Datasheet

Part I ✦ Getting Started with SWiSHmax

Adding text animation

Text can be boring; text can be interesting. I vote for interesting. In this QuickStart, you have

seen how to add both text and an Autoshape. SWiSHmax offers many text effects from which

you can select that can add interest to a movie.

Having text appear into its position gives the text an interesting way to enter the movie. The

Appear into Position effect is one used specifically for text. Follow these steps to add the

effect to text:

1. Click a text object in the Outline panel or the label in the Timeline to select it.

2. Click the Add Effect button in the Timeline and then click Appear into position ➪

Kerning - Kern In. from the effects list. The effect is added to the Timeline at its

default length of 20 frames.

3. Reposition the effect by clicking and dragging it right or left on the Timeline to start

at the desired frame. For the sample project, drag the effect to start at Frame 20.

4. Click and drag an edge of the effect right or left with the mouse to increase or

decrease its length. If you are working on the sample project, increase the effect’s

length to 25 frames, ending at Frame 45.

The Appear into Position effect used in the steps is one of dozens. The Kerning effect is about

halfway down the second column of effects.

5. Click Play on the Controller to preview the movie. You see the text letters gradually

move closer to one another until they are in their final positions.

You can also change the way the text looks by changing its color. If you are working with the

sample project, you see that the text color is very similar to that of the background rectangle,

making it difficult to see the letters clearly. Follow these steps to change the text color as the

effect plays:

1. Right-click the Kerning - Kern In effect on the text object’s row on the Timeline to

open the shortcut menu.

2. Click Properties to open the Kerning - Kern In Settings dialog box. Click the Motion

tab as shown in Figure 1-14.

3. Click the Color button and select the Fade to Color option. Change the default value

from 100% to a lower value if you want to partially fade the color. For the sample pro-

ject, leave the default value of 100% in the Fade to Color value.

4. Click the color swatch to open the Color Selector, and select a custom color for the

Fade to Color effect. For the sample project, click the dark gold color as shown in

Figure 1-14, or type FF9900 in the field below the Hex column to select the color.

5. Click Done to accept the color and close the Color Selector. Click OK to close the

Kerning - Kern In Settings dialog box.

6. Preview your movie. The elements of your movie experience multiple changes in

animation over its duration and ends with a change in the text color.

Tip

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