How to Use Write-On Text Effect on Adobe After Effects in 2025

What is a write-on effect in After Effects

A write-on effect in Adobe After Effects creates the illusion of text being written on the screen in real time, as if drawn by hand. This effect is achieved using the "Stroke" tool and masks to trace each letter's path. By animating the stroke over time, the text gradually appears in smooth, natural motion. It's a great way to add a dynamic and creative touch to videos.

Uses of After Effects text writing effects

Text effects enhance creativity and make content more engaging. The write-on text effects in Adobe After Effects are widely used in marketing, education, and filmmaking to create dynamic visuals. Let’s explore some key applications of this dynamic text animation.

• Handwritten signatures

Handwritten signature effects in After Effects bring a personal and artistic touch to videos. They mimic real handwriting, making brand logos, names, or signatures look smooth and natural. This effect adds sophistication to business videos, personal branding, and cinematic intros.

• Title and lower thirds

Titles and lower thirds created with After Effects text effects ensure a sleek, professional look. They help highlight key information in news broadcasts, interviews, and presentations. Dynamic animations make them engaging and guide the viewer's attention easily.

• Explainer videos

Text writing effects in explainer videos make content more engaging and clear. Animated text reinforces key points to keep audiences focused and improve message retention. This style works well for tutorials, product demos, and educational content.

• Social media ads

Well-crafted text animations in social media ads instantly grab attention. They add energy to short-form ads and make brand messages stand out. Eye-catching motion effects increase engagement and make information easier to process.

• Motion graphics

Text writing effects in motion graphics create fluid and visual striking animations. They blend smoothly with other elements to add depth and movement. Whether for intros, transitions, or dynamic presentations, they enhance the overall visual appeal.

How to create a write-on effect in After Effects

Creating a write-on effect in After Effects adds dynamic handwriting animations to your videos. With basic animations, you can make text appear naturally on the screen. Follow these steps to achieve a smooth and professional write-on effect:

STEP 1
1. Create a new composition and add text

Open After Effects and go to "Composition" > "New Composition" to set up your workspace. Adjust the composition settings as needed and click "OK." Next, select the "Type Tool" from the toolbar, click in the center of the screen, and type your desired text.

STEP 2
1. Apply the stroke effect

Select the "Pen Tool" and ensure your text layer is selected. Trace over the text to create a mask that follows each letter’s shape. Then, go to "Effects & Presets," search for "Stroke," and apply it to the text layer. Alternatively, go to "Effect" > "Generate" > "Stroke" from the top menu.

STEP 3
1. Animate the write-On effect

In the stroke settings, select the mask or enable "All Masks" and change the "Paint Style" to "Reveal Original Image." Set a keyframe for the "End" at 0%, enable "Bezier Handles," then move it to 3–5 seconds and set End to 100%. Press enter, adjust the timing, and press Spacebar to preview the animation.

How to make a text writing effect in After Effects

Adding a write-on text effect in Adobe After Effects can create a realistic and engaging animation. Follow these steps to make a smooth and professional text-writing effect in After Effects.

STEP 1
1. Open effects & presets panel

Open After Effects, go to the right menu, and select "Window" > "Effects & Presets" to access the available text effects. This panel enables you to find and apply effects to enhance your text animation quickly.

STEP 2
1. Select the text layer

In the timeline panel, click on the text layer you want to animate. Ensuring the correct layer is selected will enable the effect to be applied smoothly without affecting other elements.

STEP 3
1. Adjust the cursor blinking speed

In the "Effect Controls" panel, locate the cursor blinking speed and double-click to apply it. This action will instantly create a smooth typewriting animation to enhance the natural flow of the text's appearance.

Best plugins for text writing effects in After Effects

Now that you understand how to make text writing effects in After Effects, let’s explore some of the best plugins to enhance your animations. These plugins will help you create smoother and more professional text effects with ease.

• Saber

Saber enhances text animations with glowing and fluid light effects. The plugin demands extensive customization that enables users to create energetic and visually striking designs. Cinematic titles and dynamic motion graphics benefit greatly from its capabilities.

• Red Giant Universe

Red Giant Universe provides a variety of text animation presets for smooth and stylish effects. Features like Type-On and Text Motion simplify the process of creating engaging animations. Modern transitions and unique typography styles become easy with this tool.

