How best create flexible vignette layer in AE?

[Tom Clasman]

Thanks for responding!

Oh, a Matte?
I’m rather new to AE so I may not know the nomenclature yet. I used to be on Vegas but trying the Adobe tools out now.

In trying to create this, a Matte, I’ve been adding a new layer on top of an existing footage – either solid or shape layer – and used the ellipse tool to create an ellipse which will constitute the ‘vignette’ shape. I run into alot of problems in doing so.
For example, the ellipse tool creates a solid shape with a solid edge. Not a gradual transition from transparent to black.
The only way I found to create a gradual ‘edge’ is to create a mask and draw an ellipse shape onto it, and use the mask controls to “feather” the shape edge. But if I do that, then the shape can’t be moved independently over the canvas.
And if I use a mask on a shape layer, then I can’t get the shape to blend onto the underlying layer.

That’s kindof where I get stuck and don’t know where else to look for a solution. I haven’t found anything immediately useful in the FX list either. I may be spoiled from Vegas too, because it is user friendly to the point of oversimplification sometimes. So, maybe I’m just going about this a totally wrong way.

[Daniel Waldron]

Take Dave’s advice and do some basic training on AE. Once you understand the basics, you can start problem-solving things like this pretty easily.

You’re on the right track with the mask on a solid layer. You can double click the mask in your comp window to select all points and move it around your composition. Keyframe the path if you need to animate the position.