Formatting text
You can format your text by changing the font, text alignment, and text direction. For example, the text direction can be set for left-to-right, right-to-left or vertical. You can also add borders and shadows, or rotate the text. Add a text backdrop to superimpose your text on a solid or gradient shape to make it stand out. You can also define how long a title clip appears by adjusting the title clip duration.
Text direction is one of many formatting settings for titles.
To edit titles1 In the Timeline, select a title clip on the Title Track and click the Preview Window to enable title editing.
2 In the Options panel, click any of the following buttons on the Text Settings page to access title editing options:
• Font
• Styles
• Border
• Shadow
• Backdrop
• Motion
• Effect
If you plan to change the text direction, it’s best to set this before you start to type.
To rotate text in the Preview Window1 In the Title Track, double-click a title.
2 In the Preview Window, yellow and purple handles appear around the text.
3 Click and drag a purple handle to the position you want.
You can also rotate text using the Options Panel. In the Edit tab, specify a value in Rotate by degree to apply a more precise angle of rotation.
To add a text backdrop1 In the Timeline, select a title clip on the Title Track and click the Preview Window to enable title editing.
2 On the Text Settings page of the Options panel, click the Backdrop button.
3 Choose the Solid background bar or Fit with text option.
If you choose Fit with text, choose a shape from the drop-list and set a value in the Enlarge box.
4 In the Color setting area, choose the Solid or Gradient option, and click the color swatch to set the background color.
5 If you choose Gradient, click an arrow button to set the direction of the gradient and click the second color swatch to set a second color.
6 In the Transparency box, enter a value. Higher numbers increase the transparency.
To modify text border and transparency1 In the Timeline, select a title clip on the Title Track and click the Preview Window to enable title editing.
2 On the Text Settings page of the Options panel, click the Border button.
3 Modify any of the following settings:
• Transparent Text: Unmark the check box to fill your text with color. If the check box is marked, there will be no fill (transparent).
• Outer Stroke Border: Mark to add border width to the outer edge of the text.
• Border Width: Specifies the width of the Outer Stroke Border.
• Line Color: Specifies border color.
• Text Transparency: Higher values increase the transparency of the text; for opaque text, enter a value of 0.
• Soft Edge: Higher values increase the softness of the text border.
To modify text shadow or glow1 In the Timeline, select a title clip on the Title Track and click the Preview Window to enable title editing.
2 On the Text Settings page of the Options panel, click the Shadow button.
3 Click the corresponding icon for any of the following and modify the settings you want:
• None: No shadow or glow
• Drop shadow: Lets you specify the position, color, transparency, and edge softness for a text drop shadow.
• Glow shadow: Lets you specify the intensity, color, transparency, and edge softness for glow effect around the text.
• Extrude shadow: Lets you specify the position (illusion of depth) and color of the extrusion effect.
To modify text motion (text animation and fade)1 In the Timeline, select a title clip on the Title Track and click the Preview Window to enable title editing.
2 On the Text Settings page of the Options panel, click the Motion button.
3 Ensure the check box to the left of the Apply button is marked.
4 From the drop-list, choose the type of motion that you want to apply.
5 Click the thumbnail for the preset motion you want to apply.
6 If you want to modify the preset, adjust any of the settings to the right of the preset thumbnails.
To apply a title preset1 Click the Title clip on the Timeline and then double-click the title on the Preview Window.
2 In the Edit tab, click the Title Preset Style drop-list and click a thumbnail to apply the effect.
To adjust the duration of title clips• Do one of the following:
• In the Timeline, drag the handles of the clip
• Select the clip in the Timeline, open the Options Panel, click the Edit tab, and enter a value in the Duration box.