What is the single layer challenge? Using only effects applied to a single layer in Adobe After Effects, make something awesome (or at least useful). We recently slapped together two examples, which we have here as free preset downloads.
One of the things we’ve had to do in the past is emulate “highlighted text.” You know, like when you mark something in your college textbook. Before when we put together something like this it required setting keyframes by hand on a solid mask or transition effect. Boo. You get none of the advantages of the nifty type layers in After Effects if you want to do a “type on” animation. From what we can tell, there’s no way to specify a “background color” for text objects.
There’s gotta be a better way. Or at least a single layer challenge way. Here it is, it all its single-layered glory. We’ve also included a double-layer-automatic version that allows you to make mods to the text and highlight separately (more easily). Paper texture courtesy of Mayang’s Free Textures. Font is the excellent Quicksand picked up from FontSquirrel. Here’s a sample of the preset in action. If you find a better way to handle this effect, we’re all ears!
A second preset, building off the great work by Mattrunks, a great French After Effects site (with some rad tutorials). This one’s an attempt to replicate the “neon text” effect found here, only using effects applied to a single layer of editable type. We <3 being able to make super-quick client changes. Font is also Quicksand. Download it here.
Hope you enjoy!
Dowload links:
