Creating Masks

8/10/2019 Creating Masks

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Creating masks

You can create one or more masks for each layer in a composition

using any of the following methods:

Draw a path using the shape tools or Pen tool.

Drawing a mask path is similar to drawing a

shape path. (SeeCreate a shape or mask by

dragging with shape toolsandCreate a Bezier

shape or mask using the Pen tool.)

Specify the dimensions of the mask path

numerically in the Mask Shape dialog box.

(SeeCreate a rectangular or elliptical masknumerically.)

Convert a shape path to a mask path by

copying the shapes path to the Mask Path

property.

Convert a motion path to a mask path.

(SeeCreate a mask or shape from a motion

path.)

Trace color or alpha channel values to create amask using the Auto-trace command.

(SeeCreate a mask from a channel with Auto-

trace.)

Paste a path copied from another layer or from

Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or Fireworks.

(SeeCopy a path from Illustrator, Photoshop,

or Fireworks.)

Convert a text layer to one or more editable

masks on a solid-color layer by using theCreate Masks From Text command.

(SeeCreate shapes or masks from text

characters.)
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When you create masks on a layer, the mask names appear in the

Timeline panel outline in the order in which you create the masks. To

organize and keep track of your masks, rename them.

To rename a mask, select it and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac

OS), or right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) the mask

name and choose Rename.

When creating additional masks for one layer in the Layer panel, make

sure that the Target menu in the Layer panel is set to None; otherwise,

you replace the targeted mask instead of creating a new mask. You can

also lock a mask to prevent changes to it.

Menu selections to specify a mask to target in the Layer panel

A.View menu B.Target menu

When creating or editing masks, look in the Info panel for informationsuch as the mask name and the number of vertices in the mask.

To create a mask that you can move independently of the primary layer

that it is masking, do the following:

1.

Create the mask on a separate white solid layer, and use that

solid layer as a track matte for the primary layer.

2. Use parenting to make the solid layer a child of the primary

layer, so that the mask moves with the primary layer as if it were

applied directly. Because the solid layer is a child layer, it canalso be animated independently of its parent.

3.

You can use motion tracking to make the solid layer (and

therefore the mask) follow moving objects in the primary layer.

(SeeConvert a layer into a track matteandParent and child

layers.)
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To the top

Create a rectangular or elliptical mask numerically

1.

Select a layer in the Composition panel, or display a layer in the

Layer panel.

2. Choose Layer > Mask > New Mask. A new mask appears in the

Composition or Layer panel with its handles at the outer edges

of the frame.

3.

Choose Layer > Mask > Mask Shape.

4.

Select Reset To, choose Rectangle or Ellipse from the Shape

menu, and specify the size and location of the bounding box for

the mask.

To the top

Create a mask from channel values with Auto-trace

1.

You can convert the alpha, red, green, blue, or luminance

channel of a layer to one or more masks by using the Auto-tracecommand.

2. Auto-trace creates as many Bezier masks as necessary to outline

the specified channel values in the layer.

3.

It also creates masks with the smallest number of vertices

possible while conforming to the settings that you choose.

4.

You can modify a mask created with Auto-trace as you would

any other mask, and you can link its path to other path types,

such as shape paths on a shape layer, using expressions.

When you apply Auto-trace, affected layers are automatically set to

Best Quality to ensure accurate results.

To reduce the number of masks created by Auto-trace, apply a keying

effect to the layer to isolate your subject before applying Auto-trace.

1.

In the Timeline panel, do one of the following:
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To create mask keyframes at a single

frame, drag the current-time indicator

to the desired frame.

To create mask keyframes across a

range of frames, set a work area that

spans that range.

2.

Select one or more layers.

3.

Choose Layer > Auto-trace.

4.

Select one of the following:

Current Frame

Creates mask keyframes at only the current

frame.

Work Area

Creates mask keyframes for frames within the

work area.

5.

Set any of the following options:

Invert

Inverts the input layer before searching for

edges.

Blur

Blurs the original image before generating the

tracing result. Select this option to reduce

small artifacts and to smooth jagged edges in

the tracing result. Deselect this option to

closely trace details in a high-contrast image.

Specify the radius, in pixels, of the area used

for the blurring operation. Larger values result

in more blur.

Tolerance


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How far, in pixels, the traced path is allowed

to deviate from the contours of the channel.

Threshold

Specifies, as a percentage, the value that apixels channel must have for that pixel to be

considered part of an edge. Pixels with

channel values over the threshold are mapped

to white and are opaque; pixels with values

under the threshold are mapped to black and

are transparent.

Minimum Area

Specifies the smallest feature in the originalimage that will be traced. For example, a value

of 4 removes features smaller than 2 pixels

wide by 2 pixels high from the tracing result.

Corner Roundness

Specifies the roundness of the mask curve at

vertices. Enter a higher value for smoother

curves.

Apply To New Layer

Applies the mask to a new solid the same size

as the selected layer. This control is

automatically selected for layers that have

Collapse Transformations enabledit creates

a new layer the same size as the composition

that contains the layer.

Preview

Select to preview the mask results and the

results of the various options of the Auto-trace

command.

