In this short course, entitled 'Apple Motion: Make Text Reveal Animations, Using Masks', from Siren Productions, you will learn how to create three types of text reveal animations in Apple Motion. The course begins with an intro trailer, showing several example animations. The animation that I found most interesting was the write on or handwriting effect.

The instructor, who doesn't give his name, begins with a tour of the Motion interface and tools. He demonstrates how to draw and edit with the drawing and text tools. He also shows how to do the basics such as moving, reshaping and rotating objects. He discusses how layers work in Motion, concentrating on the hierarchy of layers in a design.

Next, the instructor discusses the Inspector panel and object properties. Using a simple rectangle shape, he demonstrates how to set properties, add keyframes and change property settings for animation. He also shows how to animate several properties on one object in an animation.

Moving to the next level, the instructor introduces masking in Motion. He begins by adding a grid to the screen, drawing a mask using a Rectangle Mask tool and discusses how to set the mask's properties. Using the same simple rectangle, he demonstrates how only the part of the rectangle directly under the mask is visible. He ends the lesson by showing how to export the project.

Once the basics of masks are covered, the instructor begins working on the first of three masking projects. In this first project, which is the easiest, the animation is created by moving the text and not the mask. First he adds the text to the screen and converts the text to a group, as text cannot be mask ungrouped. Then he draws a rectangle mask over the text. As the entire mask is over the text, all the text is visible. This will become the end of the animation, so he adds the ending keyframe. Next he moves the text out of the mask area until it is not visible and adds the starting keyframe.

In the second example, the instructor reverses the masking method. In this project, he animates the mask instead of the text, which allows him to create more advanced projects.

In the last example, the instructor creates a handwriting animation. He begins by adding the text to the screen. Next, he uses the Paint Stroke tool to draw over the text. After converting the paint stroke to a mask and adjusting the width of the stroke to cover the letters of the text, he adds the keyframes and sets the beginning and ending settings for the Last Point property, which creates the handwriting animation.

Apple Motion: Make Text Reveal Animations, Using Masks By Siren Productions
https://www.skillshare.com/en/classes/Apple-Motion-Make-Text-Reveal-Animations-Using-Masks/1608720433/

Disclosure: As a participant in the Creative Market affiliate program, some of the links in this article are affiliate links. However, my opinions are completely my own based on my experience.

Screenshots used by permission of Skillshare, Inc.