Video effects articles

How to add text animation to a video

Updated November 8, 2023

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Want to enhance your video storytelling? Add emphasis to important talking points, provide context to your viewers and increase your video's reach and accessibility with unique text animations.

From mobile-friendly social media ads to slideshow videos, choose from a wide range of professional animated titles like bouncing, multiline selections, and ready-to-use quotes and star ratings. Effortlessly add and customize title overlays on your videos with unique fonts, colors, sizes, and more!

If you don't want to create your own animated titles, use designer text and graphic stickers like subscribe, swipe up actions, greetings, and more.

Read on to learn how to add text to a video, level up titles with effects, and explore animated text stickers with Clipchamp.  

How add animated text to videos

Step 1. Import videos or select stock footage

To import your own videos, photos, and GIFs, click on the import media button in the your media tab on the toolbar to browse your computer files, or connect your OneDrive.  

An image of a user importing media.

You can also use free stock media like video clips, photos, video backgrounds, and GIFs. Click on the content library tab on the toolbar and click on the visuals drop down arrow, then videos, photos, or backgrounds. Search through the different stock categories using the search bar as well. 

An image of a user finding a stock video in Clipchamp.

Drag and drop your media onto the timeline to start editing.

An image of a user adding video to the timeline.

Step 2. Add a title to your video

To add text to video, click on the text tab on the toolbar. Here, you'll find all available text styles you can overlay onto your video. Scroll through the title options and hover over a title to preview the text animation. Some popular animated text options are groovy, clean title, glitch, bouncing title and multiline title.

Click on the add to timeline button to use the title. You can also add a title by dragging and dropping it onto the timeline.

An image of a user selecting a title in the text tab.

If you would like to change your title selection, just drag and drop a different title onto the timeline on top of your existing title. This will automatically replace the title.

An image of a user replacing the text on the timeline with another title.

If you would like to add multiple titles to your video, just drag and drop another title onto the timeline. You can also click on the duplicate button on duplicate your existing title on the timeline. The duplicate title will merge next to your current title.

An image of a user duplicating the text on the timeline.

Step 3. Edit the text, font, color, style, and position of your title

To edit what your title reads, click on the text tab on the property panel. Next, click on the edit text button then head over to the textbox on the video preview to edit. Just highlight the add your text here title, and type over with your desired text.

Note: Some title options also let your edit your text by double clicking on the title on the video preview to open editing options.

An image of a user editing what the title reads.

To edit the font, click on the font drop down arrow to open all of the different font options. Click on your desired new font. You can change your font as many times as you like. If you have added a personal font using the brand kit feature, you will be able to find your personalized font here.

An image of a user editing the font.

To edit the size of your font, use the size slider or add in a numeric value. You can also edit the size of some titles with the corners on the video preview.

An image of a user adjusting the size of the text.

To edit your text alignment, click on the left, middle, or right alignment options. You can also make your text bold or italics with the style options.

An image of a user editing the alignment and style of the text.

To edit the color of your text, click on the color palette options and select a new color. Here, you can type in a specific color hex code, select the transparency percentage, select no color, or choose a color from the extended palette. You can also add personalized colors using the using the brand kit feature.

An image of a user editing the color of the text.

To edit the position of your text, use the position presets. Some titles also have the ability to freely move position around the video preview.

An image of a user moving the position of the text.

Step 4. Trim or extend your text duration

Extend the length of the text by dragging the text handles left and right of the timeline. Dragging to the left will shorten the length, and dragging to the right will extend the length.

An image of a user editing the duration of the text.

Step 5. Preview and save your video with text

Before saving your new video, make sure to preview using the full-screen mode. When you’re ready to save, click on the export button and select a video resolution. We recommend saving all videos in 1080p video resolution for the best quality. Paid subscribers can save in 4K video resolution.  

An image of a user saving a video with text.

For more help, check out adding titles and text to your video.  

How to add special effects to titles

Fading in and out titles

To fade in and fade out your text, click on the fade tab on the property panel. Use the fade in and fade out sliders to add in fades. The numeric value will change simultaneously with the fade slider.  

An image of a user adding a fade in and fade out using the fade tab.

Adding text effects to titles

To add text effects like a slow zoom, blur, VHS, or flash, click on the effects tab on the property panel. Hover over the different text effects to preview. Click on your desired effect to apply. You can also edit the effect using the editing options that appear when clicking on a text effect.

An image of a user adding effects to text using the effects tab.

How to use text sticker overlays

If you want to use ready-made animated text stickers, click on the content library tab on the toolbar. Next, click on the drop down arrow on the visuals button, then select stickers.

An image of a user clicking on the stickers category in the content library tab.

Scroll through the curated folders, or search for a specific animated text sticker using a keyword in the search bar like follow, subscribe, or hello.

An image of a user selecting a sticker category.

Once you have found your text sticker, drag and drop the sticker onto the timeline. Make sure to place the sticker above your video on the timeline.

An image of a user adding a text sticker onto the timeline.

Typewriter title

The typewriter title is the perfect addition to slideshow videos, storytelling videos and enhancing engagement in presentations. To create an animated typewriter text effect, use the typewriter title in the toolbar's text tab. Just personalize what the text reads, edit the size and color, and the title will do everything else for you.  

A GIF (moving picture) of the typewriter text.

Make it glow text

The make it glow animated text is suitable for sales and promo videos, events, marketing, and social media videos to capture the attention of your audience and hook them in from the start. To create text that glows, use the make it glow title in the text tab on the toolbar.  

A GIF (moving picture) of the 'make it glow' text.

Multiline title

The multiline animated text is ideal for presentation videos or educational content that requires a subheading, chapter, lesson name, or caption. It’s easy to read, customizable in different background colors, and adds value to all videos. To create a video with a multiline title, use the multiline title in the text tab on the toolbar. 

A GIF (moving picture) of the multiline text.

To learn more about text animations, check out the helpful YouTube tutorial.  

Now that you know how to use animated text and titles, try merging videos together to create slideshows, and adding scene transitions.

Edit today with Clipchamp for free or download the Clipchamp Windows app to get started.

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