Set up the split before adding animation to the new layers. Select one or more unlocked text layers in the active composition. Choose a split mode, then open the sliders button for Split options.
Use text or shape paths
Choose Letters and turn on Letters as shapes to create one shape layer per letter. The outlined A and sample indicate shape output.
Leave the option off when you want to keep editing the letters as text. It has no effect on Words or Lines.
Hold Alt while splitting letters to reverse the saved shape option for that split. With the option off, Alt creates shapes. With it on, Alt creates editable text. Releasing Alt restores the saved choice.
Shape conversion uses After Effects’ Create Shapes from Text command. The resulting letters cannot be edited as text. If conversion cannot make a shape for a letter, that piece remains text and Spellbound reports a warning.
Move the pieces together
Keep Parent to a null on to get one null for each original layer. It uses the original’s transform and parent, so the group can follow the original’s movement while each piece has its own centered anchor.
Turn the option off when you want pieces under the original’s existing parent without an extra null. For a static transform, the anchors still center on the pieces. For an animated transform, Spellbound keeps the original transform animation on each piece and leaves its anchor near the original’s anchor. Keep null parenting on when centered anchors matter.
Delay each piece’s start
- In Split options, set Stagger to the number of frames between pieces.
- Click outside the options to close them.
- Split the text.
For one two three, a Stagger of 2 starts the pieces at the original’s in point, two frames later, and four frames later. The pieces all retain the original out point. The first piece is not delayed.
This shifts each later layer’s start time, including its inherited animation timing. It does not add a fade or movement. A value of 0 leaves the timing unchanged.
The sequence restarts for each selected original. If a requested delay would reach or pass the original out point, Spellbound caps it at one frame before that end. Several pieces can then start together. Reduce the stagger or lengthen the source layer before splitting if you need evenly spaced starts.
Split existing animated text
Spellbound takes the Source Text value at the playhead. If the playhead is outside a selected layer’s visible time range, it takes the value at that layer’s in point instead. Each new text piece has fixed Source Text. Source Text keys and expressions are removed from the pieces.
Text pieces are duplicates, so effects, text animators, opacity, and layer switches carry over. Review text animators after splitting because each new layer contains fewer characters. Shape output follows After Effects’ shape conversion and should be reviewed separately.
With Parent to a null on, transform keys and expressions move to the group null. Expressions are copied as written, so check expressions that depend on the layer’s name, index, or parent.
Keep Delete original off while trying a split. The source remains disabled and shy as a backup. To use it again, reveal shy layers and turn its video switch back on, then hide or remove the split pieces to avoid overlapping copies.