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KrispyKreative
Participating Frequently
June 19, 2022
Answered

Can you remove a text layer's bounding box in After Effects?

  • June 19, 2022
  • 5 replies
  • 6161 views

I created a graphic template in AE with multiple text layers, and each has a bounding box. For flexibility, I have determined it's best not to have the bounding boxes for daily use, and just have unbounded text for each layer, but I can't figure out how to remove the bounding boxes. I could create all new layers, but I have so many effects and dependencies on each layer already, it would be a huge hassle. Any idea? Thanks.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Roland Kahlenberg

It sounds like you've created a Paragraph Text Layer and now want it as a Point Text Layer. You can switch between the two - follow these steps : 

1) select the Paragraph Text Layer

2) select the Text Tool
3) hover the Text Tool over any one of the edges of the text box

4) right-click to invoke the Context Menu and select Convert to Point Text - and you can convert the other way around too. 

HTH

 

 

5 replies

J
joshd8477905
New Participant
August 23, 2024

Another thing you forgot which is super frustrating with stacking layers and selection is once you have imported these layers. Right click on top of those layers after dragging them to the active layers window. Choose "Create" and "Create Shapes from Vector Layer". Then you can highlight or grab any layer in your composition WITHOUT having to hide previous layers or manually select a layer that is buried in your composition! Just in in illustrator you want to be able to use the pointer or selection tool to grab any layer in the active viewing window. TIME SAVER!!

Chiefy inmo
Chiefy inmo
New Participant
March 15, 2024

Hi everyone
for cc 2024 version have a "Properties Panel" that they allow you to swap paragraph mode (box/point) anytime by easy

following this image. Quality of life yeh? 😄

 

    Roland Kahlenberg
    Roland KahlenbergCorrect answer
    Brainiac
    June 20, 2022

    It sounds like you've created a Paragraph Text Layer and now want it as a Point Text Layer. You can switch between the two - follow these steps : 

    1) select the Paragraph Text Layer

    2) select the Text Tool
    3) hover the Text Tool over any one of the edges of the text box

    4) right-click to invoke the Context Menu and select Convert to Point Text - and you can convert the other way around too. 

    HTH

     

     

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      R
      Rick Gerard
      Community Expert
      June 20, 2022

      Brilliant. I learned something new.

        Roland Kahlenberg
        Roland Kahlenberg
        Brainiac
        June 22, 2022

        Ah. I thought you had misread the OP. I think I picked this up from Adobe's TimK a while ago. 

        Very Advanced After Effects Training | Adaptive & Responsive Toolkits | Intelligent Design Assets (IDAs) | MoGraph Design System DEV
        R
        Rick Gerard
        Community Expert
        June 20, 2022

        If you are talking about a paragraph area on a text layer, you'll have to redo the text layers without creating a paragraph area.

         

        You can use sourceRectAtTime() to control a background layer's position, scale, and appearance as well as the text layer appearance. I'd have to see your comp to give you much more assistance than that.

        K
        KrispyKreativeAuthor
        Participating Frequently
        June 20, 2022

        Thank you. I'll just redo the layers. Appreciate your help.

        R
        Rick Gerard
        Community Expert
        June 19, 2022

        Shift + Ctrl/Cmnd + h will show or hide layer controls. I use it all the time. You can also find the option in the View menu.

        K
        KrispyKreativeAuthor
        Participating Frequently
        June 19, 2022

        Thanks, but hiding won't work in this case - I need the bounding box to not exist. I'm creating a graphics template, and the user needs to be able to type a long line of text. I created the template with bounding boxes before I had figured that out. So all of the text now wraps within the bounding box, but I need it to go across the screen. Can the bounding box be totally removed, as if I had never created it?

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