Apple Pro Training Series: Getting Started With Motion

The Text tab in the Inspector has three text control panes: Format, Style, and Layout. Each pane has a corresponding button located on the Text tab. Let's look at the Text tab panes before we modify the look of the FRANCES text object.

1.

Press Cmd-4 to open the Layers tab.

2.

On the Layers tab, select the FRANCES text object. The contextual tab in the Inspector changes from a Generator tab to a Text tab to represent the selected object.

3.

On the Text tab in the Inspector, click the Format button to open the Format pane, if it's not already open.

The Format pane includes the font, size, tracking, scale, and other format-related parameters. Many of these parameters are also available in the Dashboard.

4.

Click the Style button to view the Style pane.

The Style pane offers four styles that you can apply to your text objects: Face, Outline, Glow, and Drop Shadow.

5.

Click the Layout button to view the Layout pane.

The Layout pane offers Alignment and Justification parameters.

6.

Click the Style button again to return to the Style pane.

Applying an Outline Style to Text

To apply a different style to your text in the Style pane, you first need to make the style active by selecting the box next to the style. By default, all new text created in Motion is filled with the color white. The text fill color uses the Face style.

You can also modify the Face style parameters in the Dashboard.

The Outline, Glow, and Drop Shadow text styles cannot be added or modified in the Dashboard.

Let's apply a black outline to the FRANCES text object.

1.

In the Style pane of the Text tab in the Inspector, click the Outline check box to activate the Outline style.

The default outline color is red, so the outline will be difficult to see in the Canvas until you change the color.

2.

Click the Color well for the Outline style to open the Colors window.

3.

In the Colors window, drag the brightness slider to the lowest setting to change the selected color to black. Then close the Colors window.

The Outline style parameters include Opacity, Blur, and Width. You can combine these parameters to create many different outline looks.

4.

Experiment with the Opacity, Blur, and Width parameters.

Our goal is to make the word FRANCES stand out against the red bar, without losing the boldness of the letters. You've had a chance to experiment; now change the settings to the ones I used for the final project.

5.

Change the Outline parameters as follows:

  • Opacity: 100%

  • Blur: 2.00

  • Width: 3.00

6.

Press Cmd-S to save your progress.

Applying a Second Outline

You've applied Outline parameters to the FRANCES text object; now you'll apply an Outline style to the Hurricane text. Unlike the FRANCES text, the Hurricane text is not placed over a bright red band to attract attention. Your goal is to add an outline that helps the Hurricane text stand out against the blowing trees in the background but does not overpower the FRANCES text. One technique is to create a really wide outline with a heavy blur. This combination of parameters places the text in a soft outline that separates it from the background, without drawing attention to the outline. Let's try it.

1.

In the Canvas, click the Hurricane text object to select it.

2.

In the Style pane of the Text tab in the Inspector, select the Outline check box to apply an outline to the Hurricane text. A red outline appears around the Hurricane text object in the Canvas.

3.

Click the Outline Color well to open the Colors window.

4.

In the Colors window, change the color to black; then close the Colors window.

5.

Set the Outline Width value to 15.00 and the Blur value to 30.00.

Notice that each of the letters in the word Hurricane is surrounded by a soft black blur, just enough to make it easy to read over a busy background.

6.

Press Cmd-S to save the finished project.

7.

Choose File > Close to close the project.

Now you can add Color Solid generators and Outline text styles to your bag of Motion tricks.

Planning the Right Text for the Job

Before you dive into the last project, this is a good time to mention another graphic design rule.

Rule #5: Text is the lead character and narrator of your motion graphics scene, so cast the right text for the part.

Text is usually the most important element in a graphics composite, so you need to select your text carefully. Think of the text as talent that you are casting for your project, and choose accordingly. If your project involves something exciting, you might choose a bold font and dress it up with bright colors and dramatic behaviors. If your project is about something like ballet, you might choose a more delicate font; soft, pastel colors; and smooth, graceful behaviors. Remember as you apply text to your projects that text is the actor, the color and styles are the costumes, and the behaviors are the choreography or action in the scene. Experiment with different combinations to cast the perfect text for your projects.

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