Nothing ruins a clean design faster than misaligned text. If your typography looks slightly off-center in After Effects, don’t worry—it’s a common issue with an easy fix.
The good news? Centering text takes just seconds once you know the right tools. Whether you’re aligning text within your composition or inside a text box, here’s the fastest way to get pixel-perfect placement.
Step 1: Open the Align Panel & Select Your Text
First, make sure you have the right tools visible.
1. Go to Window > Align to open the Align panel (if it’s not already open).
2. Select the text layer you want to center.
3. (Optional) If you’re working with multiple layers, lock or hide the others to avoid accidental selections.
Pro Tip: It’s easy to mistakenly select a background layer instead of your text—double-check your selection before moving on!
Step 2: Align to the Center of Your Composition
Now, let’s snap that text into place.
1. In the Align panel, click:
● Align Horizontal Center
● Align Vertical Center
2. Ensure “Align Layers To” is set to Composition (not “Selection” or another layer).
Your text should now be perfectly centered. If it doesn’t move, check the alignment settings at the bottom of the panel.
Step 3: Reposition the Anchor Point (For Smooth Animations)
Even if your text looks centered, its anchor point might still be misaligned—causing awkward scaling or rotation. Here’s how to fix it:
1. Select your text layer.
2. Press Y (to activate the Pan Behind Tool).
3. Drag the anchor point to the center of your text.
● Or use this shortcut:
● Windows: Ctrl + Alt + Home
● Mac: Cmd + Option + Home
Now, your text will animate smoothly from its true center—no more weird wobbles!
Final Thoughts
Centering text in After Effects is a quick fix, but getting the anchor point right ensures professional-looking animations. Try these steps next time your design feels just a little off!
