<p>@Poor is right for the "Ares" text on the left.  To the right of that, you've got a single line created with the path tool &amp; drawn on using <a href="https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/shape-attributes-paint-operations-path.html#alter_shapes_with_path_operations" rel="nofollow">trim path</a>.  The "archive" text has had its position and <a href="https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/formatting-characters-character-panel.html#spacing_between_characters_and_lines_non_breaking_spaces_kerning_tracking_and_leading" rel="nofollow">tracking</a> adjusted using <a href="https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/setting-selecting-deleting-keyframes.html" rel="nofollow">keyframes</a>, and has been <a href="https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/how-to/using-pen-tool-masks-aftereffects.html" rel="nofollow">masked out</a> to the left of the vertical line.</p>

<p>To take a guess at the fonts used, try using a site like <a href="http://www.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/" rel="nofollow">WhatTheFont</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-01T22:17:21.650Z
2015-10-01T22:17:21.650Z
tomh
<p>In the example given, typical <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_graphics" rel="nofollow noreferrer">motion graphics</a> techniques are used. There are several ways to achieve this animation in After Effects. Probably the easiest way is <strong>drawing a mask shape per letter</strong> on top of the 'logo layer' and keyframe the <em>Mask Shape</em> property. In most cases this is fast to implement and good enough, but in order to achieve a <strong>uniform motion</strong> I'd recommend to split up the logo into <strong>separate letters</strong> and use a <strong>trim path on a shape layer</strong>.</p>

<hr>

<h3>Instructions</h3>

<ol>
<li><p>Bring your <em>Shape/Text</em> from Illustrator into After Effects <strong>or</strong> simply use an After Effects <em>Text Layer</em> (If you don't want to switch between the applications)</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/vm8Mh.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p></li>
<li>Make sure that no layer is selected in your composition and hit <kbd>G</kbd> to enable the <strong>pen tool</strong></li>
<li><p><strong>Draw your animation path</strong> from the beginning to the end of the shape</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/xkOzz.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p></li>
<li>Set the <strong>contour width</strong> of the new created shape layer to a value which covers the shape below</li>
<li>Set the fill color  to <code>None</code> by holding <kbd>Alt</kbd> and clicking into the color field</li>
<li>If you roll out the shape layer by <strong>clicking on the arrow</strong> <kbd> > </kbd> button left to the layer's name, there should be a appear another <kbd> > Add </kbd> Button in Track Mattes column. Click it to add a <strong>Trim Paths</strong> property </li>
<li><p>If <em>Trim Paths</em> is assigned to the shape layer go to your <strong>last frame</strong>, roll out <strong>Trim Paths</strong> property and click the stop watch of the <strong>end value</strong>, this should create a keyframe with a value of 100%</p></li>
<li><p>Go to your first frame and set the <strong>end</strong> value to <strong>0%</strong> to get something like this:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/SxcFk.gif" alt="enter image description here"></p></li>
<li><p>To use the path animation as <strong>matte</strong>, set the <strong>track matte</strong> of the <strong>text layer below</strong> to <code>Alpha</code></p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/zbMK9.gif" alt="enter image description here"></p></li>
</ol>

<hr>

<p><strong>Note:</strong> Consider that the type in the given example is very suitable for this kind of animation.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-28T21:02:38.717Z
Whoa! Thanks very much for the detailed tutorial! It means a lot. 

Few questions. Can this be done with any font and what is this animation called in the animation realms?
Robbie3059
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-29T05:39:11.907Z
@Robbie3059 Of course, but sans serif types more suitable. You can test it by your own, but serifs on both sides of the letter will make it less fluid and harder to animate.  It's simply animated type so it's a part of motion graphics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_graphics. Does that answers the question?
p2or
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-30T15:57:43.743Z
Yes it does. Can't thank you enough, very grateful for your help.
Robbie3059
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-30T16:06:52.040Z
@Robbie3059 Glad I could help :)
p2or
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-28T19:34:39.473Z
2015-10-05T16:39:12.730Z
2015-10-05T16:39:12.730Z
p2or
<p>I'm trying to make an intro in After Effects (I'm a beginner) and I was wondering if anyone could assist me in reproducing the following logo animation:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wygmxzp6VzY" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/gsBB9.gif" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>In order to dive into this topic and understand the basics, can anyone point me in the right direction? How this effect is called and how to implement it roughly?</p>

<p>Any help would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<after-effects><animation>
Sci-Fi intro logo animation
Robbie3059
# Sci-Fi intro logo animation

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-09-28)

I'm trying to make an intro in After Effects (I'm a beginner) and I was wondering if anyone could assist me in reproducing the following logo animation:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/gsBB9.gif)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wygmxzp6VzY)

In order to dive into this topic and understand the basics, can anyone point me in the right direction? How this effect is called and how to implement it roughly?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

**Tags:** after-effects, animation


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-09-28. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

In the example given, typical [motion graphics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_graphics) techniques are used. There are several ways to achieve this animation in After Effects. Probably the easiest way is **drawing a mask shape per letter** on top of the 'logo layer' and keyframe the *Mask Shape* property. In most cases this is fast to implement and good enough, but in order to achieve a **uniform motion** I'd recommend to split up the logo into **separate letters** and use a **trim path on a shape layer**.

---

### Instructions

1. Bring your *Shape/Text* from Illustrator into After Effects **or** simply use an After Effects *Text Layer* (If you don't want to switch between the applications)

   ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/vm8Mh.jpg)
2. Make sure that no layer is selected in your composition and hit `G` to enable the **pen tool**
3. **Draw your animation path** from the beginning to the end of the shape

   ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/xkOzz.jpg)
4. Set the **contour width** of the new created shape layer to a value which covers the shape below
5. Set the fill color to `None` by holding `Alt` and clicking into the color field
6. If you roll out the shape layer by **clicking on the arrow**  `>`  button left to the layer's name, there should be a appear another  `> Add`  Button in Track Mattes column. Click it to add a **Trim Paths** property
7. If *Trim Paths* is assigned to the shape layer go to your **last frame**, roll out **Trim Paths** property and click the stop watch of the **end value**, this should create a keyframe with a value of 100%
8. Go to your first frame and set the **end** value to **0%** to get something like this:

   ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/SxcFk.gif)
9. To use the path animation as **matte**, set the **track matte** of the **text layer below** to `Alpha`

   ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/zbMK9.gif)

---

**Note:** Consider that the type in the given example is very suitable for this kind of animation.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Whoa! Thanks very much for the detailed tutorial! It means a lot.   Few questions. Can this be done with any font and what is this animation called in the animation realms?  
> **username_2**: @username_0 Of course, but sans serif types more suitable. You can test it by your own, but serifs on both sides of the letter will make it less fluid and harder to animate.  It's simply animated type so it's a part of motion graphics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_graphics. Does that answers the question?  
> **username_0**: Yes it does. Can't thank you enough, very grateful for your help.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 Glad I could help :)  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-10-01. Score: 0

@Poor is right for the "Ares" text on the left. To the right of that, you've got a single line created with the path tool & drawn on using [trim path](https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/shape-attributes-paint-operations-path.html#alter_shapes_with_path_operations). The "archive" text has had its position and [tracking](https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/formatting-characters-character-panel.html#spacing_between_characters_and_lines_non_breaking_spaces_kerning_tracking_and_leading) adjusted using [keyframes](https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/setting-selecting-deleting-keyframes.html), and has been [masked out](https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/how-to/using-pen-tool-masks-aftereffects.html) to the left of the vertical line.

To take a guess at the fonts used, try using a site like [WhatTheFont](http://www.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/).


---

