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Variable Font Axes support

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Learn about Variable Font Axes and explore common registered axes for creating flexible designs and smooth animations.

  Use new beta features

Variable Font Axes support is now available for testing and feedback. Try it now in After Effects (beta).

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Variable Font Axes overview

Variable Font Axes support allows you to access and animate the design variations built into OpenType Variable fonts directly within After Effects. Variable fonts contain multiple styles within a single font file, giving you precise control over typography without needing separate font files for each weight, width, or style variation.

  • Fine-grained control: Adjust typography with continuous values instead of fixed weights or styles.
  • Smooth animations: Keyframe font variations for dynamic text effects.
  • Per-character control: Apply different axis values to individual characters using text animators.
  • File efficiency: One variable font file replaces dozens of individual font files.

About Variable Fonts

Variable fonts are OpenType fonts that contain one or more axes of variation. Each axis represents a dimension of design variation that you can control continuously, rather than being limited to pre-defined font styles.

Difference between traditional and variable fonts

Aspect

Traditional fonts

Variable fonts

File structure

Each style is a separate font file (Regular, Bold, Light, Italic, etc.)

Single font file contains all variations

Style range

Limited to discrete steps. For example, weight: 100, 200, 300… 900.

Continuous range of values. For example, weight: 100.0 to 900.0.

Transitions

Switching between styles requires changing fonts.

Smooth transitions between any values.

Flexibility

Only one axis per font. For example, weight or italic.

Can combine multiple axes simultaneously. For example, weight + width + slant.

Understanding Variable Font Axes

Common registered axes

These are standardized axes defined by the OpenType specification. Most variable fonts include one or more of the following:

Axis name

Controls

Typical range

Common values

Use cases

Weight (wght)

The thickness and boldness of strokes

100 – 900
  • 100 Thin
  • 200 Extra Light
  • 300 Light
  • 400 Regular
  • 500 Medium
  • 600 Semi Bold
  • 700 Bold
  • 800 Extra Bold
  • 900 Black
  • Creating emphasis without changing fonts
  • Smooth weight transitions in animations
  • Fine-tuning text hierarchy

Width (wdth)

The horizontal compression and expansion of characters

50% – 200%
  • 50% Ultra Condensed
  • 75% Condensed
  • 87.5% Semi Condensed
  • 100% Normal
  • 112.5% Semi Expanded
  • 125% Expanded
  • 200% Ultra Expanded
  •  Fitting text into tight spaces
  • Creating dramatic horizontal animations
  • Adjusting text proportion for different layouts

Slant (slnt)

The angle of italic and oblique slanting

0° to -15°

Note

Negative values lean right, positive values would lean left (uncommon).

0° Upright, -15° Slanted
  • Creating custom italic angles
  • Animating text from upright to italic
  • Subtle emphasis without full italic styling

Italic (ital)

Roman and Italic letterforms

0 – 1

Note

Unlike slant, this changes the actual letter shapes to italic forms.

0 Roman, 1 Italic
  • Smooth transitions between roman and italic
  • Creating intermediate italic states
  • Per-character italic variations

Optical Size (opsz)

Optimizes letterforms for different display sizes

6pt to 144pt (varies by font)
  •  Smaller sizes: Increases spacing, simplifies details, and thicker strokes
  • Larger sizes: Tighter spacing, more contrast, refined details
  • Optimizing readability at different scales
  • Creating size-appropriate text animations
  • Fine-tuning typography for specific point sizes

Less common registered axes

These axes are part of the OpenType spec but less frequently implemented:

Axis name

Controls

Typical range

Use cases

Grade (GRAD)

Stroke thickness without changing width

-1 to 1 or font-specific
  • Matching stroke weight across fonts
  • Maintaining layout while adjusting weight
  • Creating subtle emphasis without reflow

Serif (SERF)

Blends between sans-serif and serif styles

0 (Sans) to 1 (Serif) or font-specific
  • Transitioning between sans and serif
  • Creating hybrid serif styles

Lowercase Height (XHGT)

Height of lowercase letters (x-height)

Font-specific
  • Adjusting readability
  • Creating typographic variations

Uppercase Height (YTAS)

Height of uppercase letters relative to ascenders

Font-specific
  • Fine-tuning cap height
  • Creating all-caps variations

Counters (XTRA)

Spacing inside letters (counter space)

Font-specific
  • Adjusting internal negative space
  • Creating texture variations

Custom font-specific axes

Many variable fonts include proprietary axes with 4-character uppercase tags. These axes are unique to specific typefaces and enable creative design variations.

Examples from popular variable fonts

Name with Axis Tag

Description

INFM (Informality)

Casual vs. formal letterforms

BNCE (Bounce)

Playful vertical offset of characters

SPAC (Spacing)

Inter-letter spacing control

FILL (Fill)

Outline vs. filled letterforms

LINE (Line Weight)

Outline thickness

BACK (Background)

Background shape weight

RECT (Rectangularity)

Rounded vs. rectangular forms

ELSH (Element Shape)

Alternative shape variations

CASL (Casual)

Formal vs. casual styles

MONO (Monospace)

Proportional vs. monospaced

SOFT (Softness)

Sharp vs. rounded corners

WONK (Wonky)

Straight vs. playful/distorted
Note

Custom axes vary completely between fonts. Always check a specific font's documentation to understand its custom axes.

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