<p><strong>Text control is very limited in after effects.</strong> There is no functionality in the <em>Character Panel</em> to achieve a strikethrough at the moment. </p>

<hr>

<h3>Using Illustrator</h3>

<p>For better <strong>text control</strong> I'd suggest create your text in <strong>illustrator</strong> instead:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/d16t0.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/d16t0.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>and import the illustrator file into <strong>after effects</strong> afterwards:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/18wPn.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/18wPn.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p><strong>Note:</strong> Editing the text in illustrator is still possible.</p>

<hr>

<h3>Using a shape layer</h3>

<p>In order to create a <strong>simple stroke</strong> above your <em>Text Layer</em>:</p>

<ol>
<li>Enable the <em>Pen Tool</em> (<kbd>G</kbd>) </li>
<li>With no layer selected, click into the <em>Viewer</em> (this will create the 'first point' of the stroke)</li>
<li>Hold down <kbd>Shift</kbd> to make sure that the line, which you are going to create is 'straight'</li>
<li>Click into the viewer again to set the 'end point'</li>
</ol>

<p>This will create a new <strong>Shape Layer</strong>. If the layer is selected you can adjust the 'stoke color' and the 'thickness' in the <em>Tool Bar</em>:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/GsmNM.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/GsmNM.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Another way is to roll out the <em>Properties of the layer</em> by clicking on the tiny triangle <kbd>></kbd> left beside the layers name, go to <em>Contents > Shape(Number) > Stroke(Number)</em> to adjust the 'color' and the 'width'. </p>

<hr>

<p>However a shape layer provides <strong>much more control in terms of animation</strong>:</p>

<ol>
<li>Add a <strong>Trim Paths</strong> property</li>
<li>Create a first keyframe by clicking on the <em>stopwatch</em> of the <code>End</code> value and set it to <code>0</code></li>
<li>Move a few frames forward</li>
<li>Create a second keyframe and set <code>End</code> value to <code>100</code></li>
</ol>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/rGISq.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/rGISq.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Related: <a href="https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/49643/how-to-use-after-effects-trim-path-with-an-illustrator-path/49975#49975">https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/49643/how-to-use-after-effects-trim-path-with-an-illustrator-path/49975#49975</a></p>

<h3>Result</h3>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/5lBT2.gif" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/5lBT2.gif" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-04T15:14:22.457Z
2015-09-07T07:02:39.987Z
2017-04-13T12:46:12.617Z
p2or
<p>In most Adobe CS6 apps, the character palette has a strikethrough button. In After Effects CS6, this seems to be  missing. </p>

<p>Is there a way to do strikethrough in After Effects CS6. Most the tutorials I have searched for show how to do animated strikethroughs. I just want a simple text strikethrough (without animation) <del>like this</del>. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-04T13:36:24.503Z
You are right, there is no functionality in the *Character Panel* to achieve a strikethrough. For better control I'd suggest create your text in illustrator and import it into after effects.
p2or
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-04T14:29:52.977Z
@poor, please post as answer so I can mark as correct.
big_smile
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-18T14:24:41.883Z
@poor: I didn't un-accept it: It still shows ticked on my screen. The answers was perfect, I was just expecting the one line comment above, but you went above and beyond. If it is still showing unaccepted for you, please let me know and I will flag the post for a mod to investigate it.
big_smile
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-18T14:34:51.723Z
Ok, great! A bug or something :) Glad I could help!
p2or
<after-effects>
Strike through text After Effects CS6
big_smile
# Strike through text After Effects CS6

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-09-04)

In most Adobe CS6 apps, the character palette has a strikethrough button. In After Effects CS6, this seems to be missing.

Is there a way to do strikethrough in After Effects CS6. Most the tutorials I have searched for show how to do animated strikethroughs. I just want a simple text strikethrough (without animation) ~~like this~~.

**Tags:** after-effects

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You are right, there is no functionality in the *Character Panel* to achieve a strikethrough. For better control I'd suggest create your text in illustrator and import it into after effects.  
> **username_0**: @poor, please post as answer so I can mark as correct.  
> **username_0**: @poor: I didn't un-accept it: It still shows ticked on my screen. The answers was perfect, I was just expecting the one line comment above, but you went above and beyond. If it is still showing unaccepted for you, please let me know and I will flag the post for a mod to investigate it.  
> **username_1**: Ok, great! A bug or something :) Glad I could help!  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-09-04. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

**Text control is very limited in after effects.** There is no functionality in the *Character Panel* to achieve a strikethrough at the moment.

---

### Using Illustrator

For better **text control** I'd suggest create your text in **illustrator** instead:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/d16t0.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/d16t0.png)

and import the illustrator file into **after effects** afterwards:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/18wPn.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/18wPn.png)

**Note:** Editing the text in illustrator is still possible.

---

### Using a shape layer

In order to create a **simple stroke** above your *Text Layer*:

1. Enable the *Pen Tool* (`G`)
2. With no layer selected, click into the *Viewer* (this will create the 'first point' of the stroke)
3. Hold down `Shift` to make sure that the line, which you are going to create is 'straight'
4. Click into the viewer again to set the 'end point'

This will create a new **Shape Layer**. If the layer is selected you can adjust the 'stoke color' and the 'thickness' in the *Tool Bar*:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/GsmNM.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/GsmNM.png)

Another way is to roll out the *Properties of the layer* by clicking on the tiny triangle `>` left beside the layers name, go to *Contents > Shape(Number) > Stroke(Number)* to adjust the 'color' and the 'width'.

---

However a shape layer provides **much more control in terms of animation**:

1. Add a **Trim Paths** property
2. Create a first keyframe by clicking on the *stopwatch* of the `End` value and set it to `0`
3. Move a few frames forward
4. Create a second keyframe and set `End` value to `100`

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/rGISq.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/rGISq.png)

Related: <https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/49643/how-to-use-after-effects-trim-path-with-an-illustrator-path/49975#49975>

### Result

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/5lBT2.gif)](https://i.sstatic.net/5lBT2.gif)


---

