• Adobe After Effects

  display video within a shape ?

  Posted by Geoff Boneham on September 4, 2011 at 12:56 am

  Hi All,

  Im sure this is a simple overlay or mask or something like that…

  What im trying to achieve is to overlay a video over a giant number 4.

  The video should play within the number 4 shape as a skin/layer.

  Pls excuse my terminology..im an after effects beginner, who has only really dabbled with modifying templates.

  Thanks in Advance !!!

  Geoff

  Todd Kopriva replied 15 years ago 4 Members · 3 Replies
• 3 Replies

• 

  Tudor “ted” jelescu

  September 4, 2011 at 8:44 am

  It should be as easy as masking out the footage in the shape of the 4.
  But, if the 4 moves then you need to track the footage on top of it, so you need tracking…. hard to be more specific without knowing details.

  Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
  Senior VFX Artist
• 

  Ben G unguren

  September 4, 2011 at 1:25 pm

  The other primary way to do this, other than using masks, is to use a “track matte” — more specifically, an “alpha matte.” Here’s how you do it:

  LAYER 1: a large number 4 (make it in photoshop, illustrator, or with AE’s text tool)

  LAYER 2: your video

  If you press the F4 key you’ll toggle between showing a bunch of check boxes with each layer, and a couple of drop boxes with each layer. The drop box to the right is for Track Mattes. For the VIDEO layer (layer 2), click the Track Matte drop box and choose the “Alpha Matte” option.

  Immediately, LAYER 1 is hidden (eyeball turned off), and LAYER 2 is “cut out” to match wherever LAYER 1 had been visible. Adjust the position of LAYER 1 and you’ll see it updates where LAYER 2 is visible. Scale, rotate, reposition LAYER 2 and you’ll see it moving within the shape of the 4.

  Ben Unguren
  Motion Graphics & Editing
  http://www.mostlydocumentary.com

  Some contents or functionalities here are not available due to your cookie preferences!

  This happens because the functionality/content marked as “Vimeo framework” uses cookies that you choosed to keep disabled. In order to view this content or use this functionality, please enable cookies: click here to open your cookie preferences.
• 

  Todd Kopriva

  September 4, 2011 at 6:32 pm

  Here’s more on track mattes.

  ———————————————————————————————————
  Todd Kopriva, Adobe Systems Incorporated
  Technical Support for professional video software
  After Effects Help & Support
  Premiere Pro Help & Support
  ———————————————————————————————————

Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up