About DecomposeText

DecomposeText is an After Effects script from developer nab that takes a single text layer and breaks it into individual layers based on characters, words, or lines. The script provides two positioning approaches: an expression‑based mode that keeps each new layer at the original text’s position by hiding other elements, and an approximated mode that creates short layers without using expressions. Version 3.1 addresses a positioning bug when Separate Dimensions is applied. Compatibility spans After Effects CS6 through the 2025 release, covering all intermediate CC versions. A demo video is available from the developer’s aescripts page.

Features

• Splits a text layer into separate layers by character, word, or line
• Keep original position using expressions: new layers hold the same text as the original with some elements hidden
• Approximated position without expressions: new layers are one character, word, or line long
• Choice of split level (characters, words, or lines) per job
• Compatibility spanning After Effects CS6 through 2025

Best for

After Effects artists who need to animate or edit text at the character, word, or line level within a composition.