In the previous tutorial, "Boris Graffiti, The Beginning", we discovered the user interface and some bits of the "Advanced Mode". We used an existing effect in the Boris Graffiti library and we learned how to change various attributes of a text such as colour, font, and size. But we kept the original animation provided for the text so it was quite easy to manage.

This time we will go one step further by creating our own customized text animation! We will discover the capabilities of this powerful software and simulate the famous Typewriter behaviour that doesn't exist yet. Following instructions will guide you step by step.

First of all, get a video clip with an historical animal that could disappear from the planet one day ... i.e. a Rhinoceros (Rhinocéros in French). Slightly identical in both languages so we think it will perfectly fit our needs.

 Step 1 : Creation of the Title

Switch immediately to "Advanced Mode" and double-click on the "Text" track to open "Text Windows".
Then at the bottom of this window click "Reset Style" to reset styles and remove any style used previously.

Currently the font should be defaulted to "New Roman Times" and the size 78. These are values from last usage. Now enter your text and look at the behaviour of the various windows.
Select the entire text otherwise the change might not apply correctly! Keep "Times New Roman" font but change the size to 88 (select the value in the pop-up menu or use direct entry).
Please note that the title is centered by default. Click the Update button to apply the changes. Studio 12 Preview Window will get updated only after the changes are applied!
Then, we think that the size of this title seems a bit small ... Select again the entire text. Click the font size button to increase up to 108. Yes, but ...
Then the text is displayed on two lines. Select the  "Page" tab (second tab)of the "Text Windows". Click on the pop-up menu and select "Wrap". Hooray, the text fits now in one line.
Move down the title; Ensure that the "Animate / Static Mode" key is set to Static (black). Select the  "Rhinoceros" track and slide the title with the mouse (you can also enter 440 in the Y Position).
Let's improve the  title by applying some style. Click on "Style Palette". Select the entire text  Choose in library 01-Basic Black. Select preferred style (double-click). Click on the "Update" button to apply the changes.

 Step 2 : Typewriter animation

"Rhinoceros" track should be currently selected. You can use the "Face / Shape Track Selection", to switch from "Face" to "Track". You can use the mouse as well to select the track to work with.   "Face" track must be selected for the next steps. If that's not  currently the case, click on the selection button or click on the "Face" track (with the mouse).
New control tabs will appear. Select "Type On" and  make sure that the small key is black. Position the timeline cursor at 0 with the mouse (or click on the first keyframe). Then enter 0 in "Text Type On". Please note that the text is not displayed in case of null value.
The "Face"  track has two keyframes by default. Create a third one at 30% of the effect; it's the position where the first Typewriter letter will be hit (visible). Set the value of this new keyframe to 0 in "Text Type On" with a "Linear" (/) interpolation.
Now create a new keyframe at 60%. This is the position where the text will be ended.  Change the "Type Text On" value from 0 to 100. Change the interpolation  value from  "None" () to "Linear" (/).
This screenshot is showing that the time slider is located at the beginning.  You should remember that the value of "Type Text On" track "Face" at that time was 0 so the text is not yet visible.

Summary :

Two tracks where used:

• The "Rhinoceros" track. It's a "3D plane" representing the totality of the "Text" object (size, position, movement ...) and contains the "Face" track.
• The "Face" track. It is a "Media" containing the attributes of the text (text itself, font, size, style). It is encapsulated in "Rhinoceros" track.

As whatever track, the "Face" track included by default two keyframes, one at the beginning and one at the end. You've added two keyframes located at 30% and 60% of the time. For each of these keyframes, you have assigned parameter values for "Text Type On" and changed the type of interpolation:

• Key 1: Value 0 (text not visible) and interpolation "None" ( ) i.e. w/o interpolation (small black key)
• Key 2: Value 0 (text not visible) and interpolation "Linear" (/) listed with progressive interpolation 
• Key 3: Value 100 (full text visible) and interpolation "Linear" (/) listed with progressive interpolation 
• Key 4: You didn't update this one. Default value is 100 and interpolation "None" ( )

Step 3 : Bonus!  Let the title disappear as if you remove the sheet from the Typewriter

With the mouse, click on the third keyframe of the "Face" track. This keyframe will be highlighted in red and the time slider will align accordingly. Select the "Rhinoceros" track (the one that contains all the object "Text") and create a keyframe to set start position Y=440 and "Linear".
Create another keyframe located at 75% of the effect. (Value "Position Y" = -120 or -130 with "Linear" (/) interpolation. As per result  the title will be completely  removed from the screen from the top starting 75% of elapsed time) You might notice that between the two 440 and -130 (position -90) key values the text hasn't fully exited from the screen.

 Step 4 : Final result

Now click on the "Apply" button. Your new customized effect will be saved and return to the Studio 12 interface.

Step 5 : Bonus 2 - Update a typo error

Now you have all the main ingredients to achieve this effect. The only thing missing maybe... let's give you a hint: "Copy Track/Paste Track".   Let's see if you can make it..

This was the second tutorial about Boris Graffiti. We just tried to show you step by step the foundations of the advanced use of this software. You will certainly discover more by yourself, enjoy!
 
Worthwhile mentioning that the interface does support various types of input:

• mouse
• keyboard shortcut
• menu and submenu
• pop-up menu
• direct input of a parameter value

To be honest we spend more time to align some audio with the title than all of the above..
We still have lot of ideas and things to discover. Feel free to comment and let us know if you would like to see any specific tutorials!

{Thanks to Rémy Fehlmann for translation and Loosecannon for the fine tuning}