One text alignment solution (ok, just a hack, but...)

[bobwoodard]

I haven't seen this mentioned yet, but here is how I am doing text alignment on a per-character basis. I'm using this to apply different swish effects on different characters.

I first place into the scene the complete string that I am going to 'swish' (let's say 'test').
I then go back and place the individual letters into the scene (t,e,s,t).
Next, one by one, I match the individual letters up to the letter in the string.
After they are lined up, I delete the full string from the scene and I am left with the individual letters to apply effects on.
Hope this helps.

[Kitsch]

Hi Bob,

I do the same thing, though I change the colors of the new letters initially to aid in placement - anything that'll give contrast. Once aligned, I change the color to what I want and delete the guide layer.

Andrew

[bobwoodard]

Awesome idea and alot better than the 'eyeballing' I was doing!

[Kitsch]

LOL - I don't know if "awesome" is the word I'd use - it's just a simple workaround, until we get grids, rulers or whatever ;^)

Um did we mention that would be really desirable in the next version DAVID??????


Andrew

[bobwoodard]

As much time as I had been hunched over the monitor, it's awesome to me. Of course, it was one of those things where I could only go 'doh!', after you mentioed it.

[blurb]

There is also another way which maybe
handy to some people.

It looks odd but works and is great
for alignment. I simply type
a character per text layer
then in each layer on the time line I use
the transform effect to set the start
position for each character.
Basically once you know that you want one
character at x 100 and another at x 150
you can then just set each charcter 50 pixels
further along the x axis and they will be
evenly placed.

You can set the "transform start" position in
all the effects so even using different
effects is quite easy.

This also lets you place all you characters
at a starting point off the screen where placement is otherwise near impossible

I also use it when doing drop shadows ..
By setting one text layer to start
at x100 y100 and another layer (the shadow)
to start at x105 y105 you can set all
your drop shadows to look the same without
all the mouse movement problems.

The tip to doing this is to use the preview
button at the bottom of the transform effects
window so that you can quickly see where the
text is actually go to be during the movie.

Another tip is once you have the text
starting where you want you can drag the
text off the screen leaving a fresh window
to work with. When you play the movie the
text will jump into your start point prior
to it being viewed.

Alot of people say that the window can get
cluttered and confusing but if you use start
your text using precise x y values then
you can safely drag the clutter out of the
way.

For those of you I lost with the above I will
in the next weeks be releasing a swi with
exactly what I have just talked about plus
how I did the gear rotations and fades.

cheers
blurb

[Kitsch]

Excellent tips blurb. Thanks for sharing them!

Thanks also to the others in the group for sharing their tips and techniques too.

Appreciate it.

Cheers

Andrew.