Here's how to reveal text using 3D rotation in After Effects:
To reveal text with a 3D rotation effect in After Effects, you typically enable per-character 3D for your text layer and then use a text animator to control the rotation of individual characters over time.
This method allows each letter or character to rotate independently in 3D space, creating dynamic reveal effects.
- Create or Select Your Text Layer: Start with the text layer you want to animate in your composition.
- Expand Layer Properties: Twirl down the properties of the text layer in the timeline.
- Enable Per-Character 3D:
- Click the Animate button (or use the Animate menu).
- Select Enable Per-Character 3D. This step is crucial as it allows each character to exist and rotate independently in 3D space.
- (Based on reference: The reference specifically mentions "go to animate. And enable her character 3D").
- Add the Rotation Animator:
- Click the Animate button again.
- Select Rotation from the list of properties. This adds an Animator group with a Rotation property.
- (Based on reference: The reference mentions "go back to animate. And add rotation").
- Set the Rotation Value: Inside the Animator 1 group (or whatever it's named), find the Rotation property.
- Set the X Rotation value. A common starting or ending point for a flip-up reveal is 90 degrees or -90 degrees. This makes the text initially lie flat, either facing away or towards the screen.
- (Based on reference: The reference states "Just set the x rotation to 90 degrees").
- Animate the Range Selector: Now, you need to control when each character performs this rotation. Use the Range Selector (found within the Animator group).
- Animate the Start or End property of the Range Selector over time.
- For example, if your text starts flat (X Rotation 90 degrees) and you want it to flip up, set a keyframe for End at 0% at the beginning of your animation timeline. Move forward in time and set another keyframe for End at 100%. As the End value increases, more characters will transition from the 90-degree rotation to their default (0-degree) rotation, appearing to flip into view.
By animating the Range Selector, you control the sequence and timing of the 3D rotation effect across your text.
Note: The reference also mentions hitting "r on your keyboard for transform rotation." This brings up the layer's overall Transform Rotation properties, which affects the entire layer, not individual characters based on the animator. The per-character 3D rotation and reveal effect primarily rely on the steps involving the "Animate" menu and Range Selector.
