How to Add Text in After Effects?

Adding text in After Effects is a fundamental step in creating titles, lower thirds, or other graphic elements for your video projects. The process is straightforward and involves creating a new text layer.

Steps to Add Text

According to common practice and the provided reference, here’s how you add text to your After Effects composition:

1. Create a New Text Layer: With your project open, navigate to the main menu at the top. Select Layer, then choose New, and finally click on Text. This action creates a new text layer in your composition and timeline.

   • Tip: A new text layer is essential because After Effects treats text as a distinct layer type, separate from video footage, images, or shapes.

2. Type Your Text: Once the text layer is created, you will typically see a blinking cursor in the Composition panel. Begin typing the desired text directly into the viewer.

   • If you need multiple lines of text, simply press the Enter key on your keyboard at the end of a line.

3. Exit Text Editing Mode: After you have finished typing and formatting your text (basic alignment can be done while typing), you need to exit the text-editing mode.

   • On Windows, press Ctrl+Enter.
   • On Mac, press Command+Enter.
   • Alternatively, you can select a different tool from the toolbar at the top of the After Effects interface (like the Selection Tool - V key) to exit the text editing mode.

Once you exit the editing mode, the text layer is ready for further animation, styling, and positioning using the various tools and properties available in After Effects.

Summary Table

Here's a quick overview of the process:

Adding text layers is the first step in incorporating typography into your motion graphics and video edits in After Effects.