!

Don't forget to check out our page for our 100 free template pack.

Keywords

Animated Handwritten Text
After Effects
Text Layer
Pen Tool
Stroke Effect
Brush Size
Keyframe Animation
Track Matte
Multicolor Effect

FAQ

Q: What font should I use for the handwritten effect?
A: You can use any font that you like, but "Beauty" is a recommended choice for its elegant appearance.

Q: Can I create separate masks for individual letters?
A: Yes, if certain letters are separate or do not touch, it's advisable to create individual masks for those letters to enhance accuracy.

Q: How do I ensure the stroke only appears where the text is?
A: You can achieve this by setting the track matte of your stroke layer to your original text layer.

Q: Can I add additional colors to the stroke?
A: Absolutely! You can duplicate your stroke layer, change its color, and shift it within the timeline to create a multicolor effect.

Q: Where can I find free templates for After Effects?
A: Be sure to check our page, where you can download our 100 free template pack.