Overview

The Text generator can be used to render formatted text in a composition.

To create a Text layer, select the Text option in the Add Layer menu, or double-click on the viewport with the Text Tool active to create a text layer at a given position. You can also bind a Text generator to the source of an existing layer.

A new layer is created with a Text generator bound to its source:

From there, specify the text string to render in the Source Text parameter, and specify the default text formatting options (such as the font family, size, color, etc.) under the Default Style group.

Text Tool

The Text Tool allows you to manipulate text layers visually without having to navigate the layer stack. In the Viewer, you can use the Text Tool to:

• Add new Text layers in the composition.
• Edit the source text of a Text generator directly in the viewer.

When the Text Tool is active:

• Double-click on the viewport to create a new Text layer. The source text is focused and highlighted and can be edited immediately.
• Click on an existing Text element to highlight and edit its source text.

When the Transform 2D Tool is active:

• Double-click on a Text element to highlight and edit its source text.

Fixed text box

Use the Fixed text box option to specify an explicit rectangular area in which to draw the text. When using the Text Tool with the Fixed text box option active, handles are shown on the viewport that you can click and drag to adjust the corners of the box. You can also edit the left, top, right, 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.

Alignment

Use the Alignment parameter to control the alignment of your text relative to the layer origin, or the fixed text box, if it is enabled.