Add keyframes to a Sequence Text behavior

When From, To, Through, or Through Inverted are chosen from the Sequencing pop-up menu, the animation moves from one side of the text object to another, animating the text by character, word, or line. By choosing From Keyframes from the Sequencing pop-up menu, you can create a sequenced animation with specific timing. For example, you can create an uneven flicker effect by keyframing the opacity of the text, or move text characters in sequence to specific locations in the Canvas at certain points in time by keyframing the position of the text.

Add keyframe animation to a Sequence Text behavior

This example keyframes the Position parameter.

  1. Select a text in your project, then click the Add Behavior pop-up menu in the toolbar and choose Text Animation > Sequence Text.

  2. In the Behaviors Inspector, click the Sequencing pop-up menu, then choose From Keyframes.

  3. Drag the playhead to the frame where you want to begin the animation, then click the Record button in the transport controls under the Canvas (or press A) to turn on keyframe recording.

    When keyframe recording is enabled, the values in the Inspector for parameters that can be animated turn red.

    Note: You can also animate parameters by manually adding an initial keyframe. After a keyframe is added to a parameter, any further adjustment to that parameter adds a keyframe at the current playhead position, independent of the Record button state. For more information, see Keyframing overview.

  4. Do one of the following:

    • In the Behaviors Inspector, click the Add pop-up menu, choose Format > Position, then use the Position value sliders to define the beginning (or ending) position of the text.

    • In the Canvas, drag the selected text character to its beginning (or ending) position.

      A keyframe is added to the Position parameter.

  5. Go to the next frame where you want to set a position keyframe, then do one of the following:

    • In the Behaviors Inspector, change the Position value.

    • In the Canvas, drag the selected text character to a new position.

      A second position keyframe is created.

      Canvas showing Sequence Text behavior with position keyframes
  6. Repeat Step 5 until you add all the keyframes need.

    Canvas showing Sequence Text behavior with editable animation path

When you play the project (press the Space bar), the text characters move in sequence along the path defined by the keyframes.

Note: If you subsequently change the Sequencing parameter to another option (such as Through Inverted or To) and then change Sequencing back to From Keyframes, the keyframed animation path is retained.