Easy Fly-Through Text Effect in Motion 5

Our goal, in this tutorial is to create an effect that starts with text filled with a background, then fly through the text to reveal a video beneath.

GET STARTED

First, create two groups:

• Text
• Background

You don’t need to create groups before starting work, but groups definitely help you stay organized.

IMPORT A VIDEO

(Footage Courtesy: Jim Walker and Lobsters Gone Wild Productions)

To import a video:

• Select the Background group
• Choose File > Import
• Select a file and make sure it appears in the Background group (if not, drag it there).
• If necessary, adjust the timing of the video so you see the shot you want.

ADD A BACKGROUND

With the Background group still selected, create either a full-screen color or import a background image placed above the video image.

To create a full-screen background:

• Select the Rectangle drawing tool
• Drag a shape in the Viewer to fill the frame
• Switch to the Arrow tool (shortcut: Shift + S)
• Select the rectangle in the Layers panel

• Display the HUD (shortcut: F7)
• Pick a color you like

OR, to import a background:

• Select the Background group
• Choose File > Import
• Select a file and, if it doesn’t appear in the Background group, drag it into the Layers panel.

For this demo, I imported a background still image. Make sure the background is stacked above the video in the Layers panel.

ADD TEXT

• Select the Text group
• Select the 2D Text tool (shortcut: T)
• Enter, frame and format your text. This font is Kraash Black.

• With the text layer selected, set Properties > Blend Mode to Stencil Alpha. This replaces the text with the background below it.

ANIMATE THE BACKGROUND

In this animation, we start with the text filled with the top background, then, as we zoom into the text, the background dissolves into the video.

• With the full-screen background selected, apply Behaviors > Basic Motion > Fade In/Out.
• Select the Fade In/Out behavior in the Layers panel
• Put the playhead in the mini-timeline where you want the transition between backgrounds to finish and type O. This sets an Out for the effect.
• Display the HUD and set the Fade In to 0. The Fade Out can be any duration you want, for me, I chose one second (60 frames).

Also, select the background that has the Fade Out effect applied to it and make sure the background ends when the Fade Out ends.

ADD THE ZOOM

• Choose Object > New Camera
• Switch to 3D when the dialog appears
• Add Behaviors > Camera > Dolly
• In Behaviors > Dolly set Distance to 1500.

In the Timeline, set the Dolly effect to end at the same time as the Fade Out effect you added earlier.

NOTE: Make SURE to set the 2D/3D switch for the Background group back to 2D; which displays three rectangles next to each other.

(Click to see larger image.)

This screen shot illustrates the finished effect in progress.

Click here to watch a video of the finished effect.

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