Panopticum effects help you add expression even to standard text created in After Effects. In this tutorial you will learn how to apply animation to your text using the Panopticum Area Transformer and Panopticum Area Wipe effects. We'll show you some basic tips that will help you learn to adjust these effects' basic parameters. Once you learn working with these parameters, you'll be able to create more complex animation and effects.

Steps:

1. Creating a Project
2. Applying the Panopticum Area Transformer effect
3. Applying the Panopticum Area Wipe effect

	Creating a project

Open Adobe After Effects. To create a new project, choose File/New Project, to save it - File/Save as... Now create a new composition: Composition/New Composition. You will see the Composition Settings window. Choose Medium, 320x240 from the Preset list.

Now create a new layer. Click Layer/New/Solid, you will see the Solid Footage Settings window.
Click the Make Comp Size - then all properties of the new layer will correspond to your composition parameters. You can set the color for your layer in this window as well. To do so, use the eyedropper tool or choose the color from the Color palette. Check your settings and click OK.
You will see the name of the new layer in the Timeline window. You may set gradient fill color for your layer.
Now type something using typical Adobe After Effects fonts. We recommend you to carefully choose letters' width – if it is too thin, you might not get the desired result after having applied the Panopticum Area Wipe effect to this text. For best results we suggest using Impact Faux Bold font. You can also define letter contour and adjust its width. Try experimenting with these parameters and you'll get the feel of working with these effects!

	Applying the Panopticum Area Transformer effect

Select the layer containing text in the Timeline window. Now choose the Panopticum Area Transformer effect from Effects/Panopticum Effects/Area Transformer and apply it to the layer. You will see the Effect Control window.
Now choose the Jitter parameter from the Effects Control window. Check the Scale Proportional X/Y box and set the Scale Max X value to 158.0.
The default value for Scale is set to Swing. Try selecting Jump, Passage and Swim and preview the results obtained. Finally set the value to Swing again and exit the Jitter parameters. Save the project and preview animation. Now we'll show you how to apply the Panopticum Area Wipe effect.

	Applying the Panopticum Area Wipe effect

Now we'll show you how to apply the Panopticum Area Wipe effect.
To cut the alpha-channel on text using a pattern, follow the recommendations given below:
In the Timeline window select the layer containing your text. Click Effects/Panopticum Effects/Area Wipe. You will see the Effect Control window that you can use to adjust the Area Wipe function.
Select the Wipe parameters.
Set two key frames for the Transition Completion parameter. For time value of 00:0 set 0.0 and click the stopwatch icon. Slide the current time marker in the Timeline window to 5:23 and set the Transition Completion parameter to 50.0.
Set the Synchronization value to 50.0.
Choose Star as a Wipe Mode value. Now the Star Mode, Star Tip Count and Star Ratio parameters become enabled. Check the box Inverted of the Star Mode to start cutting the alpha-channel from the outside contour of the letters (not from the center); set the Star Tip Count value to 50.0 and Star Ratio value to 30.0.
Preview animation. Finally the last step: set the Feather value to 20.0.
Exit the Wipe parameters.
Now you may save the project and preview animation.

Try following the recommendations given in this tutorial and you'll understand the main principles of Panopticum Area Transformer and Panopticum Area Wipe effects. Combine these effects with others and you'll be able to create amazing animated images with no difficulties. Good luck!