Create 3D Path Rotating Text in After Effects #tutorial

Introduction

Creating a captivating title that rotates along a 3D path can significantly enhance your video projects. This tutorial will guide you through the process step by step.

Step-by-Step Guide

Prepare Your Title: Start by selecting your title or text that you want to animate.
Drawing a Mask: Use the Ellipse Tool (or any shape tool of your choice) to draw a mask over the text layer. This mask will serve as the path for your text.
Path Options:
- Open your text layer in the timeline.
- Navigate to the path options.
- Set your path to the mask you've created.
Setting Margins: Hold Alt (or Option on Mac) and click on the stopwatch icon next to First Margin. In the expression box that appears, type time * -200. This will animate the positioning of your text along the path.
Enabling 3D Layer: Turn your text layer into a 3D layer by clicking the 3D Layer switch (the cube icon) in the timeline.
Animating Characters: Go to Animate > Enable Per Character 3D. This allows individual characters to be manipulated in 3D space.
Adding Rotation:
- Navigate back to the Animate menu and select Add Rotation.
- Set the X Rotation to 90 degrees.
Adjust Overall Rotation: Press R on your keyboard to bring up the rotation settings for the layer. Set the X Rotation value to approximately -75 degrees for a better visual effect.
Creating Echo Effect:
- To make the title repeat seamlessly, go to Effect > Time and select Echo.
- Increase the number of echoes to at least 2.
- Adjust the Echo Time offset until your path is filled with the titles.
Final Touch: Once you are satisfied with the animation, ensure that your project settings and layers are appropriately configured, and voilà! Your 3D rotating text is ready for export.

For additional resources, check out our free collection of 100 templates for After Effects, available through the link in the description.

Keywords

After Effects
3D text
Rotating text
Animate
Path options
Mask
Echo effect
Title animation

FAQ

Q1: What software do I need to create 3D path rotating text?
A1: You need Adobe After Effects to follow this tutorial.

Q2: How do I create a mask for my text layer?
A2: You can use the Ellipse Tool or any shape tool to draw a mask directly over your text layer.

Q3: What does enabling Per Character 3D do?
A3: It allows you to manipulate each character of your text layer individually in 3D space.

Q4: Can I customize the rotation angles?
A4: Yes, you can adjust the rotation angles to suit your specific visual preferences.

Q5: Where can I find template resources for After Effects?
A5: You can check the link in the description of this tutorial for access to 100 free templates.