• Adobe After Effects

  Question about masking

  Posted by Paul Gustafson on February 2, 2009 at 4:34 pm

  Hey everyone. I am a new AE used and have a question about masking. I am currently editing a video that features a tv rising out of a cabinet. The client wants to have a simulated image on the screen while the tv rises. I have created the motion path of the mask but when I move the image, The mask moves with the image. How do I lock the mask so it does not move and still be able to move the image within the mask?

  Thanks, Paul

  Stuart Elith replied 17 years, 3 months ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
• 1 Reply

• 

  Stuart Elith

  February 3, 2009 at 12:50 am

  I’m not 100% with what you’re asking, but if you want a mask that doesn’t move with the layer it is attached to, I think you’re out of luck. Mostly, we WANT the mask to move so it’s great, but when you don’t, I think your best option is to use a Track Matte.
  This is basically where you use one layer as the alpha for another. So in your case, you could create a solid and put the mask you have drawn on that layer.

  To apply a track matte, place the layer directly above the layer you want to mask, and then choose Alpha Matte.

  Otherwise another option you have is to use pre-composing – animate your image as you like, then make it into a Pre-Comp (see manual if you haven’t encountered this before) and then you can mask the pre-comp without worrying about the movement within. 🙂

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