[Sejskaler]

Hello everyone! Long time no see, eh?
Well, today I will teach you how to make a fancy "coding" effect - it's really easy! It looks like this:
Spoiler (Click to View)
(If you don't like the blinking, don't use bevel and emboss in the tutorial xD)
Well, so why not just get started?
What do you need for this?
After effects
Optionally Photoshop (prefered since you can edit the gif)
or just a program to convert to gif, and you're all set.

Now, first of all, open after effects, and go to composition -> new composition (Or ctrl + N):
Spoiler (Click to View)[img]http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6788/o9li.png[/img]

Now, for the settings, we will edit a bit, first of all set it to 650x200
Meaning - Width: 650px
Height: 200px
like this:
Spoiler (Click to View)

Now, let the frame rate be, but change the background color to #33 (The HF BG color):
Spoiler (Click to View)[img]http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/2730/o9l2.png[/img]

Okay, all the basics over (I can already feel I will go over 10 pics xD).
So now, just ok it all, and we have the composition:
Spoiler (Click to View)[img]http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/6760/liva.png[/img]

Okay, now, let's make what we actually want, so first of all, let us create the text, so grab the horizontal text tool (ctrl + t):
Spoiler (Click to View)

Now, just click on the gray background in the animation window and type:
Spoiler (Click to View)[img]http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/9786/2b7z.png[/img]

You can of course resize the text, but if you must do so, I would go and take the selection tool (v) and hold shift and drag the corners:
Spoiler (Click to View)

Now we have nearly set everything up, NEARLY, if you don't want it to be boring that is.

So, currently, the text is boring and simple, just a white text (you might of course have changed the text a bit with fonts etc. I am using Arial)
Font etc. can be changed in the "character window" located at the right if you have the worspace at animation:
Spoiler (Click to View)

So now click the text layer (at the bottom):
Spoiler (Click to View)

go to layer -> Layer style -> show all (located at the top bar)
Spoiler (Click to View)

Now, you should see alot of different settings under the text layer:
Spoiler (Click to View)

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Just, basically play around with them, and find something cool, I went with a metal style, because that fits (not at all):

Drop shadow:
Spoiler (Click to View)[img]http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/4863/uxh9.png[/img]
Bevel and emboss:
Spoiler (Click to View)
Satin:
Spoiler (Click to View)[img]http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/3179/ejxw.png[/img]
Gradient overlay:
Spoiler (Click to View)
Stroke:
Spoiler (Click to View)[img]http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/6338/it5p.png[/img]
Result:
Spoiler (Click to View)

Now, we have the text done, yay!

Now for the actual effect, what we have all been waiting for, phew!
Okay, what most will see as "The hard part" is over, so let's go!
First of all, go to your effects and presets, and search for "decoder":
Spoiler (Click to View)

Drag and drop it on the text, or the text layer... woah! Where did the text go?

Go to the timeline, click on it and hit space, or drag the timeline thing, there you have it:
Spoiler (Click to View)[img]http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/9617/bxy9.png[/img]

Okay, it might be going a bit slow, would you not say so?
If you don't think so, skip this step xD (if you want the decoding and encoding to be the exact same speed, wait with this step, I will write when to use it then)

So, here is what we do, right-click the layer -> time -> time-stretch
Spoiler (Click to View)[img]http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/5363/7tsl.png[/img]

Now then, I will set mine to last 5 seconds:
Spoiler (Click to View)[img]http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/3214/5lpp.png[/img]

Okay, done, tadah

Now, that was the decoding effect, but what about fading it out again?
Go to where the animation ends, and a little forward:Spoiler (Click to View)

Okay, hit ctrl + shift + d or edit -> split layer

Spoiler (Click to View)

Now, you have 2 layers, take the top layer, and yet again go to effects and presets, this time find "encoder"
Spoiler (Click to View)[img]http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/303/hftm.png[/img]

Drag and drop to the top layer

Now, I encountered the problem that the video was not long enough, so just drag the timeline
Spoiler (Click to View)

There you go, we have the full effect!

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Now, you can do the time stretch again, on that layer, OR, if you didn't follow the time stretch and want the time to be the exact same, here is what to do:
Select both of the layers -> right click -> pre-compose:
Spoiler (Click to View)[img]http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/8/gq9g.png[/img]

Just hit OK at the pop-up

Now with the precomposition, we have all in one

Now, this is another way of remapping the time, so instead of using the time stretch, let me teach another technique now we are at it:
Go and right click the pre-comp and time -> Enable time remapping (ctrl + alt + t)
Spoiler (Click to View)

Now, you should have 2 keyframes (just drag til you find the back one):
Spoiler (Click to View)

Okay, so just drag the last keyframe till the time you want it to stop:
Spoiler (Click to View)

Now, no matter which technique you used, drag the work end the where it should end:
Spoiler (Click to View)

If you did the uneven technique, I would recommend compiling the two layers to a precomp as we did earlier, to get a better overview - and it's easier to render ^^

Now, go to file - > export -> add to render queue:
Spoiler (Click to View)

In here are lots of settings, but I would recommend just letting everything be for now.
EXCEPT!
The output module, so click on "Lossless"
Spoiler (Click to View)

and change the format:
Spoiler (Click to View)

I will change mine to a photoshop sequence, because that is how I compile gifs, and hit okay.

If you are still following me, please use this nifty idea, since it will be a mess else...

Go to the output, click it (the comp 1_)
Spoiler (Click to View)

Make a NEW folder, save it as a proper name and hit save:
Spoiler (Click to View)

Now, click render (turn your volume down if it's really high):
Spoiler (Click to View)

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Okay, now, open photoshop.

Click ctrl + N or make a new project under file -> new

Set it to 650 x 200 and whatever settings you want:
Spoiler (Click to View)

Go to files -> scripts -> load files into stack
Spoiler (Click to View)

Click browse, find the folder where you saved it and select all the files (click the top one, hold shift, click the bottom one):
Spoiler (Click to View)[img]http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/8085/ehlq.png[/img]

Press "OK" and let it load all the frames, that will probably take a bit...

Okay, if you have not opened the animation bar, do so, at window -> Timeline:
Spoiler (Click to View)

Okay, at the bottom, if it not arranged like mine is, there should be a convert option here:
Spoiler (Click to View)

Anyways, onwards!

Go to the timeline option, and use "make frames from layers"
Spoiler (Click to View)

But wait!
It's reversed?
Well, there's always a way out!
So, now go to the frame options again, and simply click "reverse frames"
Spoiler (Click to View)

Now, play around if you wish, you can delete the start frames, you can change an animation delay at the middle if you think the fade is coming too fast etc.

okay, now go and press file -> save for web (ctrl + shift + alt + s)
Spoiler (Click to View)

Set the preset to any gif preset, whatever you wish (the higher number the better resolution) and loop it forever:
Spoiler (Click to View)[img]http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/4508/fbek.png[/img]

Hit save, and you are done!
Upload it somewhere, and use it as your signature if you wish!

Have any questions? Just write on thread or PM me ^^

Have fun, hope you found the tutorial useful.
- Sejskaler

[Effexion]

Very nicer tutorial, man. This must have taken ages.

[The Conjurer]

Very nice tutorial mate! I love the effect!

[HelpingOthers]

Really nice tutorial you made there my friend.

I'm sure it will help a lot of other people!

[Sejskaler]

Thank you all, I am very glad you like the tutorial x3

I do indeed hope it will be found useful