Using the Title Designer to Make Simple Graphics

If you've created shapes in software such as MS Paint, you know how to create graphics in Premiere.

Select from the various shapes to the left of the text window, drag and draw the outline, and release the mouse. The Line tool creates line segments only. Click to set a starting point and then drag and click to set the endpoint. Each segment has its own bounding box. Unlike with Path Text, you cannot add curves or create more vertexes. You can use Fill to color the line and Strokes to create a color border or interior. In Figure 8.23 I drew a few shapes and added some gradients and various opacity levels to demonstrate what you can do.

Figure 8.23. Some graphic objects created with gradients and various opacity levels.

When you draw objects, they will appear as solid gray with no borders. You can add a border by changing the Line value in the Object Style/Properties window. You can change the graphic's appearance just as you did with text by adjusting Fill Color, Opacity, and Shadows.

If you want to create a square, circle, right triangle, or a "square" clipped rectangle (as opposed to a rectangle, oval, non-right triangle, or stretched clipped rectangle), then hold down the Shift key when dragging the shape's border. If you want to maintain the aspect ratio for a shape you've already made, hold the Shift key before resizing that shape.

It's fairly easy to build layers of graphic objects and add text as well. You can send an object backward or forward by highlighting it, selecting Title, Arrange and then choosing from Bring to Front (that is, on top of all other objects), Bring Forward (on top of the next highest object), Send to Back (that is, make it the bottom/deepest object), or Send Backward (behind the next lower object). In Figure 8.24 I created a three-layer frame with text as an example.

Figure 8.24. Layered graphics create a nice background for your "supers."

Using transparent layers as backgrounds for supers is an excellent way to create a production studio or product line identity. Once you have a "look" you like, save it. Then double-click it in the Project window to reopen it within the Title Designer and make only textual changes while retaining the layered graphic look.

Summary

Adding text or "supers" to your video project gives it another element and adds depth. Text sometimes can send a message much more succinctly and clearly than a narration. It can reinforce narrated information or remind viewers about the people in your piece and the message you're trying to convey .

The text tools in Premiere are similar to those in standard graphics/text programs, with several extra features tossed in. The infinite customizability of your text's appearance means you can create a "look" unique to your productions .

Workshop

Review the questions and answers in this section to try to sharpen your Premiere text-editing skills. Also, take a few moments to tackle my short quiz and exercises.

Q&A

Q1:	When I resize my text "bounding box," the text changes shape and size. How do I change the box without changing the contents?
A1:	You're using Point Text, Premiere's default text style. Instead, select the "T" in the white box (Area Text), drag and drop a text bounding box, and start typing. If you need to increase the size of the box, the text will remain the same shape and size.
Q2:	I want to make a circle in a square, but all I get are ovals in rectangles.
A2:	You need to hold down the Shift key before you define the size of the quadrilateral or round figure. Doing that keeps all sides equal and forces your oval to be a circle.

Quiz

1:	How do you keep text from running outside the viewable area on a typical NTSC TV set?
A1:	Use the Title Safe Zone option, accessible in the Title menu or in the Monitor menu for viewing in the Source and Program Monitors.
2:	Premiere ships with 90 typefaces ! How can you wade through all that and quickly find one that works for you?
A2:	Browse. Go to Title, Font, Browse and scroll all the font samples.
3:	How do you create a rectangle with a gradient inside it and a two- color border?
A3:	Open the Title Designer. Create a rectangle by selecting the Rectangle tool and clicking and dragging within the text window to define a rectangle. Select Fill, Fill Type, Linear Gradient and select two colors in turn. Select Strokes, Inner and Outer Stroke, in turn , and give each inner and outer border a color and other characteristics to suit you.

Exercises

1:	Create rolling credits with different font sizes and text alignments. Main headings could be aligned left and individuals' names centered.
2:	Make a rainbow using the Line tool. Click one side of the text window and then click the other, making a straight line. Then drag the center handle to make a curve. Repeat this three or four more times and color each line to create a rainbow feel. Now add text along another arc over the rainbow. Do you feel a song coming on?
3:	Create a three-layer collection of rectangles with varying transparencies and drop shadow values. Create the three rectangles by dragging and dropping them in separate locations. Make the large one opaque (100% opacity) with a drop shadow of 50% opacity, the middle one 40% opacity with a drop shadow of 20% opacity, and the small one 25% opacity with a drop shadow of 30% opacity. Then select colors and gradients that give a contrast so you can see one through the other. One other suggestion: Give one or two of the rectangles a Repeat value to create parallel lines to make them stand out even more. Also, pick a drop shadow that is similar in color to the object on which the shadow falls .
4:	Create a standard interviewee super with one font, two text sizes (larger for the name , smaller for the title), a colored line running between the two text lines, and three overlapping and transparent boxes on the left, acting as a unique production studio identifier. Make sure you save this. You actually may want to use it.