Text "write on"

I'm kind of a novice with Motion, and I have a simple effect I want to do, and I think it would be simple to do, but I can't figure it out.

I have the text "a storybook setting" that is in a script font (Carpenter, which is similar to Liorah), and I'd kind of like it to "write on" as if it were being written with a pen, but all I can figure out how to do is more of a "type on" which is more like a typewriter.

I would think this is a simple thing to do...and it doesn't have to be perfect either, but there's gotta be something better than the "type on" look.

Thanks!
Casey
www.unitedvideoinc.com

The way I can think of doing this off the top of my head is with the paint feature... you'll have to basically trace by hand the flow you want, and then paint can "write on". This would be easiest with a stylus. I don't think you can just make text automatically do this for you, sadly.
Hmm maybe I can figure this out and make a tutorial on it (unless there is one out there already).

I quick tried it, and it looks like it would be difficult but not impossible to get it to look good.

Yeah, I would have thought there would be an easy way to do this, since it's a fairly common effect. Maybe I can do something in LiveType, and do it letter by letter....

Casey

Ok- The trick for using the write on Paint is to go in and tweak (aka delete 2/3rds of) the points so you can smooth it out. I'm guessing you can keyframe the thickness or use a slanted brush to give it a bit more fluid motion as well.

Or - don't even use the paint stroke tool - just use the bezier tool (traditional pen tool) and set down only as many points as you need.

That's sounds a little beyond my beginners knowledge of Motion. I thought if it would be a simple behavior or something, I would do it, but for what this is for, a soft-edged wipe would be okay too.

I understand the principle of what you're suggesting though, I had a graphics person who did that with After Effects many years ago, and she did it that way. My customer doesn't have the budget for this if this is what it will take to get this effect.

Maybe next time.

Here's a tutorial I made on this-
[www.jamesnweber.com]

YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!!

Thanks!!!!

Casey