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415-462-1982

This is a simple-to-do text trick that really wows people. Your text comes on as if a cloud billows it on your screen, and blows away in a puff.

Instructions

1. Create a new file in Photoshop or a similar program. It needs to be 128x128, 256x256, 512x512... so that it will repeat perfectly without any edges in the pattern when you use the cloud filter. Reset your colors to black and white . Fill the layer with white and add a new channel. In this alpha channel use your cloud filter. Hold down the option key for more contrast in your cloud. Save it and call it "cloudalpha". This cloudalpha file is supplied for you (256x256) in the zipped file that you can download.
2. Create your text in Photoshop or Illustrator or a comparable program. Make sure it has an alpha channel. Again, this file is supplied to you in the file you download and it's called "beautiful.ai".
3. Import the cloudalpha and the text into photoshop.
4. Create a new comp that's 256x256, square pixels, 3 seconds and give it a black background (easier to see). Call this comp "cloud".
5. Place the cloudalpha in the cloud layer. Apply the Offset effect (under distort). Keyframe the first frames "shift center to" 0,0. Keyframe the last frame to 0,341. Blend with Original=0.0%. Close this comp. These are just the settings I used and you can tweak and change them and experiment, of course.
6. Create a new comp at 720x540, square pixels, 3 seconds. Well call this comp "text".
7. Drag your Cloud comp into the text comp so that it is centered. Turn the layer off so that you can not see it.
8. Drag your text into the text comp so that it also centered. Your text layer should be layer 1 and your cloud should be layer 2.
9. Apply the gradient wipe effect to your text layer. (Gradient wipe lives under "transition"). Keyframe "transition complete" at 100% for your first frame and last frame. Go to frame 15 and keyframe transition complete to equal 20. The higher the number, the less you will see of your text. Setting your transition to 0 will make your text fully opaque. Set the transition softness to 50.
   Here is the important keyframe data:
   Transition Softness = 50%
   Gradient Layer = cloud
   Gradient placement = stretch to fit layer
10. Now watch your text comp and see what you think. Pretty cool huh! If you want more contrast in your cloud, use the levels filter on the cloudalpha layer.