I may just be unclear on what I am trying to accomplish, because I think I understand what you are saying, but it is not quite what I want to accomplish. If I use a luma matte to reveal a layer, the blur can only be set at a constant value that is essentially just being revealed. The blocks are gradually getting darker, so I need to GRADUALLY blur from say a value of 0-10, vs just revealing a 10. (0 being the white and 10 being the black). But like you said I could just not be that great at After Effects and you may be telling me the right way to accomplish that.