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Activity Forums Adobe After Effects Copying and pasting a mask

  • Copying and pasting a mask

    Posted by Matthew Rozzi on March 10, 2023 at 12:49 pm

    I am trying to paste a complicated mask from one layer to another. My problem is that the layer I am pasting the mask to has been transformed, so when I paste it, the mask conforms to this transformation which I don’t want. I’d like to know how to basically “paste in place” this mask on another layer.

    Thanks, Matt

    Matthew Rozzi replied 8 months, 3 weeks ago 3 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • Walter Soyka

    March 10, 2023 at 2:57 pm
  • Adam Greenberg

    March 10, 2023 at 6:22 pm

    maybe you could use the set matte effect instead, i try never copying masks. what if you edit your mask, you would need to remember to recopy. unless you use expressions, but i think set matte is best, but it depends what you are doing exactly

  • Walter Soyka

    March 10, 2023 at 8:06 pm

    Good call, Adam. If you’re just looking to matte something (rather than drive an effect with the mask), you can just reference the layer directly.

    But rather than Set Matte, I’d suggest looking into the new track matte system. In the most recent version of Ae, you can select any other layer in the composition as a layer’s track matte; you are no longer restricted to the layer above. This makes it super-easy to reuse mattes without duplicating layers, and without worrying about the size mismatches that can happen with the Set Matte effect.

  • Matthew Rozzi

    March 11, 2023 at 2:47 am

    Thanks guys. This was really helpful. I’ll see what option works best.

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