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Shapes, Masks, and Text paths Conundrum!
Using AE CS5 I would like to create a circular mask on multiple text layers for wrapping text around.
It is important that all the masks have different but specific diameters.
With the mask tool I can do this, but it is time consuming to create the mask with just the right diameter (in Pixels, via the info panel) and of course, if later, a mask needs adjusting, I can only scale it rather than type in a new pixel diameter explicitly.
If I make a circular shape layer (without holding Alt) I get a handy size and position for the path which is perfect!! Unfortunately the text needs a mask to follow not a shape layer, and this type of shape layer cannot be copied to a mask.
If I make the shape layer whilst holding alt, so the shape path is not fixed to that shape, I can copy the shape to a mask, BUT, This type of shape layer doesn’t have the handy size and position parameters I need.Is there a work around here??
Many thanks,
Graham Macfarlane
3D animator and VFX specialist
London UK -
4 Replies
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Yes, you can use this script. It’s just 5 bucks.
With it you can create a solid and add a circular mask, do any animations you need with it, scale it by any percentage you want. Then after all animation is done, you can use the script to copy and paste that mask to your text layer while retaining its screen position, meaning all your math should still be visually accurate.
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Thanks for your reply Cassius.
CopyMask2Layer is certainly an interesting script but it appears it only deals with masks.
I need to create shape layers (to have access to the pixel size parameter) and then copy/convert these into a mask on the text layer.Graham Macfarlane
3D animator and VFX specialist
London UK -
Wha’ts the pixel size parameter? You mean rectangular and circular size? Well it’s all the same… you can animate that size diameter and use an expression to mimic that transformation to a solid’s scale property. Then do just the same as I told you.
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That’s a really good idea! 🙂
Thanks Cassius.Graham Macfarlane
3D animator and VFX specialist
London UK
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