Light-Writing Intro - AE CS3 Project File

 

 

Everything in this dramatic intro project is pretty straight forward once 
you know your way around. So let's go layer by layer so you can 
understand how easy it is to change everything. 
 
Tip: Before you do anything, save a back-up copy of the project file - just 
in case you need it :) 
 

Before you start

 I'd just like you to make a note of something that will 

be useful later on. 
 

1) In the Main Comp timeline select the Light Writing Stroke layer and 
move the current time indicator to the 5-sec mark or thereabouts (or see 
the screen shot below) 
 
2) Notice the red line (which is the path the light writing follows) matches 
the general outline shape of the L-O-G-O characters 
 
3) This is the basis of the effect. Learn later how to customize the path to 
your logo / word. 
 

OK let's begin... 
 
 

A) Your Content

 

 
1) In the Project Panel double-click to open the Your Content pre-comp. 

You will see it contains a single layer of text using this free font: 
http://www.fontspace.com/beyond-design/randi 
 
2) Either type your text here or drop in your logo as, for example, a .psd 
with transparent background. The light writing effect is most dramatic 
with a simpler design, or word(s), but you can customize it to suit 
anything (see below). 
 
3) I recommend you keep to a similar on-screen size, position and 
proportion that I have used, to ensure your message or logo stands out 

without being over-sized. 
 
4) In the Effect Controls for the test layer you will see I have used a bit of 
Bevel Alpha on the text plus given it a colour ramp effect. You can of 
course remove these effects or adjust values as your prefer. Much will 
depend on your content, especially if it's a logo, but you could also 
consider adding a Glow or Drop Shadow effect. 

 
Return to the Main Comp to see Your Content in place. Scrub along the 
timeline and you'll see the next thing we need to customize is the Linear 
Wipe, which makes your word/logo appear from left to right…However, 
we can’t finalize this before we’ve customized the light writing, so return 

here when that’s done. 
 
1) In the main timeline, twiddle down the Your Content layer to reveal 
Linear Wipe. 
 
2) Adjust start and end Transition Completion keyframe values so that 
your word or logo appears just after the light writing passes that point. 
 
 

B) Light Writing Stroke

 

 
This effect is based on a customizable bezier line, which - if you haven't 
used these before - can be a bit fiddly to begin with. But take your time 
and have patience because the more accurate your work on this, the 
better the end result will be. 
 
1) In the Main Comp timeline select the Light Writing Stroke layer. In 

the composition window the bezier line will appear in red. Notice it starts 
far left, shoots on to the screen, wiggles and loops where the word LOGO 
used to be and then jumps a bit before flying out to the right. 
 

 

 
 

2) In these instructions I'm going to assume we're leaving the start and 
end points as they are - and concentrating on the central area - your 
logo or word 
 
3) Depending on the size of your logo/word I suggest you zoom in to at 

least 100% at this stage 
 
4) Click on the bezier line and you will see handles appear on the 
currently selected point. I suggest you work from left to right, starting 
with the point that was above the L. 
 
5) Select this point and move it to an appropriate ‘entry’ point and use 
the handles to adjust the angle of the line. For example, if your first 
character is a W, an entry angle of 20 degrees or so might look right. 
 

6) Now select, move and re-angle the next point in the existing bezier 
line. Notice when moving handles around you can make the line loop. 
 
7) Continue like this, point to point, concentrating on the area to the left 
of where you’re working – as, slowly but surely, the right hand side will 
get fixed up. 
 
8) Assuming your logo/word is more complex than LOGO, you’ll likely 
need additional points along the line. To add these, select the Pen Tool 
and click on the line where you want the new point. You’ll notice the new 

point’s handles appear, with the angle matching that portion of the 
existing line. Move, re-angle and proceed until you’re done. 
 
9) Above all, try to keep your new path smooth and closely following the 
shape of your characters and/or outlines of your logo/graphic. 
 
10) Zoom back out and scrub along the timeline to check your light 
writing. Adjust and experiment until you’re happy – and don’t forget to 
adjust the Linear Wipe on the Your Content layer (see above). 
 

Customizing the light 
 
Adding extra points to the path may have affected start and end timings, 
otherwise known as rotation… 
 
1) With the Light Writing Stroke layer selected, open its Effect Controls 
panel and adjust Segments>Rotation at both the starting and ending 
keyframes so the light writing isn’t visible to begin with and disappears 
stage right at the end. 
 

2) You can also tweak the animation by adjusting Segments>Length 
 
3) If you want a different coloured line, twiddle down Rendering and click 
on the currently white swatch. This area is also where you can adjust the 
lights width, hardness and so on. 

 
4) I have also applied a purplish glow to the line, the colour and strength 
of which you can easily customize by twiddling down the Glow filter. 
 
 

C) Flare Crossing

 

 

This flare boosts the light writing effect and you’ll probably have to 
adjust its start and end positions depending on the width of your word or 
logo. You could also have it follow a more complex motion path, but for 
now let’s assume horizontal movement is what you want… 
 
1) Twiddle down the Flare – Crossing layer to reveal the Flare Center 
keyframes. 
 
2) Move the current time indicator to the first keyframe and adjust the x 
value. Move to the last keyframe and do similar. 

 
3) Scrub along the timeline the check the flare’s movement is 
synchronized with your light writing 
 
4) Notice Flare Brightness also has a few keyframes. Adjust these to your 
liking – make the flare even brighter, or tone it down. 
 
 

D) Sparkles

 

 
You will probably have to adjust settings such as the position and width 
of the particles producer to fit with your logo/word. 
 
1) Select the layer and in Effects Controls > CC Particle World > Producer, 
adjust position values and Radius X (for example, make this number 
bigger and the producer will get wider). 

 
2) There are many other parameters you can experiment with; maybe you 
want bigger particles or a different colour…Just Twiddle down Particle 
and customize from there. 
 
 
 

 

E) Galaxy

 

 
This is another CC Particle World with a bit of Twirl effect applied. You 
can adjust as per the Sparkles layer – instead of a ethereal pink you might 
want electrical blue, for example. 
 
The only other parameter used on this layer is opacity, in that the Galaxy 
appears during the light writing animation and – along with other 
elements – disappears at the dramatic close. 
 
 

 

F) Starfield 

 
1) Twiddle down the layer to reveal Effects > CC Star Burst 
 
2) Adjust, for example the amount of stars; their size, speed and 

direction 
 
 
 

G) Flare - Ending

 

 

This is a simple lens flare effect, with the flare appearing quickly before 
subsiding. 
 
Notice that, at its brightest, other elements in the sequence begin to fade 
out, to give the impression of some kind of galactic implosion. 
 
 

 

 
I really hope you enjoy this project and will rate it, if you already 

haven't :) 
 
If you need any further assistance, please just message me via 
videohive.net and I'll do my best to help.