How is the Anchor Point of text layer calculated

Question

Hi,I am just wondering how the anchor point of a text layer is calculated. I have reseted my character and paragraph panel and typing out a text "jewelry" (in Times New Roman because that is the Default) and no matter how I align the text with the paragraph tool the Anchor Point at [0,0] never touches the bounding box of the text layer.So is it known how these x and y coordinates are calculated or where the origin is based?Kind regardsChristian

Kyle Hamrick · Accepted Answer

Thanks for your help. I have tried it already with the sourceRectAtTime() but it hasn't given me the center of the text layer, because the anchor point doesn't unfortunately start in any of the corners. And with any change to the text the offset values change as well.

Is there a way to get the center of the red bounding box? Or is there a way to fetch those additionally needed offset data to use in an expression?

Christian

To clarify, are you using paragraph text, or point text? (drag a box vs click)
While many things work the same, paragraph text can come with a few extra complications.

You've got a variety of functions available to you using sourceRectAtTime, which should allow you to get what you need.

For example, adding this expression to the text layer's Anchor Point will keep it centered on the bounding box, observing multiple lines, line spacing, ascenders/decenders, strokes, etc.

var rect = thisLayer.sourceRectAtTime();

var x = rect.left+rect.width/2;

var y = rect.top+rect.height/2;

[x,y]

Rick Gerard · Answer

Here is how text layers work:The default anchor point for a text layer always at 0,0The actual text is either left justified, right justified, or centered The position of the text is always relative to the baseline. If the baseline shift is -100 then the bottom of the first line of text will always be 100 pixels above the baselineUnless you reset the anchor point, the baseline will always be in the same position as the Anchor Point vertically and the anchor point will be at the left edge of text left-justified, in the center of text center-justified, and on the right edge of the text layer if the text is right-justifiedsourceRectAtTime().top always measures from the baseline to the top of the text areasourceRectAtTime().left always measures from the anchor point's default X value of zero to the left edge of the text.If you move the anchor point from the default value of [ 0, 0] you will have to compensate for that movement in any expression using sourceRectAtTime()The following expression will always center a shape layer Rectangle/Position behind a text layer that is above it no matter what the justification as long as the position of the text layer is tied to the position of the text layer and the anchor point of the text layer and the shape layer is at the default [0, 0]value:src=thisComp.layer(index - 1);box = sRc.sourceRectAtTime();refScale = sRc.scale * .01;x = box.width / 2;y = box.height / 2;t = box.top;l = box.left;[(x + l) * refScale[0], (y + t) * refScale[1]]I hope that clears up the confusion.  If you want to change the text layer's anchor point and keep a text box below it lined up you just have to tie both the position and the anchor point of the shape layer to the position and anchor point of the text layer with an expression.

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