<ol>
<li>Create your text layer. </li>
<li>Create a 100% black solid layer</li>
<li>Create a 100% white solid layer, make sure it is above the black layer.</li>
<li>Precomp the two solid layers (cmd/control + shift + c) and jump into the comp.</li>
<li>Add a 'venetian blinds' effect to the white layer and delete the keyframes that automatically accompany it. </li>
<li>Set the 'Direction' to -90deg, 'transition completion' to 50%, width to 100 and the feather to 50 (or half width). </li>
<li>Set a keyframe to position of the white layer. Jump forward two seconds (or however long you want the loop to last) and add 100px to the y position. (Note: the difference in y pos needs to match the width of the venetian blinds effect. 100 = 100). </li>
<li>Go to the previous frame by hitting the 'page up' button on your keyboard. </li>
<li>Hit 'tab' then 'left arrow' then 'enter'. To go to the parent comp. </li>
<li>Hit 'n' on the keyboard to set the animation duration. Duration should always be one frame less that the keyframes of the position on the white layer of the nested comp. </li>
<li>Turn off the visibility of the nested comp and add a 'displacement map' effect to the text layer.</li>
<li>Set the 'Max Horizontal Displacement' to 50 (or your preference) and the 'Max Vertical Displacement' to 0. </li>
<li>Set the 'Displacement Map' to the nested comp layer. </li>
</ol>

<p>Mine looks like this: 
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/X7fOW.gif" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/X7fOW.gif" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>You should be able to modify it to your liking. Good luck!</p>

<p>EDIT: I've just reread your post and realised that you wanted the top to remain static and have the bottom wave. </p>

<p>In order to accomplish that, you'll want to add a couple of rectangular shape layers that will sit directly over your text layers (make them a fair bit wider than your text, but the same height). Add a 'gradient ramp' effect and make is so that it runs from black at the top of the layer to white at the bottom. Set the shape layer's blend mode to multiply. Then cut the layers out and paste them into the nested map layer. Your nested map layer should now look something like this: </p>

<p>With text for reference: 
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/VRTGu.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/VRTGu.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Final map, text turned off: 
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/5CyWu.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/5CyWu.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Now the top of the text will remain static and the bottom will progressively wave more. </p>

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

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-10T08:59:05.383Z
So time displacement uses the colour black as no displacement in this case?
spockerrs
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-10T09:14:03.117Z
Also when I try to do the gradient overlay over my shape layers and then put it in the same comp as the venetian blinds, it's obviously over the venetian effect so displacement doesnt work anymore.... what should i do?
spockerrs
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-11T22:21:06.550Z
It turns out I missed a crucial part of the instructions. You need to set the blend mode of shape layers with the gradients on them to 'multiply' so that it blends with the venetian blinds effect. Sorry about that. And yes, the map controls the effect through greyscale values. 100% white is 100% effect and 100% black is not effect.
Clif
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-17T05:12:10.877Z
2020-03-11T22:15:34.177Z
2020-03-11T22:15:34.177Z
Clif
<p>I'm trying to animate a text possibly for a logo, making it into a seamless loop. The effect I'm trying to achieve is that of a wave like rippling but only on a portion of the text. </p>

<p>I still want it to look as if it is connected to the part of text that's staying static.</p>

<p>I've seen suggestions of using turbulent displace effect, but I can't get it to loop. Also not certain how to keep one part of the text static while getting the waviness in a correct direction.</p>

<p>Should I mask it out? </p>

<p>Is there any better way of going about this?</p>

<p>Edit:
Here's a static image made in photoshop with warp tool. So, I would like only bottom half of each word have this effect and obviously to animate it.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/q6CSR.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/q6CSR.png" alt="text with a wave applied"></a></p>

<after-effects><effects><workflow>
Wave effect on bottom text
spockerrs
# Wave effect on bottom text

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-02-10)

I'm trying to animate a text possibly for a logo, making it into a seamless loop. The effect I'm trying to achieve is that of a wave like rippling but only on a portion of the text.

I still want it to look as if it is connected to the part of text that's staying static.

I've seen suggestions of using turbulent displace effect, but I can't get it to loop. Also not certain how to keep one part of the text static while getting the waviness in a correct direction.

Should I mask it out?

Is there any better way of going about this?

Edit:
Here's a static image made in photoshop with warp tool. So, I would like only bottom half of each word have this effect and obviously to animate it.

[![text with a wave applied](https://i.sstatic.net/q6CSR.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/q6CSR.png)

**Tags:** after-effects, effects, workflow


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-02-17. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

1. Create your text layer.
2. Create a 100% black solid layer
3. Create a 100% white solid layer, make sure it is above the black layer.
4. Precomp the two solid layers (cmd/control + shift + c) and jump into the comp.
5. Add a 'venetian blinds' effect to the white layer and delete the keyframes that automatically accompany it.
6. Set the 'Direction' to -90deg, 'transition completion' to 50%, width to 100 and the feather to 50 (or half width).
7. Set a keyframe to position of the white layer. Jump forward two seconds (or however long you want the loop to last) and add 100px to the y position. (Note: the difference in y pos needs to match the width of the venetian blinds effect. 100 = 100).
8. Go to the previous frame by hitting the 'page up' button on your keyboard.
9. Hit 'tab' then 'left arrow' then 'enter'. To go to the parent comp.
10. Hit 'n' on the keyboard to set the animation duration. Duration should always be one frame less that the keyframes of the position on the white layer of the nested comp.
11. Turn off the visibility of the nested comp and add a 'displacement map' effect to the text layer.
12. Set the 'Max Horizontal Displacement' to 50 (or your preference) and the 'Max Vertical Displacement' to 0.
13. Set the 'Displacement Map' to the nested comp layer.

Mine looks like this:
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/X7fOW.gif)](https://i.sstatic.net/X7fOW.gif)

You should be able to modify it to your liking. Good luck!

EDIT: I've just reread your post and realised that you wanted the top to remain static and have the bottom wave.

In order to accomplish that, you'll want to add a couple of rectangular shape layers that will sit directly over your text layers (make them a fair bit wider than your text, but the same height). Add a 'gradient ramp' effect and make is so that it runs from black at the top of the layer to white at the bottom. Set the shape layer's blend mode to multiply. Then cut the layers out and paste them into the nested map layer. Your nested map layer should now look something like this:

With text for reference:
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/VRTGu.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/VRTGu.jpg)

Final map, text turned off:
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/5CyWu.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/5CyWu.jpg)

Now the top of the text will remain static and the bottom will progressively wave more.

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

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So time displacement uses the colour black as no displacement in this case?  
> **username_0**: Also when I try to do the gradient overlay over my shape layers and then put it in the same comp as the venetian blinds, it's obviously over the venetian effect so displacement doesnt work anymore.... what should i do?  
> **username_1**: It turns out I missed a crucial part of the instructions. You need to set the blend mode of shape layers with the gradients on them to 'multiply' so that it blends with the venetian blinds effect. Sorry about that. And yes, the map controls the effect through greyscale values. 100% white is 100% effect and 100% black is not effect.  

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