Preview

Method One: Using Render Layers

Step 1

In a new file, press A on the keyboard to select all default objects. Press
Delete key to delete
them. 

Press 1 in the numpad to get into front view. Press 5 to toggle off
perspective mode. Press Shift-A and add Text.

With the text object selected, press Tab to enter edit mode. Change
the text to
anything you want. Press Tab again to exit edit mode.

Step 2

With the text object selected, click on the F button in the properties editor
to see font settings. In the Font panel, click on the folder button and
browse for your favourite font.

Step 3

Press Shift-A and add a Mesh > Plane.

Step 4

Press Tab to enter edit mode. Press A to select all vertices. Press
S and
then X to scale it along the X axis. Match the height and width of the
plane with the text.

You can move the
vertices up and down instead of scaling. Hold Shift and then secondary-click on
vertices for multiple selection. 

Use the arrow widget to move them. Press Z to
toggle between wireframe and solid shade mode. Press Tab to exit edit mode.

Step 5

Secondary-click on the Text and then move it back just a little bit with help of
arrow widgets.

Step 6

With the text selected, click on the Materials button in the properties
editor. Click on the New button to add a new material. 

Change the name of the material to text or anything you want. In the
Diffuse
panel, change the color to white. In the Shading panel, tick the Shadeless
checkbox.

Step 7

Ensure you’re in front view. Press 1 in the number pad to get into
front view. Press Shift-A and add a camera.

Move the camera away from the object and text. Use the arrow widgets.

Step 8

Secondary-click on the camera to select it. Click on the camera button in the
Properties editor. 

In the Lens panel, click on Orthographic mode.
Press 0 in
the number pad to get into camera view. 

Increase or
decrease the Orthographic Scale such that the text is looking good
in the frame. You can also move the camera with G key.

Step 9

Secondary-click on the text to select it. Go to 11th frame by press Shift-up
arrow or by manually typing 11 in the current frame counter. 

Bring the mouse in
the 3D view port and press I and click on Location. This will insert a keyframe.

Step 10

Go to frame number 21 either by pressing Shift-up arrow to move ahead ten frames or by manually typing 21 in the frame counter.

Move the Text object up so that it is completely above the plane. Press I and
click select Location to insert another keyframe. 

Press Shift-back arrow to go
to first frame. Press Alt-A to preview the animation.

Step 11

Click on the Layout button and select Animation.

In the Dope Sheet editor you can see the two keyframes. You can move them
around to make the animation slow or fast. Secondary-click on the keyframe and then
press G to move. 

Step 12

Click on the play button or press Alt-A to preview the animation.

Step 13

Drag the green bar in the timeline to get into frame between the two keyframes. Press
F12 to
render a still image. You’ll notice that the plane is also being rendered
which we want to avoid. Also the text behind the plane should not
render.

Step 14

Secondary-click on the Text to select it. Press M and select second box to move
the selected text to second layer.

Step 15

Secondary-click on the plane and then press M and then click on the first block
to move it to the first layer.

Step 16

Hold Shift and then left click on the layer buttons to make them visible. You
can also press the ~ key to make all layers visible in the 3D viewport.

Step 17

Click on the Render Layers button in the Properties editor. 

In the Layers
panel, the are three categories of Layers. The first one is Scene layers.
These
are the layers visible in viewport. 

Second one is named Layer. The
selected layers under these will be included in final render. 

The third group is
for Mask layer. The objects of this layer will be used as masks. Click on the second layer button (in which we have the text objects) for render
Layer. 

Select first layer for Mask. This will set the planes which are in
layer one as masks.

Go to any frame in between the two keyframes and press F12 to render. You will see that the plane and the text behind it
are not included in the
final render.

Step 18

Similarly add a second text for subtitle. Add a plane covering it. Move both
new object behind the first two. Move the new subtitle text further a bit.

Step 19

Animate the second text object going down. Go to frame 25. with the text
selected, press I to insert a keyframe. Select Location.

Step 20

Press Shift-up arrow to move ahead ten frames. Move the text down. Press
I and
select Location to insert another keyframe.

Press Shift-left arrow to go
to frame 1. Press Alt-A to preview the animation.

Step 21

In the animation layout and in the Dope Sheet, you can adjust and move the
keyframe to set the timing. The further the keyframes are, the slower will be
the animation.

Step 22

Secondary-click on the text to select it. Click on the material button in the
properties editor and select the material already created for first title text.

Step 23

With the text selected, press M and move the object to second layer. Then right click on the second plane and press
M and
then click on the first layer to move it to first layer. 

All text is now in
second layer and planes are in first (mask) layer.

Step 24

Go to frame 45 and press F12 to render the current frame. 

You’ll notice
that the second text is still not visible. This is because it is being masked
out by the first plane. So you need it either animate the first plane or let it
scale down automatically with the movement of the first title text.

Step 25

Press Shift-left arrow to go to first frame. Secondary-click on the first plane
object to select it. 

Step 26

Press Tab to enter edit mode. Press B and drag select bottom two vertices.

Step 27

Press Ctrl-H to add Hook. Select Hook to New object. Press Tab to exit edit
mode. Select the hook object and press G to move it around and check. 

You’ll notice that the
bottom two vertices are now attached to the Empty. Press Esc to reset the
location.

