• Adobe After Effects

  Pen tool won’t draw a mask

  Posted by James Wilson on February 19, 2013 at 12:25 am

  Hey,

  Have tried searching but couldn’t find the answer to this.
  Whenever I try to use the Pen tool to draw a Mask, by selecting a layer and then selecting the Pen tool, it just starts drawing a shape on a new layer, instead of a mask on the layer selected.

  Have I accidentally pressed something to cause this, and how do I fix it?

  Kind Regards
  James

  Vishesh Arora replied 13 years, 6 months ago 4 Members · 3 Replies
• 3 Replies

• 

  Joseph W. bourke

  February 19, 2013 at 1:06 am

  It’s not immediately obvious, and can get confusing – here’s the rundown on it from Adobe:

  https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creating-shapes-masks.html#create_a_shape_or_mask_by_dragging_with_shape_tools

  Joe Bourke
  Owner/Creative Director
  Bourke Media
  http://www.bourkemedia.com
• 

  Todd Kopriva

  February 19, 2013 at 4:05 am

  You’re sure that you have a layer selected?

  ———————————————————————————————————
  Todd Kopriva, Adobe Systems Incorporated
  After Effects quality engineering
  After Effects team blog
  ———————————————————————————————————
• 

  Vishesh Arora

  February 19, 2013 at 9:58 am

  A screenshot of Composition Panel and Timeline depicting your problem would help. As there should not be any problem if you have the Layer selected in Timeline.
  Try this :
  1. Make a new solid Layer.
  2. Select the solid layer in TimeLine.
  3. Select the Pen Tool from Tools Panel and then Draw a shape.

  Check whether the same problem occurs or not.

  Vishesh Arora
  3D and Motion Graphics Artist
  Films Rajendra

  Blog:
  https://digieffects.wordpress.com

  2011 3D Demo Reel:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHPgIJU_BR8

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