How to Create Scrolling Credits with the Text Tool in Premiere Pro 2017

Scrolling credits are how you wrap up a production and acknowledge everyone who helped make it happen. In the newer versions of Premiere Pro, the easiest way to do this is with the Roll feature, which handles it with a single checkbox. But if you are working with an older version, or want more manual control over the scroll speed and timing, you can animate the credits yourself using position keyframes on the text layer.

Today we go over how to create scrolling credits by manually animating the text position in Premiere Pro.

How to Create Scrolling Credits Manually

Setting Up the Text

1. Create a new sequence at your desired resolution (1920x1080 is standard).
2. Select the Type Tool (T) from the toolbar. Switch to the Graphics workspace for a better layout.
3. Change the Program Monitor zoom to about 10-25% so you can see beyond the edges of the frame.
4. Click once on the Program Monitor (don’t click and drag). A single click creates a self-adjusting text box that expands as you type.
5. Type all your credits. Use a separate text editor first to format the names, then copy and paste them in. This is much easier than typing directly in Premiere for long credit lists.

Formatting

6. Select all the text (Ctrl+A / Cmd+A) and open the Essential Graphics panel.
7. Set the alignment to center. This is standard for credits.
8. Choose your font and size. Use a larger, bolder font for role titles and a slightly smaller or lighter font for names.
9. If you used a fixed-width text box, you may need to extend the bottom of the box to fit all the names. Zoom out in the Program Monitor to see the full text.

Animating the Scroll

10. Go to Effect Controls and find the text element inside the graphics layer. Scroll down to the Transform property within the text element. Important: Use the text element’s Transform, not the layer’s Motion controls. They are different.
11. Adjust the Y position (the right value) to move the text up or down. Start by positioning the text so the first line of credits is just below the visible frame.
12. Move the playhead to the starting point of the credits in the timeline. Click the stopwatch next to Position to create a keyframe.
13. Move the playhead to where the credits should end. Drag the Y position to the left (upward) until the last line of credits has scrolled past the top of the frame.
14. The distance between the two keyframes determines the scroll speed. A larger gap means a slower scroll. A smaller gap means a faster scroll.

Smoothing It Out

15. Change the Program Monitor zoom back to Fit to see the final result.
16. Play it back and check the speed. Credits should scroll slowly enough that a viewer can read each name without straining.

Tips

• Scroll speed rule of thumb: Each name should be visible on screen for at least 1-2 seconds. If names are flashing by too fast, extend the duration of the graphics layer.
• Add a hold at the beginning and end. Start the scroll a second or two after it appears and hold the last frame for a second after the last name passes. This feels more polished than starting and stopping abruptly.
• Add a background. Place a Color Matte (File > New > Color Matte) in black behind the credits for the classic look.
• For the easier modern approach, use the Roll feature in Premiere Pro 2018+. It handles all of this with a single checkbox.

That is how you create scrolling credits manually in Premiere Pro. It takes more setup than the Roll feature, but it gives you complete control over the timing and movement.