Create shapes or masks from text characters

Contents [Hide]

Create shapes from text
Create masks from text

The Create Shapes From Text command extracts the outlines for each character, creates shapes from the outlines, and puts the shapes on a new shape layer. You can then use these shapes as you would any other shapes.

The Create Masks From Text command extracts the outlines for each character, creates masks from the outlines, and puts the masks on a new solid-color layer. You can then use these masks as you would any other masks.

Some font families, such as Webdings, include characters that are graphical images, rather than text. Converting text from these font families can be a good way to get started with simple graphical elements in shape layers.

Create shapes from text

Select the text to convert to shapes:
- To create shapes for all characters in a text layer, select the text layer in the Timeline panel or Composition panel.
- To create shapes for specific characters, select the characters in the Composition panel.
Do one of the following:
- Choose Layer > Create Shapes From Text.
- Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) the layer or text and choose Create Shapes From Text from the context menu.

The Video switch for the text layer is turned off.

The new shape layer is created at the top of the layer stacking order. The new layer contains one shape group for each selected character, plus fill and stroke properties that match the fills and strokes of the text.

For characters that consist of compound paths—such as i and e—multiple paths are created and combined with the Merge Paths path operation.

Effects, masks, layer styles, and keyframes and expressions for properties in the Transform property group of the text layer are copied to the new shape layer or solid-color layer.

Create masks from text

Select the text to convert to masks:
- To create masks for all characters in a text layer, select the text layer in the Timeline panel or Composition panel.
- To create masks for specific characters, select the characters in the Composition panel.
Do one of the following:
- Choose Layer > Create Masks From Text.
- Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) the layer or text and choose Create Masks From Text from the context menu.

The Video switch for the text layer is turned off.

The new solid-color layer is created at the top of the layer stacking order.

For characters that consist of compound paths—such as i and e—multiple masks are created and combined with the Subtract mask mode.