Text effects

The Numbers effect generates random or sequential numbers in different formats, such as decimal number, dates, and timecode—even the current date and time (at render time). You can use the Numbers effect to create counters of various kinds. The maximum offset for sequential numbers is 30,000.

This effect works with 8-bpc color.

The following options and values are available in the Font Style dialog box: Font, Style, Direction, and Alignment. To open this dialog box again, click Options at the top of the entry for the effect in the Effect Controls panel.

The numbering system:

Decimal numbers.

Decimal numbers with five digits to the left of the decimal point.

Standard non-drop-frame timecode formats (XX:XX:XX:XX) using the stated frame rate. The timecode types use the current time of the layer as the base.

Hours and minutes. If you also select Current Time/Date, the Value/Offset/Random Max value is ignored. If you select Random, the time is bounded by 0 (12:00 AM) and the slider value.

If you don’t also select Current Time/Date, the Value/Offset/Random Max is the number of days since January 1, 1995 (0 on the slider corresponds to January 1, 1995). If you do select Current Time/Date, Value/Offset/Random Max is the number of days since the current date (0 on the slider corresponds to the current date). If you select Random, the date is bounded by 0 (either the current date or January 1, 1995) and the slider value.

Base-16 numbers (digits from 0 to F). Hexadecimal numbers increment by 0x1 for every 0.0000125 that the Value/Offset/Random Max value increases, and increments by 0x10000 for every 1.0 that the Value/Offset/Random Max value increases. If you select Random, the number is bounded by 0 and the Value/Offset/Random Max value.

Random values limited by the Value/Offset/Random Max value. If Value/Offset/Random Max is 0, values are random across their maximum possible range.

Varies based on the chosen type and whether Random Values is selected.

Specifies the number of places to the right of the decimal point.

Select for time and date numbers to be based on the current time and date.

The position of the numbers on the layer.

Specifies the use of a fill or stroke or a combination of both on the text. Fill Only fills the characters with a color. Stroke Only strokes the edges of the characters with a color. Fill Over Stroke overlaps the fill color onto the stroke color. Stroke Over Fill overlaps the stroke color onto the fill color.

Size of the characters.

Average distance between characters.

Numbers use proportional spacing instead of monospacing.

Text is composited on top of the original image. If Composite On Original isn’t selected, the original image isn’t visible.

Alternatives to using the Numbers effect

Use text layers for greater control over text formatting and text animation. (See Creating and editing text layers.)

See Example: Animate text as a timecode display.

Timecode effect

The Timecode effect creates a text overlay that displays timecode or frame number information on a layer. This effect doesn’t modify timecode embedded from external sources, such as QuickTime.

Use text layers for greater control over text formatting and text animation. (See Creating and editing text layers.)

This effect works with 8-bpc color.

Specifies whether timecode is displayed in the SMPTE format, in frame numbers, or in feet and frames of 35mm or 16mm film.

The source used for the effect.

Layer Source

Timecode is displayed according to the timecode from the source footage of the layer.

Composition

Timecode is displayed according to the timecode from the composition.

Custom

Allows access to the settings in the Custom section, the previous behavior of the effect. These are Time Units, Drop Frame and Starting Frame.

Frame rate in frames per second (fps) to be used by this instance of the Timecode effect. This setting affects only the numbers displayed by the Timecode effect; it has no influence on composition frame rate or the frame rate of the source footage item for the layer.

Select Drop Frame to generate drop-frame timecode or deselect it to generate non-drop-frame timecode.

The frame number assigned to the first frame of the layer.

The position of the text overlay, in composition space.

The size of text, in points.

The color of the text.

Specifies whether the colored box behind the timecode value will display or not.

The color of the box behind the timecode value.

The opacity of the box behind the timecode value.

Specifies whether the box will be composited on the original or a transparent layer.

Alternatives to using the Timecode effect

Use text layers for greater control over text formatting and text animation. (See Creating and editing text layers.)

See Example: Animate text as a timecode display.

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