In this Motion^R tutorial, we will finish the whiteboard animation. We already have animated the drawing simulation for the logo. Now we will create a writing simulation for the company name.

The method that we are about to use will create a good simulation of the hand writing the company name on the screen, because the pencil will trace over each individual letter in the text. This is great for a custom whiteboard video for a client. But if you are creating a template that will allow the placeholder text to be replaced with another text, you will want to use the same type of simulation that we used to draw the logo.

For example, you will make the Bezier path zig zag over the placeholder text instead of tracing the individual letters. Although the simulation isn't as realistic as the writing simulation that we will learn to create here, it's flexible enough for a template.

But let's assume that this is a custom whiteboard video for a client and we will create the realistic writing simulation.

We will use the Text tool in Motion to add the company name to the project. We want this animation to begin a few frames after the first animation ends, which is at the 02:00 mark on the Timeline. So, let's start this animation at the 02:10 mark and it will last two seconds.

1. With the Playhead at the 02:10 mark, add a new group to the Layers pane above the BG group and name it "Text". Click the screen with the Text tool at the location that you wish to start adding text. Style the text as needed for your client.
   
   Now let's get started. When creating the Bezier path, add anchor points over each letter as if your were writing the text on the screen.
   
   
2. Select the Hand graphic layer and the Bezier tool. Place the first anchor point above the tip of the pencil. Then move over to the text and start adding anchor points over the text. As this is the end of the whiteboard part of the video, add the last anchor point just below the last letter on the screen.
   
   
3. Select the Select/Transform tool to finish the path and rename the new Bezier path layer to "Bezier_Text". Drag the Bezier_Text layer under the Bezier_Logo layer in the Hand group.
   
   Now we will add another Motion Path behavior to the Hand graphic layer.
   
   
4. Select the Hand graphic layer and add a Motion Path behavior. Name it Motion Path 2.
   
   
5. With the Motion Path 2 behavior layer selected, go to the Inspector and set the Path Shape to Geometry. Uncheck the Attach to Shape option and drag the Bezier_Text layer into the Shape Source well.
   
   
6. Move the Playhead to the 02:10 mark on the Timeline. Drag the left edge of the Motion Path 2 track from the beginning of the Timeline to the 02:10 mark. Drag the right edge of the track to the 04:10 mark. Repeat this for the Bezier_Text track.
   
   Now we will create the mask.
   
   
7. Make a duplicate of the Bezier_Text layer and drag this Bezier_Text copy layer into the Text group and place it above the Text layer. Turn off the visibility of the original Bezier_Text layer.
   
   
8. With the Bezier_Text copy layer still selected, increase the Width of the path until the text is hidden below the mask.
   
   
9. Add an Image Mask to the Text layer and drag the Bezier_Text copy layer into the new Image Mask layer.
   
   
10. On the Timeline, drag the right edge of the Image Mask track to the 04:10 mark.
    
    Now we will add the Keyframes to animate the mask.
    
    
11. Place the Playhead at the 02:10 mark and select the Bezier_Text copy layer. Go to the Inspector ( Inspector - Shape - Style - Outline) and set the Last Point Offset slider to zero. Add a Keyframe.
    
    
12. Move the Playhead to the 04:10 mark and set the Last Point Offset slider back to 100.
    
    Test the animation. Our last task is to remove the Hand graphic from the screen.
    
    
13. With the Playhead still at 04:10, select the Hand graphic layer. In the Inspector (Inspector - Properties - Blending), add a Keyframe by clicking the icon to the right of the Opacity slider. Move the Playhead to 04:20 and reduce the Opacity to zero.
    
    

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