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.
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. |