After Effects Tutorial

How to Add Text in After Effects (3 Simple Steps)

Whether you’re creating YouTube titles, animated captions, or motion graphics, knowing how to add and style text is an essential skill in Adobe After Effects. The process is straightforward—once you know where to look. How to Add Text in After Effects (3 Simple Steps)
Here’s a quick guide I still use today for everything from animated titles to professional lower thirds.
Step 1: Use the Type Tool
● Open your composition, then:Select the Type Tool from the top toolbar (or press Ctrl/Cmd + T).
●Click anywhere in the Composition panel to start typing right away.
●For paragraph text, click and drag to create a text box first. How to Add Text in After Effects (3 Simple Steps)
Step 2: Enter & Customize Your Text
Once you start typing, a new text layer will appear in the timeline. Use the Character and Paragraph panels to style your text:
●Adjust font, size, color, spacing, and alignment.
●If you don’t see these panels, enable them under Window > Character or Window > Paragraph. How to Add Text in After Effects (3 Simple Steps)
Step 3: Animate or Position the Text
● To bring your text to life:Click the Animate button next to your text layer in the timeline.
●Choose a property to animate (e.g., Opacity, Position, or Scale).
●Use keyframes to control the timing and behavior of the animation. How to Add Text in After Effects (3 Simple Steps)
For simpler animations affecting the whole layer, use keyboard shortcuts:
●P for Position
●S for Scale
●T for Opacity
●R for Rotation
Set keyframes on these properties to create movement or fade effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I install new fonts?
Download and install the font on your computer. Restart After Effects, and the font will appear in the Character panel.How do I type in After Effects?
Select the Type Tool (shortcut: T), click in the Composition panel, and start typing. A text layer is created automatically.
How do I add text using expressions?
In the expression field, use:
text.sourceText = “Your Text Here”;
Enclose static text in quotation marks.Can I import text from another source?
Yes. You can paste text directly into an existing text layer. For subtitles or longer scripts, consider using dedicated subtitle plugins or .srt file importers for better formatting and timing control.
Pro Tip:
Use text animators for per-character animation, or stick to transform properties for full-layer movement. Experiment with presets, but learning manual keyframing offers the most flexibility.