The Timecode effect creates a text overlay that displays timecode or frame number information on a layer. This effect doesn’t modify timecode embedded from external sources, such as QuickTime.

Use text layers for greater control over text formatting and text animation. (See Text.)

Apply the Current Time Format animation preset to a text layer to show the current time in the format corresponding to the project’s time display style.

This effect works with 8-bpc color.

Display Format

Specifies whether timecode is displayed in the SMPTE format, in frame numbers, or in feet and frames of 35mm or 16mm film.

Time Units

Frame rate in frames per second (fps) to be used by this instance of the Timecode effect. This setting affects only the numbers displayed by the Timecode effect; it has no influence on composition frame rate or the frame rate of the layer’s source footage item.

Drop Frame

Select Drop Frame to generate drop-frame timecode or deselect it to generate non-drop-frame timecode.

Starting Frame

The frame number assigned to the first frame of the layer.

Text Position

The position of the text overlay, in composition space.

Text Size

The size of text, in points.