Scroll Text Behavior
The Scroll Text behavior allows you to create scrolling or crawling text. Scroll Text can
also be applied to other objects, such as shapes and images, to create integrated credits,
prologues, and so on.
When the Scroll Text behavior is applied to text, whether the text is imported (RTF or TXT
files) or created in Motion, the Scroll Direction is set to Vertical by default (in the Behaviors
Inspector) and the Layout Method is set to Scroll in the Layout pane of the Text Inspector.
When Scroll Direction is set to Horizontal, the Layout Method is set to Crawl in the Layout
pane of the Text Inspector. When the Scroll Text behavior is actively applied to text, you
cannot change the Layout Method parameter unless the Allow Layout Override checkbox
is selected in the Behaviors Inspector.
Note: The Transform Glyph tool is not available with the Scroll or Crawl layout methods.
To create a vertical scroll
1
Apply the Scroll Text behavior (from the Text Animation behavior category) to the object
you want to animate.
For information on applying text behaviors, see
Applying a Text Behavior
.
Because the Scroll Direction is set to Vertical and the Start Off-Screen checkbox is selected
by default, the object shifts to below the Canvas for the beginning of the scroll. The
direction, position, and speed of the scroll can be changed in the Inspector or HUD.
2
Click the Play button.
The object scrolls upward in the Canvas.
3
To edit the text, double-click the text in the Canvas.
The text stops scrolling, the ruler appears at the top edge of the text, and the scroll control
becomes available at the right edge of the text. To continue playback, deselect the text
by pressing Esc or by clicking in an empty area of the Layers list or the Timeline layers
list.
For more information on scroll controls, see
General Text Controls in the Layout Pane
.
4
To customize the scroll, adjust the parameters in the Behaviors Inspector.
For more information on Scroll Text behavior parameters, see
Scroll Text Controls
.
To create a horizontal scroll
1
Apply the Scroll Text behavior (from the Text Animation behavior category) to the object
to animate.
For information on applying text behaviors, see
Applying a Text Behavior
.
2
In the Scroll Text HUD or Behaviors Inspector, select Horizontal from the Scroll Direction
pop-up menu.
922
Chapter 17
Animating Text
Because the Start Off-Screen checkbox is selected by default, the object shifts off the
Canvas to the right for the beginning of the crawl. The text is positioned in a single line
and Layout Method is set to Crawl in the Layout pane of the Text Inspector.
Change the direction, position, and speed of the scroll in the Inspector or HUD.
3
Click the Play button.
The object crawls left in the Canvas.
4
To edit the text, double-click the text in the Canvas.
The text stops scrolling and the scroll control becomes available at the lower edge of the
text. To continue playback, deselect the text by pressing Esc or clicking in an empty area
of the Layers list or Timeline layers list.
For more information on scroll controls, see
General Text Controls in the Layout Pane
.
5
To customize the scroll, adjust the parameters in the Behaviors Inspector.
For more information on Scroll Text behavior parameters, see
Scroll Text Controls
.
To change the speed of the scroll in the Timeline
µ
In the Timeline, do one of the following:
• Drag the behavior’s bar to the left to speed up the scroll.
• Drag the behavior’s bar to the right to slow down the scroll.
For more information about adjusting behaviors in the Timeline, see
Changing the
Timing of Behaviors
.