How to Add an Underline to Text in Adobe After Effects

Introduction to Underlining Text in After Effects

In Adobe After Effects, underlining text isn’t a built-in feature, but it’s still easy to achieve. You can manually create an underline using shape layers or even use text animation techniques to add an underline effect. This guide will walk you through both methods, allowing you to enhance your text animations and designs.

Step 1: Create Your Text Layer

To begin, create a new text layer. Go to the Composition menu and click New Composition. Then, use the Type Tool (Ctrl/Cmd + T) to type out your text in the composition. Once the text layer is created, position it where you want it to appear in your project. Make sure that your text is clear and formatted as desired before proceeding to the next step. Step 2: Create a Shape Layer for the Underline

Next, you’ll create the underline using a shape layer. Select the Pen Tool (G) or Rectangle Tool (Q) from the toolbar. Draw a line or a thin rectangle below your text to serve as the underline. Make sure it’s aligned properly by adjusting its position in relation to your text. You can also customize the stroke or fill of the line to match your design style.Step 3: Animate the Underline (Optional)

If you want to add some animation to the underline, you can animate it using keyframes. Select the shape layer, press “P” to open the position properties, or “T” for opacity. Set keyframes to animate the underline as it appears or draws itself under the text. This adds a dynamic touch to your underline, especially if you’re working with motion graphics. Step 4: Animate Text and Underline Together

If you want to animate both the text and the underline simultaneously, select both layers in the timeline. Then, right-click on the selected layers and choose Pre-compose. This will create a new composition that contains both the text and the underline as a single layer. Once you have created the pre-comp, you can easily apply animation presets or effects to the entire composition, ensuring that both the text and the underline animate together seamlessly. This method simplifies the animation process and allows for more complex animations to be applied uniformly. Step 5: Preview and Refine

Press Spacebar to preview your underline effect. Check if the underline is correctly placed and if any animations work as intended. Make adjustments to the shape, animation, or timing if needed, until the underline looks exactly how you want it to appear in your final composition.Conclusion

Underlining text in After Effects is a simple yet effective technique for enhancing your text animations. Whether you’re creating static designs or dynamic animations, adding a shape layer for the underline allows for full customization. By following these steps, you can quickly underline any text and even add animation for extra flair.