How to Create a Jumping Text Effect in After Effects
Introduction – Add Dynamic Movement to Your Text
Animating text to make it jump in After Effects adds a playful and dynamic touch to your project. By utilizing position animations and expressions, you can make the text appear as if it’s bouncing or jumping across the screen. In this guide, we’ll walk through the steps needed to achieve this effect.
Step 1: Create a New Composition
Start by opening After Effects and creating a new composition. Go to Composition > New Composition, then set the desired resolution, frame rate, and duration for your project. This will be the workspace where you’ll create your jumping text animation.
Step 2: Use the Type Tool to Add Text
Select the Type Tool (Ctrl/Cmd + T) from the toolbar, and click on your composition to type the text you want to animate. You can customize the font, size, and style of the text in the Character panel.
Step 3: Align the Text to the Center
To make sure the text is centered in the composition, go to the Paragraph panel. Ensure that the text is aligned to the center for a symmetrical appearance. This will help maintain balance as the text jumps.
Step 4: Add Animator for Position
Next, expand the text layer in the timeline. Click the Animate button next to the Text property and choose Position. This will create an Animator 1 that allows you to control the movement of the text.
Step 5: Apply Expression to the Animator
Click on the Add button next to Animator 1 and select Selector > Expression Selector. Now, expand the Amount property under the Animator 1 settings. Enter the following expression:
delay = .1;
myDelay = delay*textIndex;
t = (time – inPoint) – myDelay;
if (t >= 0) {
freq = 3;
amplitude = 40;
decay = 12.0;
s = amplitude*Math.cos(freq*t*2*Math.PI)/Math.exp(decay*t);
[s, s]
}
else {
value
}
This expression creates a bouncing or jumping effect by applying an oscillating movement to each character.
Step 6: Set Initial Y Position
To ensure the text starts off-screen, go to the Amount property under Animator 1 and find the Position parameter. Set the Y value (for example, 600) so that the text is initially hidden below the composition area.
Step 7: Preview the Animation
Press the Spacebar to preview your jumping text animation. You should see each character in the text sequence “jumping” at different times, with a smooth, bouncing motion. Adjust the frequency, amplitude, and decay values in the expression to fine-tune the jump effect.
Step 8: Render the Animation
Once you’re happy with the animation, it’s time to render your project. Go to Composition > Add to Render Queue. Adjust the output settings and click Render to export the animation.
Conclusion
Creating a jumping text effect in After Effects is an engaging way to add energy and movement to your typography animations. By using position keyframes and applying a custom expression, you can simulate a bouncing or jumping effect that adds visual interest to your compositions. Experiment with different values and timing to create a unique, dynamic animation that fits your project perfectly.
