Controls reference | Spellbound Docs

Split modes

Control	Result
Words / W	One editable text layer per word on each displayed line. Spaces, tabs, and line breaks separate words. Punctuation stays with its word.
Lines / L	One editable text layer per displayed line, including automatic paragraph wrapping. Leading and trailing whitespace is excluded.
Letters / A	One layer per non-space character. Output is editable text unless Letters as shapes is on or Alt reverses that choice.

Spaces do not become separate layers. Line wrapping is resolved before splitting, so a word broken across displayed lines becomes separate pieces. Blank lines do not create layers. Only visible, composed text is split. See unsupported and overset text.

Panel controls

Control	Action
Words, Lines, Letters tab	Click to choose the mode. Double-click to choose it and split immediately.
Split / wand icon	Split selected, unlocked text layers with the chosen mode and current options. Disabled while a split is running.
Sliders button	Open or close Split options. The dot indicates shapes on, original deletion on, null parenting off, or a nonzero stagger.
Sample text	Shows the chosen division of “Spell bound”. Hovering Split highlights its piece frames. It does not read your selected text.

Keyboard and pointer actions

Action	Behavior
Alt while splitting letters	Temporarily invert Letters as shapes. The outlined letter appearance follows this temporary state.
Escape	Close Split options.
Click outside Split options	Close the options.
After Effects Edit > Undo	Undo the entire split in one step, named `Spellbound: Split N`, where `N` is the number of pieces.

Shift and Cmd/Ctrl do not change Spellbound’s split action.

Short and narrow slots

A short row keeps the mode tabs, wand, and options together. Choose a mode, then click the wand. Double-clicking a mode still splits immediately.

When space is tighter vertically, the sample disappears and the remaining controls fill the slot.

In a narrow slot, W, L, and A are direct actions. One click splits immediately using that mode. There is no separate Split button.

The dotted handle opens the same options. Narrow tiles do not show tooltips. Their direct action does not change the saved mode used when the slot grows again.

Narrow Spellbound slot with W, L, A tiles above a dotted options handle.

Created layers

Item	Behavior
Piece names	The piece’s text. Repeats within one original receive `#2`, `#3`, and so on. Names can repeat across separate originals.
Layer order	Pieces appear directly above their original in reading order, top to bottom. A group null sits above its pieces when enabled.
Selection	Created pieces are selected. Originals, nulls, and other layers are deselected.
Group null name	Original name plus `words`, `lines`, or `letters`. Shape output also uses `letters`. A space and number are added if the null name is taken.
Piece anchors	Centered on each piece by default. Animated transforms without null parenting are the exception described in the animation guide.
Original	Kept shy and disabled unless Delete original is on. Originals with no splittable pieces are left alone.
Multiple originals	Each gets its own pieces, optional null, and stagger sequence. Selected non-text layers and locked text layers are skipped.

For the full saved option inventory, see settings. Success shows a piece count on the action when space allows and a Split into N words, lines, letters, or shapes message. Warnings appear with that message. Failures show a short badge where space allows and a message explaining the problem.