• Animation Composer

Animation Composer is designed to make text animation faster and more efficient. It provides a collection of pre-built motion presets that help create engaging effects in seconds. This tool is perfect for users who want professional results without complex keyframing.

• Text Animator

Text Animator enables precise control over letter movements within a text layer. Handwriting-style reveals, typewriter effects and fluid transitions can be easily created. Personalizing animated typography becomes smooth with its advanced settings.

• Stroke FX

Stroke FX specializes in animating text through smooth stroke reveals. Realistic handwritten effects and adjustable motion settings provide a refined appearance. This plugin works well for creating visually appealing text animations with minimal effort.

Another easier way to use the write-on text effect: CapCut

CapCut desktop video editor makes adding write-on text effects easier to operate by offering ready-made text effects that you can use with just one click. The AI-driven text animations, motion tracking, and auto-captioning tools allow you to enhance your videos effortlessly. You can also personalize your text with gradient colors, motion effects, and shadows for a polished look—all within an intuitive interface that streamlines the editing process.

Key features

• Animate text effortlessly

CapCut's animated text maker allows you to add a variety of animation effects to text or create a custom path using the keyframe animations.

• Versatile text effects and templates

CapCut provides a variety of text effects and pre-made templates, which enable users to create engaging and professional-looking animations efficiently.

• Apply motion tracking to texts

With CapCut's motion tracking feature, you can sync text with moving objects in your video, ensuring dynamic and seamless integration.

• Easy text-to-speech conversion

The text-to-speech tool instantly generates voiceovers from text. This adds professional narration to your videos without extra effort.

• Instant auto caption generation

CapCut’s auto-caption generator quickly converts spoken words into subtitles, improving accessibility and viewer engagement.

How to apply stunning effects to texts in videos with CapCut

If CapCut isn't installed on your PC yet, tap the button below to download and set it up. After installation, follow the steps below to add eye-catching effects to text in your videos easily.

STEP 1
1. Import the video

Launch CapCut and create a "New project" from the main interface. Select the "Import" option to add your video from your device to the workspace.

STEP 2
1. Use the text effects and animations

Navigate to "Text" and add your text to the video. Then, explore a variety of "Text effects" to enhance its appearance or generate custom fonts using the "AI generated" feature. Next, go to "Animations" and apply them for smooth visual transitions. Finally, adjust the text size, color, and placement in the video.

STEP 3
1. Export and share

When you're satisfied with your edits, click the "Export" button and customize the settings as needed. Then, click "Export" again to save your video. You can also share it directly on TikTok and YouTube.

Conclusion

In conclusion, mastering the write-on text effect in Adobe After Effects enables you to create smooth and visually engaging animations. This technique enhances storytelling by making text appear naturally, adding a dynamic touch to your videos. Whether you're designing titles, animated captions, or handwritten effects, precise keyframe adjustments ensure a refined outcome. With the proper settings, you can achieve professional-quality results quickly.

However, for a more intuitive and efficient approach, consider using the CapCut desktop video editor, which provides advanced creative tools and dynamic text effects to simplify the process.

FAQs

1
1. Can I apply the After Effects write-on effect to multiple layers?

Applying the After Effects write-on effect to multiple layers can be achieved by pre-composing the desired layers into a single composition and then applying the effect to that pre-comp. This method ensures uniformity across all included layers. Alternatively, using expressions or scripts enables simultaneous application of effects across multiple layers to smooth the process. For a more intuitive approach to achieving similar effects, use the CapCut desktop video editor, which provides user-friendly tools for such animations.

2
1. How can I customize the speed of text writing in After Effects?

To customize the speed of text writing in After Effects, you can adjust the timing of keyframes associated with the 'Stroke' or 'Write-On' effects. By spacing these keyframes closer or further apart, you control the speed of the text reveal. Additionally, utilizing expressions enables dynamic control over animation speed, offering precise adjustments. Alternatively, CapCut desktop video editor provides straightforward tools to adjust text animation speeds, simplifying the process for users seeking efficiency.

3
1. Is it possible to add an After Effects write-on text effect to an existing text?

Yes, it's possible to add an After Effects write-on text effect to existing text. By applying the "Stroke" effect and creating masks that trace the text's path, you can animate the appearance of pre-existing text layers. This technique allows for seamless integration of the write-on effect with your current text elements. For a more accessible solution, CapCut desktop video editor provides built-in features to apply write-on effects to text, which makes the process more efficient.