• Adobe After Effects

  Moving A Mask Randomly on the Y Axis Only

  Posted by Steven Hilton on January 5, 2013 at 5:20 pm

  Ok, so I’m trying to randomly move a mask up and down over some text. The desired outcome is that of an audio equalizer. So the text will appear to jump up and down from the bottom with the music. The text is chopped up already, so I’m hoping moving a mask over it will give me the desired effect. Unfortunately things like “wiggle” don’t work on mask paths.

  Any ideas?

  Thanks

  Vishesh Arora replied 13 years, 8 months ago 3 Members · 6 Replies
• 6 Replies

• 

  Roland R. kahlenberg

  January 5, 2013 at 8:46 pm

  You can use the Text Tool’s Wiggly Selector to animate just the y-position of the text. By animating the min and max values, you will be able mimic what you want with some control.

  HTH
  RoRK

  Intensive mocha & AE Training in Singapore and Other Dangerous Locations

  Imagineer Systems (mocha) Certified Instructor
  & Adobe After Effects ACE/ACI (version 7)
• 

  Steven Hilton

  January 5, 2013 at 9:00 pm

  The Layer was created in Photoshop so it’s not actually a text layer. Sorry for making that unclear.
• 

  Roland R. kahlenberg

  January 5, 2013 at 9:16 pm

  How are you intending to have the mask affect the position of each character?

  Cheers
  RoRK

  Intensive mocha & AE Training in Singapore and Other Dangerous Locations

  Imagineer Systems (mocha) Certified Instructor
  & Adobe After Effects ACE/ACI (version 7)
• 

  Steven Hilton

  January 5, 2013 at 9:18 pm

  It won’t effect the position, it will just cover up different parts of the layer at any given time. That way if I just move it up and down the pieces of the letter will appear to be jumping up and down.
• 

  Roland R. kahlenberg

  January 5, 2013 at 9:22 pm

  I can’t visualize what you’re intending to do. Perhaps you can do up a couple of stills for us to have a better idea of what you want.

  Cheers
  RoRK

  Intensive mocha & AE Training in Singapore and Other Dangerous Locations

  Imagineer Systems (mocha) Certified Instructor
  & Adobe After Effects ACE/ACI (version 7)
• 

  Vishesh Arora

  January 6, 2013 at 7:02 am

  Steven

  Instead of using Masks, Use a White Solid or white Shape Layer and set it to Track Matte(Alpha Inverted) for text layer.

  You can apply the wiggle expression to Y coordinate only by linking it to a slider control.

  Also parent Matte Layer to the Text layer if text layer is itself moving.

  See the example:
  5164_wiggleontheyaxisofmatte.zip

  Vishesh Arora
  3D and Motion Graphics Artist
  Films Rajendra

  Blog:
  https://digieffects.wordpress.com

  Demo Reel(3D):
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHPgIJU_BR8

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