How to Highlight Text in After Effects
After Effects lacks native text highlighting functionality. However, the task remains achievable through manual methods or automation tools.
Manual Method: Using the Pen Tool
The process involves selecting the Pen Tool (G) and creating a stroke across your text:
- Add a point at the text's beginning
- Hold Shift and add a second point at the end to maintain a straight line
- Position the stroke layer beneath the text layer in the timeline
- Remove the fill and customize the stroke color
- Adjust stroke width to match your text size
- Reposition as needed for alignment
Animation: Add Trim Paths (Add > Trim Paths) and keyframe the End value from 0 to 100 to animate the highlight drawing on.
Automated Method: Using Type
Type is a Script UI that automates this process:
- Select your text layer or specific range
- Click the highlight button for instant creation
- Hold Shift while clicking to add animation keyframes automatically
- Customize color, width, and path properties like any stroke in After Effects
- Access default settings via Settings > Markup > Highlight
- Hold Option while clicking to quickly change the highlight color
The highlight defaults to 100% of the text's cap height and trims to exact text boundaries.