Making text appear in a column one row at a time

WildBlue wrote on 11/16/2002, 12:11 AM

Hi. I'm a newbie who's probably missing something very simple and basic. I have a black background, and want each line of text to appear one underneath the other, with each new line fading in or being pushed in every two seconds. My approach is to make a composite by having each line of text as a separate track. My problem is how to line up the text in each track easily so that each line of text will appear to fall neatly below the previous line. I don't know how to view the previous line's placement so I can see how the the new line should line up correctly. Does this make sense to anyone? Thanks! Rob

Comments

BillyBoy wrote on 11/16/2002, 12:28 AM

All kinds of ways...

For starters try using the default text (under the text/backgrounds tab) then stack them vertically. Since that selection is transparent, you'll be able to see where all the lines are in relation to one another.

You align them the way you want just by moving over them with your mouse in the work area and have the choice set to free form.

Much depend on how much you're going to say and how many lines.

For example if the whole message is to last 30 seconds, drag out the first text overlay to that point on the timeline. Each succeeding text you drop in could be nudged a litter further right on the timeline. This way you can also different size, type fonts and use different colors.

To animate the whole thing set keyframe for each text block you drop in.

You can also play with the new 3D filter and have the text change size and it scrolls up, down, on a angle, sideways, whatever.

That's just one way to do it. <wink>

WildBlue wrote on 11/16/2002, 10:15 AM

Thanks BillyBoy and GG, I think I'm getting it. BillyBoy, I assume that using your method the easiest way is to use the video preview window to line up the text, and that when you say stack the video tracks vertically, you don't mean moving one over the other into one track.

GG, I saw your tutorials, and they look really interesting- I can't wait to try them. But I wasn't sure which one would actually pertain most to my situation. Can you make a suggestion as to which one I should start with?

Thank you!