Want your text to follow a curve, circle, or zig-zag pattern in your animation? That’s where Text Path in Adobe After Effects becomes your best friend. Whether you’re designing elegant intros, lower-thirds, or kinetic typography, animating text along a path creates stunning visuals that elevate your motion graphics.
This article will guide you step-by-step on how to use the Text Path feature in Adobe After Effects efficiently.
✅ What is a Text Path in After Effects?
In After Effects, a Text Path is a technique where text flows or animates along a custom shape or line, instead of moving in straight directions. This path is usually drawn using the Pen Tool or Shape Tool, and the text is then linked to this path.
🔧 Tools You’ll Use
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Text Tool (Ctrl+T)
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Pen Tool (G) or Shape Tool
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Path Options (found inside the Text layer settings)
📌 How to Animate Text on a Path – Step-by-Step
✍️ Step 1: Create a New Composition
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Go to
File > New > New Composition. -
Set your desired resolution, duration, and background.
✍️ Step 2: Create a Text Layer
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Select the Text Tool (Ctrl + T).
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Click on the composition window and type your text.
✍️ Step 3: Draw the Path
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Select the Pen Tool (G).
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With the text layer selected, draw a custom path on the canvas.
✅ Make sure you draw the path directly on the text layer – not on a new shape layer.
✍️ Step 4: Enable the Path Options
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In the Timeline, open the text layer's dropdown:
Text > Path Options. -
Under Path, select
Mask 1(or the name of your custom mask/path).
✍️ Step 5: Animate Using First Margin
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In
Path Options, adjust the First Margin property. -
Add keyframes to make the text move along the path smoothly.
🎥 Example:
To animate your text from left to right:
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Set First Margin = -200 at 0s (start)
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Set First Margin = 800 at 5s (end)
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Play the animation to watch the text move along your path
🧠 Pro Tips for Advanced Effects
| Feature | Use |
|---|---|
| Reverse Path | Make the text flow in the opposite direction |
| Perpendicular to Path | Keeps characters aligned to the curve |
| Force Alignment | Forces text to stretch along the full path |
| Character Spacing | Adjusts distance between each letter for better readability |
✨ Creative Ideas Using Text Path
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Text Around a Circle – Draw a circular path for logos or spinning badges
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Wavy Text Animations – Use Bezier curves for bounce or wave effects
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Handwriting Effects – Combine with Stroke or Write-on effects
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Complex Shapes – Animate text along a heart, spiral, or even letters
🔄 Combine with Other Effects
You can combine Text Path with:
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Stroke Effect – Simulates handwriting
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Trim Paths – Makes the line appear along with text
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Motion Blur – Adds natural movement
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3D Layer – Animate text in 3D space along curves
⚠️ Common Problems & Fixes
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Path not showing | Drawn on Shape Layer | Make sure it's on the text layer |
| Text not moving | No keyframes on Margin | Animate First Margin |
| Text appears jumbled | Small path size | Adjust character spacing or font size |
🧾 Final Thoughts
Animating text on a path in Adobe After Effects isn’t just a neat trick — it’s a powerful storytelling technique that opens new doors in motion design. Whether you're working on cinematic intros, logo reveals, lyric videos, or infographics, mastering the Text Path tool will make your projects visually engaging and more dynamic.
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