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AE – How to change “Mask Path” like “Mask Expansion”
Dear Forum Members,
I’m relativily new to using AE expressions and am running into a problem.Basically I want to change the Mask Path in the same way I do with “Mask Expansion”. But I want the real Path to be changed, because I need the path for something else. So I want to expand the Path, like it appears when using the “Mask Expansion”. I hope it is clear what I mean.
In a further step I plan to connect the expansion ammount to a slider, so I can easily adjust the expansion. (In case that matters)
So I’m affraid it doesn’t work with expressions, since I keep reading manipulation of mask path is not possible with expressions. Is this true? Is it possible with scripting? Does anyone has an Idea how to resolve my problem?
Thank you so much for your time. I’m happy for every answer!
Best Regards
Anton -
6 Replies
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What you want is not possible with expressions, and even if doable with a script, it would be overly complicated. The expansion (or extrusion) of a mask path is another path that doesnt necessarily have the same number of vertices, nor, which is worse, the same number of components. Calculating the extrusion requires some knowledge about Bezier things, and if your path is keyframed it will truely be a nightmare.
Edit: Just read my post again, it feels a bit dry… Sorry for the tone.
And it might be after all that there exists a script that extrudes mask paths, i’m not aware of one.Xavier.
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Dear Xavier,
thank you very much in taking the time answering me.
ok, so it sounds like a dead end. At least I save time in not trying further. Thank you! Building such a script sounds very complicated, so I’ll have to figure out something else.If anyone ever finds such a script feel free to share the link, that would be highly appreciated!
Wouldn’t it be very easy for Adobe to give the possibility of addressing the mask expansion path? The path must exist, right? Wouldn’t they only have to give us an “address” so we can use that path? Or would that be overly complicated for them? I’ve been here only a very few times, but aren’t Adobe developer here also? If so and you’re reading this, dear Adobe developer, please reply.
Is there another place where I could suggest such thing?
Everyone, have a great weekend!
Anton -
>Is there another place where I could suggest such thing?
You could try here:
https://www.adobe.com/products/wishform.html
Dan
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Thank you for the link, Dan.
Just went there and filled out the request. I really hope they give this possibility of accessing expansion path in the future.
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One relatively simple way to achieve this is to use Illustrator to offset the path (if you have Illustrator).
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Thank you for the tip, Kalle, but I need the expansion path for a tamplate. The path needs to be easily expanded or extruded and also the amount animated over time. So unfortunately Illustrator is no option. Thank you anyway!
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