Title Effects, Creating a Typewriter text effect

[ChasBro]

I'm trying to create a typewriter text effect where the letters are typed in individually on line across the screen, come to a pause at the end of each line while a virtural carriage is being returned. I'd like this to last the entire length of the title in the time line. Is that possible?

I started with a fade animation type, then in the animation editing I chose "character" (one letter at a time) and then "long pause". The "pause" application doesn't appear to have an effect unless it's at the end of the entire text. I see there is a "user defined" choice for the pause but don't see where you can define that.

By the way, I'm a newbie who's used other video editing applications and just getting into VS which I think, overall, is the best software. The UTube tutorials are very good to get started.

[Ron P.]

Are you using the Multiple titles or Single Title? Since VS X2 has 2 title tracks you might need to make use of both. If using the default (multiple) titles, you might try using the Single title mode.

I have a flash authoring program (SwishMax) that has several typewriter effects, and works well for this sort of thing..

[ChasBro]

Thanks Ron for getting back. I'm looking at the second title track. I have a paragraph of about eight lines to type. I can put the first 4 on one title track and the rest on the other. That would allow a pause between line 4 and 5. If I can just slow down the typing to last the entire length of the the clip, that would look a little more realistic. Right now it comes in like gang busters at the beginning of the clip and remains static from then on. Do you know what the pause application does? I don't see any effect. Also, do you know where applications for the "user defined" in the pause window are?

You're right. I've seen this application in other programs. One is Windows Movie Maker, a pretty basic program that sometimes comes with Windows XP and Vista. It would be nice if I can get it in VS.

Thanks Chas

[Black Lab]

If I can just slow down the typing to last the entire length of the the clip, that would look a little more realistic.

What is the duration of your title? When you initially make a title it defaults to 3 seconds. Any animations you have will complete in those 3 seconds. Increasing the duration of the title will slow down the animation.

Do you know what the pause application does? I don't see any effect.

Sliding the Pause Duration handles (triangles beneath the Preview Window) will increase or decrease the Pause Duration (noted by the blue line beneath the Preview Window).

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

How long does it take you to type the eight lines using a Type Writer/keyboard.

Make that your length of the title. If its shorter then the typing has to speed up.

I'll give pausing each line some thought.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

You may be best using Movie Maker to create your title, just had a look and it has a TypeWriter animation.
Seems to do what you want.
I did manage to pause the line text on VS by inserting extra lines in-between, changing the text colour to the background to hide text. Unfortunately this spread out the text.
Quality was not good, the large amount of text reduced the font size which seems to reduce quality.

[ChasBro]

Thanks Black Lab and Trevor. I now see how how the blue line beneath the screen controls the pause. By getting the typing to last the entire length of the clip gives it some realism as a typewriter. Looking at some of the other editing software, I see that they don't have a carriage return pause at the end of each line either. Probably would be be a complicated setup.

Thanks again, I think I can make it work. Amazing how simple things are if you know what button to push.

Chas

[Trevor Andrew]

Thanks Black Lab and Trevor. I now see how how the blue line beneath the screen controls the pause. By getting the typing to last the entire length of the clip gives it some realism as a typewriter. Looking at some of the other editing software, I see that they don't have a carriage return pause at the end of each line either. Probably would be be a complicated setup.

Thanks again, I think I can make it work. Amazing how simple things are if you know what button to push.

Chas

Add a little extra text to end of first line, (6 charactors or so)
Use background color to hide text.
Copy and paste to other lines.

[ChasBro]

Thanks for the idea Trevor. I did add some blanked out characters at the end of each line and it did provide the pause of a virtual carriage return.

Thanks again.

[sjj1805]

Click here for a video tutorial
Typewriter Effect - VideoStudio