Creating a realtime typewriter effect

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The typewriter effect is popular in many police dramas and sci-fi thrillers. As if generated by an invisible typewriter, characters appear on-screen one at a time in a staccato manner until the completed sentence is revealed.

A common method of achieving this effect is by creating a title using a 3rd-party titling plug-in, and then applying a reveal effect to the title that requires rendering. With Matrox RT.X, you can take advantage of the crop feature to create a realtime typewriter effect as explained in this tutorial.

1. Create a title

   To create a title using Adobe Title Designer:

   1. Start Adobe Premiere Pro.
   2. Choose File > New > Title. Adobe Title Designer opens.
   3. Create a title.
   4. When you are satisfied with your title, choose File > Save As. Specify a location and filename, then click Save.
      
      

2. Set up the Adobe Premiere Pro Timeline

   To superimpose your title over a background video clip, do the following:

   1. Import a video clip and place it onto track Video 1.
   2. Drag your newly created title onto track Video 2.
      
      

3. Apply realtime move and scale to the title clip

   To apply a realtime move and scale effect to the title clip on track Video 2, do the following:

   1. Drag the Matrox Move and Scale effect from the Video Effects bin in the Effects window onto the title clip.
   2. Click the Setup button beside your effect in the Effect Controls window.
   3. In the Matrox Effect Setup dialog box, select the Dud effect.
      
      

4. Keyframe the crop settings

   1. Click the Crop tab. Drag the current-time indicator so that it is at the beginning of the Crop track. At frame 0, adjust the value of the Right crop setting to 719. At this point, no characters in your title should be visible.
   2. Clear the Simple Edit option and click the No Interpolation button to turn off interpolation between keyframes.
      
      
   3. Move the current-time indicator about five frames to the right. At this frame, drag the Right slider to lower the crop setting until the first character of your title clip is revealed.
   4. To reveal the entire title clip, continue creating successive keyframes about five frames apart with a decreasing Right crop setting value.
      
      
   5. Click OK to save your settings.

5. Preview your effect in real time

   Press the Play button in the Monitor window or press the Enter key on your keyboard to preview your typewriter effect in real time.

   Expert tip

   Create a second title clip, place it on track Video 3, and apply a Move and Scale effect. By keyframing the crop settings on this clip as you did in step 4, you can create a second line of text in your typewriter effect.