adding text to timeline

[Gyuri]

Hi guys,

I usually add text as a layer (imported from PS) in action, but sometimes it’d be more convenient to add it on timeline.

Can I do it only on batch timeline or desktop as well? Would you please briefly describe the steps how to do this?
How can I technically add clips to the empty layer? In batch I always trash them instead of adding them. :S
I couldn’t find any help in the manual either. The only way I could do it was in post bfx, but it’s just too complex to add a single text layer.

Thanks,

ph.

[Steven]

Hi,

If you are looking at the timeline in either batch or the flame player, you should be able to add another layer above your edit. Place the positioner at the in-point of your text and press the DEL hotkey to place a cut. Move the positioner to the out-point of the text and place a cut. This creates a virtual clip or gap effect in the timeline. You can select the GAP effect and to the left of the timeline you will see a text button. Click this and press the “E” button to enter into the text editor. You can now make your text. After you are done you can exit the editor.

What this means is that you can have text over multiple shots and if the edit changes underneath, you do not have to redo the text. You can also trim the length of the text as well as put dissolves on the GAP effects to fade the text up and down instead of messing with the opacity sliders.

Hope this helps..

Regards
Grant

[shannones riders]

Thanks man. Unfortunately I usually import text elements as targa image. Is there any way to do the same with an image, not the built in text editor?

ph.

[Steven]

Hi Ph,

You can do this with a TGA but you use a slight different approach.

You import your TGA which will normally gives you two clips, the fill and alpha.

However, when you go to the import image menu you can choose the option to create a “CONTAINER”.

So when you import your TGA frame, a container clip containing both the fill and matte will be created in your library alongside the fill and matte clips. You will be able to identify the container clip by the ][ icon on the bottom right of the clip.

Load the container clip to your desktop and you will have to edit the single frame (container clip) into your timeline on a new empty layer.

Once the clip is on the top layer, select it and click the AXIS softFX. It should instantly key through to the background. You can also trim and stretch the clip out if it was a single frame import. You could also go into the AXIS softFX editor if you wish to adjust and animate the title if required.

Than you can add dissolves at front and end of the clip in the timeline to fade in and fade out.

Hope this helps.

Regards
Grant

[Author]

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