Sidebar: Coming to Terms
As you explore your software's titling and graphics creation menus, you'll come upon some terms that might not be familiar to you. Here are some common graphics and titling terms and their definitions.
- Leading (pronounced "ledding" as in the metal lead) This is a typesetter's term that refers to adjusting the vertical space between lines of text.
- Kerning This is the distance between individual letters in a word. "Kerning pairs" are special cases where two letters need special spacing in order to look correct. One classic example is the letter pair "T" and "o". When enlarged as part of a title, this pair typically looks better if the "o" is slid over and partially tucked underneath the arm of the "T".
- Tracking This is adjusting the space of all the letters in a group so that they are closer or looser. One popular video type effect is to change the tracking of a short title over time so that the letters seem to float together to form a word or phrase or drift dramatically apart.
- Gradient Fill A gradient is a blended region that smoothly changes from dark to light or from one color to another. Gradient backgrounds are popular for titling.
- Slate This is typically a full-screen graphic that contains descriptive text or other program information. It may exist to communicate with engineers and programmers.
- Drop Shadow A drop shadow is a small, often partially transparent, shadow cast by a letter or graphic. They are a popular way to make a letter stand out from a background or to give the viewer the sense that a title is floating above the background.
Color 
Getting Started With Free Video Editing Software 
How To Make a Slow Motion Video Clip
Introduction to Video Editing: The Art of Titles and Graphics (DVD)
After Effects Apprentice
Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects, Vol. 1 (3rd Ed., Version 6.5)
Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects, Vol.2, (3rd Ed., Version 6.5)
Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects (4th Ed., Version 6.5)
Videomaker Multimedia Tutorial - After Effects Part 1 (DVD-ROM)
Videomaker Multimedia Tutorial - After Effects Part 2 (DVD-ROM)