Titling and the Titler

Note: To make tab markers visible whenever selected (rather than only when the Tab Stops dialog box is open), choose Title > View > Tab Markers.

Delete a tab stop

In the Tab Stops dialog box, drag the tab up, down, or off the tab ruler.

Drawing shapes in titles

Create shapes

You can use the drawing tools in the Titler to create various shapes, such as rectangles, ellipses, and lines. The Titler includes standard pen tools that resemble pen tools used in Illustrator and Photoshop.

Jon Barrie shows how to use the Titler in Adobe Premiere Pro to create feathered masks in this video on the Creative Cow website.

A

BF

CG

DH

EI

Titler tools panel

A. Pen Tool B. Rectangle C. Clipped Corner Rectangle D. Wedge E. Ellipse F. Rounded Corner Rectangle G. Rounded Rectangle H. Arc I. Line

Select a shape tool.

•Shift-drag to constrain the shape’s aspect ratio.

•Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) to draw from the center of the shape.

•Shift+Alt-drag (Windows) or Shift+Option-drag (Mac OS) to constrain the aspect ratio and draw from the center.

•Drag diagonally across the corner points to flip the shape diagonally as you draw.

•Drag across, up, or down to flip the shape horizontally or vertically as you draw.

To flip the shape after you’ve drawn it, use the Selection tool to drag a corner point in the direction you want it to flip.

Change the shape of a graphic object or a logo

1 Select one or more objects or logos in a title.

Last updated 1/16/2012

Titling and the Titler

2In the Title Properties panel, click the triangle next to Properties to expand its list, and then choose an option from the Graphic Type menu.

Note: When you change shapes, the original object anchor points often are lost. To reveal the object anchor points before or after changing the shape, select the object with the Selection tool.

Draw straight segments with Pen Tool

Draw straight lines by clicking Pen Tool in the drawing area. Pen Tool creates object anchor points connected by straight segments.

1Select Pen Tool.

2Position the tip of the pen point where you want the straight segment to begin, and click to define the first object anchor point. The object anchor point remains selected (solid) until you add the next point.

Note: The first segment you draw is not visible until you click a second object anchor point. Also, if lines extend from either side of the point, you’ve accidentally dragged Pen Tool; choose Edit > Undo and click again.

3Click again where you want the segment to end. (Shift-click to constrain the segment’s angle to multiples of 45°.) Pen Tool creates another object anchor point.

4Continue clicking Pen Tool to create additional straight segments. The last object anchor point you add appears as a large square, indicating that it is selected.

5Complete the path by doing one of the following:

•To close a path, click the initial object anchor point. A circle appears underneath the pen pointer when it is directly over the initial object anchor point.

•To leave the path open, Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac OS) anywhere away from all objects, or select a different tool in the Tools panel.

Draw curves with Pen Tool

Draw curved segments by dragging the object anchor points with Pen Tool. When you use the Selection tool to select an object anchor point connecting curved segments, the segments display direction lines, which end in direction points. The angle and length of the direction lines determine the shape and size of the curved segments. Moving the direction lines reshapes the curves. A smooth point always has two direction lines that move together as a single, straight unit. When you drag the direction point of either direction line on a smooth point, both direction lines move simultaneously. Pen Tool maintains a continuous curve at that object anchor point. In comparison, a corner point can have two, one, or no direction lines, depending on whether it joins two, one, or no curved segments, respectively.

Corner point direction lines maintain the corner by working independently of one another. When you drag a direction point on a corner point’s direction line, the other direction line, if present, does not move. Direction lines are always tangent to (perpendicular to the radius of) the curve at the object anchor points. The angle of each direction line determines the slope of the curve. The length of each direction line determines the height, or depth, of the curve.

1Select Pen Tool.

2Position the cursor where you want the curve to begin. Hold down the mouse button.

3Drag to create direction lines that determine the slope of the curve segment you’re creating. In general, extend the direction line about one third of the distance to the next object anchor point you plan to draw. Shift-drag to constrain the direction line to multiples of 45 °.

4Release the mouse button.

Note: The first segment is not visible until you create the second object anchor point.

Last updated 1/16/2012