Motion Graphics, Shape Layers, and Typography
Shape structure
A shape layer contains groups; each group holds contents (paths, fill, stroke, gradient, operators) and its own transform. Operators modify geometry in stack order: Merge Paths, Repeater, Trim Paths, Round Corners, Offset Paths, Pucker & Bloat, Twist, and Zig Zag. Trim Paths trims every path in its group unless paths are separated into their own groups - a favorite exam trap. Repeater duplicates shapes, and its position relative to a stroke changes the final look. Shape layer transforms follow a fixed order (anchor point, position, scale, skew, rotation, opacity); avoid altering the shape-layer transform preference if you want predictable nesting.
Typography
Text animators add a property such as position, scale, tracking, or fill color, then a Range Selector controls which characters are affected through Start, End, Offset, and Advanced settings (Amount, Shape, Ease High/Low). Wiggly Selectors randomize. Text on a path uses a mask path. Source Text can be keyframed or driven by expressions, and per-character 3D enables depth per glyph.
Traps
- An animator with default range settings affects all characters, not a few.
- Converting text to shapes permanently removes text editability.
- Missing fonts substitute silently; check before rendering.
- Text animator order changes the combined result.
Worked example
Build a staggered word reveal with one text animator: add a Position animator with a vertical offset, set the Range Selector's Advanced Shape to Ramp Up, Ease High to about 80 percent, then animate Offset from 0 to 100 percent. One animator plus a shaped selector produces the cascade; extra animators are usually unnecessary.