How to make a dynamic text box in After Effects

In this After Effects tutorial, we create a responsive box behind text using just the text layer itself. No shape layers are needed. Perfect for quick and easy social media caption overlays.

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Easy Dynamic Text Box After Effects HD

Step 1: Add a Fill effect

Add a Generate > Fill effect and choose your box color.


Step 2: Add a Shift Channels effect

Add a Channel > Shift Channels effect. Change ‘Take Alpha From’ to ‘Full On’.


Step 3: Add a CC RepeTile effect

Add a Stylize > CC RepeTile effect. Change all values to 40. This is the padding of your box so feel free to increase these values.


Step 4: Add a CC Composite effect

Add a Channel > CC Composite effect. This will make your original text visible again.


Step 5: Add 2 Simple Choker effects

For rounded corners add two Matte > Simple Choker effects. Use values of 15, and negative 15. These values represent the ’rounding’ of the box and should be adjusted together, though the second value should be a negative of the first.

That’s it! The box will automatically resize and move as you edit and position your text.

Neat!

Quick Tip: You can use expression sliders for the CC RepeTile and Simple Choker values, which will control the box ‘padding’ and ’roundness’ respectively. Remember to make the second Simple Choker value a negative value of the first.