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Editing Text

Changing parameters in the Text Panel when no layers are selected will not apply changes to existing text layers. Doing so will define the options to be used when creating the next text layer using the Timeline "+" menu or the Text Tool.

Font Family, Size, and Weight

To edit text, select the layer you want to change. Use the first line of the text panel to change the following:

  • Font Family: simply scroll through the list and click to select one
  • Font Size: set the size of text characters; you can also adjust text size through the layer's Scale parameter
  • Font Weight: set the weight to Thin, Regular, Bold, etc.; this list will vary depending on the weight variations offered by the font used

To preview text in a specific font, simply hover your mouse over the Fonts list . Press the Esc key to exit this menu.

There is a search field at the top of the list where you can filter specific fonts, which makes it easier to find a specific font when you know its name.

Note

If you install a new font while Autograph is already running, click on the refresh button (button with two spinning arrows) to the right of the list to refresh it.

Changing the Character Aspect

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At the beginning of the second line in the text panel there are four buttons that allow you to:

  • Simulate Italics, especially when the font doesn't offer an italic option
  • Underline text
  • Strike out text
  • Adjust kerning

Note

The goal of Kerning is to balance the perceived negative space between all the letters of a text, improve readability and legibility, and make everything more pleasing to the eye. That's the reason this option in ON by default.

On the same line, the next three parameters are:

  • Font Strech: expressed as a percentage. A value of 200 will make each character twice as wide, potentially causing letters to collide.
  • Letter Spacing: value expressed in pixels, which can be positive or negative, in addition to the default spacing defined by the font.
  • Word Spacing: similar to Letter Spacing. Adds an additional value in pixels for spacing between words.

Warning

Values expressed in pixels correspond to the screen pixel when the layer using a Text Generator as source has a Scale value of 1.0 and the Viewer Zoom factor is at 100%.

Color and Style

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Text is drawn using two specific styles:

  • Fill: represented by the first square of the third line. This color will be used to draw inside the letters.
  • Stroke: represented by the second square of the third line. This color is used to outline text when the Stroke Width is not 0.0.

The numeric value next to these two colors set the Stroke Width, which is the outline thickness.

The last option on the right allows you to set:

  • Fill Over Stroke: draws the Stroke first, then the Fill on top
  • Stroke Over Fill: draws the Fill first, then the Stroke on top

Paragraph Options

The Paragraph section contains useful options when working with text consisting of several lines, but it can also be used with a single line of text.

When text is added to a composition, it is positioned relative to the layer Anchor Point, using the Text Generator as its source.

Alignment options lets you define where text will be positioned in relation to the Anchor Point.

  • Align Left: text will be drawn to the right of the Anchor Point
  • Align Center: text will be centered on the Anchor Point
  • Align Right: text will be drawn to the left of the Anchor Point
  • Justify: this option will only be applied if the Fixed Text Box option is enabled

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Note

Bear in mind that changing the alignment options in no way modifies the layer transformation parameters. The Anchor Point doesn't move, but the generated text is moved relative to it.

Line Height:

The Line Height parameter, expressed as a percentage, increases the space between two lines.

A value of 200% will double the default spacing provided by the font:

Fixed Text Box

Select a Text layer in the Timeline, go to the Inspector's Selection Overview, and click on the Source line.

The Text Generator options appear below, in the Properties section.

In the Viewer, activate the Text Tool, then check the Fixed Text Box option:

  • A white box will surround the text
  • The Text Box parameter will be active in Properties and will display the box format
  • This box can be manipulated directly in the Viewer with the mouse

There are handles on the viewport that you can click on and drag to adjust the box corners. You can also edit the top, left, right, and bottom coordinates of the box directly in the Text Box parameter, or even animate them if you want to change the size and position of the text area over time.

Warning

Remember that if the Text Tool is not active, the Text Box will not be drawn in the Viewer.

Alignment options work a little differently when this option is active:

  • Align Left: text will align to the left of the box
  • Align Center: text will be horizontally centered according to the box
  • Align Right: text will align to the right of the box
  • Justify: text is drawn according to the Text Box format to cover it as much as possible

Changing Only Selected Characters

Rather than affecting every text character when making these changes, you can select only certain characters to make local modifications.

To find out more about these features, see the section describing Rich Text and Plain Text modes.