Step 28

Hold Shift and then right click on the Empty and then the title text. 

Press
Ctrl-P to parent the empty to text. Select Object in the pop up. Press
Shift-left arrow to go to first frame. 

Press Alt-A to preview the animation. You
will notice that the mask object now shrinks along with the movement of the
title text.

Step 29

Go to frame 45 and press F12. Now you can see the subtitle text. In the next part of this tutorial, you will learn how to apply this animation onto a video.

Method Two: Using Boolean Modifier

Step 1

This method is best if you want to use a logo which is in .png format with
transparent background. To import .png images as 3D object you need to activate
Import Images as Planes add-on. 

Press Ctrl-Alt-U to bring out User Preference
window. Click on Add-ons tab. In the search box type image and then activate
Import Images as Planes. Close the window.

Step 2

In the 3D view, press 1 in numpad to get into front view. Press 5 in the numpad to toggle off perspective mode. Press
Shift-A and click on Mesh>Images as
Planes.

Step 3

Browse for the .png logo image. In the Import Options tick Use Alpha
checkbox. 

In the Material Settings panel, tick the Shadeless checkbox. Press the
Z Transparency button. finally click Import Image as planes button.

Step 4

Press Alt-Z to preview the image in the 3D viewport. Press Shift-A
and add Mesh>Cube. 

Step 5

Press Z to switch to wireframe mode. With the cube selected, press Tab to enter edit mode. Press
A to select all
vertices and then S and then Z to scale the cube down the Z-axis.

Scale the cube
such that it is just a little bit bigger than the logo plane. Check from the
side view also.

Step 6

Press Tab to exit edit mode. With the cube selected, move the mouse in the
outliner window. Press . (del) key in the number pad to see the selected object in
outliner. 

Click on the camera button. This will disable the rendering of the
cube. In the Properties editor, click on the cube button to see object
properties. In the Display panel, select Wire in the Maximum Draw Type. 

This
will display the cube in wireframe mode in the 3D viewport.

Step 7

Secondary-click on the logo plane to select it. Click on the modifiers button in the
properties editor. Click Add Modifier button and select Boolean.

Step 8

In the Operation select Intersect and for Object select the
Cube which is
covering the logo.

Press G and move the mouse around. You will see that the plane is only visible
inside the cube. Secondary-click to cancel the move.

Step 9

Press Shift-A and add a Camera. In the camera properties click on the
Orthographic button. Press Ins key in the number pad to get into camera view. 

With
the camera selected, press G and move it to adjust the frame and arrangement.
Move the Scale slider to fit the logo and title in the frame.

Step 10

Go to frame 11. Type the number manually on the frame counter or press
Shift-up arrow to move ahead 10 frames.

Secondary-click on the logo plane to select
it. Use the arrow widget to move to away outside the cube. Press I and select
location to insert a keyframe.

Step 11

Drag the green timeline to frame 31. With the logo selected, move it
inside the centre of the cube so that you can see it. Press I to insert keyframe.
Select Location in the pop up.

Step 12

Press Shift-left arrow to go to first frame. Press Alt-A to preview the
animation. Press Esc key to stop. 

Drag the timeline and go to any in between
frame. Press F12 to see rendered preview.

Step 13

I am going to add another transparent .png with title text. Press Shift-A and
add Mesh>Images as Planes. 

Browse for the title image which must be .png with transparent background. 

In the
Import Options tick the Use Alpha checkbox. In Material Settings , tick
Shadeless checkbox and click on the Z Transparency button. Finally click
Import
Images as Planes button.

Step 14

Press Alt-Z to see textured preview. Select the title and move it beside the logo and
just outside the cube.

Step 15

With the title selected, secondary-click on it to select, click on the modifiers
button in the properties editor. Click on the Add Modifier button and select
Boolean.

Select Difference for Operation and Cube for Object. This is the same cube
which is covering the logo. You dont have to create another cube covering the
title.

Press Z to switch to wireframe mode. Secondary-click on the title object and use
the arrow widget to move and see the effect. 

The title object will not be
visible if it is inserted in the cube.

Step 16

If the cube is small you can increase its width. Secondary-click on the cube to
select it.

Press Tab to enter edit mode. Press B key and drag select the
vertices on side. Use the arrow widget to move them. Press Tab again to exit
edit mode.

Step 17

Now animate the title. Go the frame 29 by manually entering the frame
number in the frame counter to by dragging the green marker in the timeline. 

With the title selected and inside the cube I will add the first keyframe. Press
I to bring out the keyframe menu and select location.

Step 18

Move ahead 20 frames by dragging the timeline or by manually entering the
frame number in the counter. 

Move the title with arrow widget to the right of
the cube so that it is visible. Press I and then select Location to insert
another keyframe. Press Alt-A to preview the animation.

Step 19

Press Ins key in the numpad to get into camera view. Right click on the
camera to select it. Press G and move the camera to adjust the frame such
that the title and logo are in center.

Move the Scale slider to fit
the logo and title in the frame. You can adjust the keyframes in the Dope
Sheet editor.

In the Next Tutorial

In the next part of this tutorial series, I’ll show you another method that can be used for 3D meshes as well as text objects. I’ll also show you how to apply these animation onto a video.