<p>It looks like you're changing both the <em>Start</em> and <em>End</em> of the <em>Stroke effect</em>. If you want the text to write on completely, you need to use just one or the other. Which one you use will determine the direction the Stroke is animated in.</p>

<p>The effect will have to be activated and set to "Reveal Original Image" in order to see the animation demonstrated in the YouTube video (which, by the way, is a horrible masking example. I recommend watching some tutorials on using the Pen tool in order to create better masks).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-20T17:50:53.327Z
2015-07-22T09:38:08.307Z
2015-07-22T09:38:08.307Z
Skye X
<p>This should be a quick fix:</p>

<p>Unselect the "end" keyframe selection. Only use either, the "start" or the "end", don't use both simultaneously. The "Start" keyframe with <code>0%</code> opacity should end with another "start" keyframe with <code>100%</code> opacity.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-20T18:23:32.143Z
2015-07-22T09:36:44.223Z
2015-07-22T09:36:44.223Z
NAJ
<p>In After Effects I am trying to apply the Stroke effects to characters as described in this video:
<div class="youtube-embed"><div>
                <iframe width="640px" height="395px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MJpJfBtsGrw?start=0"></iframe>
            </div></div></p>

<p>My Screen:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/6eyPt.png" alt="my AE"></p>

<p>Although as you can see even just going at the middle of the effect with the two start and end keyframes it seems to not be doing / applying anything, my logo/characters are entirely shown. They should show up "progressively" like in the Youtube tutorial.</p>

<p>Any idea what is happening here?</p>

<hr>

<p>Also asked at graphicdesign.stackexchange.com: <a href="https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/56737/after-effects-stroke-effect-doesnt-play/56738#56738">https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/56737/after-effects-stroke-effect-doesnt-play/56738#56738</a></p>

<p><strong>UPDATE</strong></p>

<p>As it turns out I went so insane that I removed AE and re installed the CS Cloud latest version as a trial, and now it works.</p>

<p>I guess my old AE version wasn't playing well with Windows 10 or whatever.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-20T14:29:44.690Z
related: http://video.stackexchange.com/questions/14892/how-to-animate-the-outlines-of-text-after-effects/14909#14909
p2or
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-20T14:42:05.343Z
Your Stroke effect is not shown as enabled in the screenshot at Graphic Design. It is, right?
Gyan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-20T15:01:24.843Z
I tried with and without activating it.
Florian Monfort
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-20T15:59:42.013Z
I can put a GIF here where I recorded exactly what I do: http://imgur.com/VgkrSJ2
Florian Monfort
<after-effects><effects><adobe>
After Effects stroke effect doesn't play
Florian Monfort
# After Effects stroke effect doesn't play

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-07-20)

In After Effects I am trying to apply the Stroke effects to characters as described in this video:

My Screen:

![my AE](https://i.sstatic.net/6eyPt.png)

Although as you can see even just going at the middle of the effect with the two start and end keyframes it seems to not be doing / applying anything, my logo/characters are entirely shown. They should show up "progressively" like in the Youtube tutorial.

Any idea what is happening here?

---

Also asked at graphicdesign.stackexchange.com: <https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/56737/after-effects-stroke-effect-doesnt-play/56738#56738>

**UPDATE**

As it turns out I went so insane that I removed AE and re installed the CS Cloud latest version as a trial, and now it works.

I guess my old AE version wasn't playing well with Windows 10 or whatever.

**Tags:** after-effects, effects, adobe

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: related: http://video.stackexchange.com/questions/14892/how-to-animate-the-outlines-of-text-after-effects/14909#14909  
> **username_2**: Your Stroke effect is not shown as enabled in the screenshot at Graphic Design. It is, right?  
> **username_0**: I tried with and without activating it.  
> **username_0**: I can put a GIF here where I recorded exactly what I do: http://imgur.com/VgkrSJ2  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-07-20. Score: 2

It looks like you're changing both the *Start* and *End* of the *Stroke effect*. If you want the text to write on completely, you need to use just one or the other. Which one you use will determine the direction the Stroke is animated in.

The effect will have to be activated and set to "Reveal Original Image" in order to see the animation demonstrated in the YouTube video (which, by the way, is a horrible masking example. I recommend watching some tutorials on using the Pen tool in order to create better masks).


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### Answer by username_4 on 2015-07-20. Score: 2

This should be a quick fix:

Unselect the "end" keyframe selection. Only use either, the "start" or the "end", don't use both simultaneously. The "Start" keyframe with `0%` opacity should end with another "start" keyframe with `100%` opacity.


---

