Using Other Behaviors with Text
Because text is like all other objects in Motion, you can apply any Basic Motion, Parameter, or Simulation behavior to text objects. Because the characters of text make the object a group, you can create unique animations using Simulation behaviors. This section provides a quick overview of working with nontext behaviors applied to text. For more information on using behaviors, see Using Behaviors.
Behaviors are applied to text in the same manner as other objects—by using the Library or the Add Behavior pop-up menu in the toolbar. The Library allows you to see a preview of the behavior before it is applied to text. The Add Behavior pop-up menu allows you to apply a behavior to a single or multiple text objects.
In the Library, select the Behaviors category, select a Basic Motion, Parameter, or Simulation subcategory, and then drag the behavior from the stack to the text (in the Canvas, Layers list, or Timeline).
Select the text, then choose an item from the Add Behavior pop-up menu in the toolbar.
In the following example, an animation is created in which the text moves and collides with the edge of the screen. You can set the text to hit the edge as a single object, or have each text character hit the edge one at a time.
From the Basic Motion subcategory, apply the Throw behavior to the text.
Adjust the Throw so the text moves across the Canvas.
From the Simulations subcategory, apply the Edge Collision and Vortex behaviors to the text.
In the Inspector, select the Affect Subobjects checkbox for the Edge Collision behavior.
Play the project (press the Space bar).
The text characters are swept around the screen in a vortex pattern. If the text characters start to move off the screen, they collide with the edge of the screen.
Related Objects is the default setting in the Affect parameter of the Vortex behavior, which means that all objects in the same group are affected. You can change this to Specific Objects to select which objects are affected, or change it to All Objects.
Note: Behaviors often contain parameters that specify how objects to which the behavior is applied are affected. These controls influence the result of a behavior when it is applied to text. For example, if you have text on a circular path and you apply a Spin behavior to the text, the text object rotates as a whole around its anchor point. To rotate individual text characters, select the Affect Subobjects checkbox in the Spin parameters.
For more information on using behaviors, see Using Behaviors.