To the top
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Creating shapes and shape layers

You create a shape layer by drawing in the Composition panel with a

shape tool or the Pen tool. You can then add shape attributes to existing

shapes or create new shapes within that shape layer. By default, if you

draw in the Composition panel when a shape layer is selected, you

create a new shape within that shape layer, above the selected shapes or

group of shapes. If you draw in the Composition panel using a shape

tool or Pen tool when an image layer other than a shape layer is

selected, you create a mask.

Press F2 to deselect all layers before drawing in the Composition panel

to create a new shape layer.

You can create shapes and shape layers using any of the following

methods:

Draw a path using the shape tools or Pen tool.

Drawing a mask path is similar to drawing a

shape path. (SeeCreate a shape or mask by

dragging with shape toolsandCreate a Bezier

shape or mask using the Pen tool.)

Convert a text layer to shapes on a shape layer

by using the Create Shapes From Textcommand. (SeeCreate shapes or masks from

text characters.)

Convert a mask path to a shape path.

Convert a motion path to a shape path.

(SeeCreate a mask or shape from a motion

path.)

Paste a path copied from another layer or from

Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or Fireworks.(SeeCopy a path from Illustrator, Photoshop,

or Fireworks.)

Create a new, empty shape layer by choosing

Layer > New > Shape Layer.
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In most cases, a new shape has a fill and a stroke that correspond to the

Fill and Stroke settings in the Tools panel at the time that the shape is

drawn. You can use the same controls in the Tools panel to change

these attributes for a selected shape after it has been drawn. Shapes

created from text are created with fills and strokes that match the fillsand strokes of the original text.

Note:

To draw a mask on a shape layer, click the Tool Creates Mask

button in the Tools panel with a shape tool or Pen tool active. For

more information about creating masks, seeCreating masks.

Aharon Rabinowitz provides a video tutorial on theCreative COW

websitethat shows how to combine multiple paths into a single

compound shape using the Merge Paths path operation.

To the top

Vector Art Footage-to-Shape Conversion | CC, CS6

In previous versions of After Effects you could import an Illustrator

(.ai), EPS (.eps), or PDF (.pdf) file, however you could not modify the

file. Now you can create a shape layer from a vector art footage layer,

and then modify it.

With the ability to bevel and extrude objects in After Effects, you can

extrude the artwork (for example, extruded logos), as well.

SeeExtruding text and shape layers.

To convert a vector art footage layer to shape layer:

Choose Layer > Create Shapes from Vector

Layer. A matching shape layer will appear

above the footage layer, and the footage layer

will be muted.

The following issues are known:

Not all features of Illustrator files are

currently preserved. Examples include:

opacity, images, and gradients.
http://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creating-shapes-masks.html#creating_maskshttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creating-shapes-masks.html#creating_maskshttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creating-shapes-masks.html#creating_maskshttp://cowcast.creativecow.net/podcast/shape-tips-2-creating-complex--229http://cowcast.creativecow.net/podcast/shape-tips-2-creating-complex--229http://cowcast.creativecow.net/podcast/shape-tips-2-creating-complex--229http://cowcast.creativecow.net/podcast/shape-tips-2-creating-complex--229http://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creating-shapes-masks.htmlhttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creating-shapes-masks.htmlhttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/extruding-text-shapes.html#main-pars_minitochttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/extruding-text-shapes.html#main-pars_minitochttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/extruding-text-shapes.html#main-pars_minitochttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/extruding-text-shapes.html#main-pars_minitochttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creating-shapes-masks.htmlhttp://cowcast.creativecow.net/podcast/shape-tips-2-creating-complex--229http://cowcast.creativecow.net/podcast/shape-tips-2-creating-complex--229http://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creating-shapes-masks.html#creating_masks


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Converted shapes ignore PAR overrides

specified in the Interpret Footage dialog

box.

Gradients and unsupported types may

show as 50% gray shapes.

Files with thousands of paths may

import very slowly without feedback.

The menu command works on a single

selected layer at a time.

If you import an Illustrator file as a

composition (i.e., several layers), you

cannot convert all of those layers in one

pass. However, you can import the file

as footage, and then use the command

to convert the single footage layer to

shapes.

In this videoby Todd Kopriva and video2brain, see how to quickly

convert vector graphics from Illustrator to shape layers and animate the

paths in After Effects CS6. This process is much simpler than previous

versions of After Effects.

To the top

Create a shape or mask by dragging with shape tools

The shape tools are the Rectangle , Rounded Rectangle , Ellipse

, Polygon , and Star tools.

To activate and cycle through the shape tools, press Q.

A polygon is a star without an Inner Radius or Inner Roundness

property, so the name of the shape created for a polygon or a star is the

same:polystar.

You can create a mask by dragging with a shape tool on a selected

layer in the Composition panel or Layer panel. You can create a shape

by dragging with a shape tool on a selected shape layer in the
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Composition panel. If you drag with a shape tool in the Composition

panel with no layer selected, you create a shape on a new shape layer.

Note:

To draw a mask on a shape layer, click the Tool Creates Mask

button in the Tools panel with a shape tool active.

When you create a shape by dragging with a shape tool in the

Composition panel, you create a parametric shape path. To instead

create a Bezier shape path, press the Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac

OS) key before you click to begin dragging. You can release the key

before you complete the drag operation. All mask paths are Bezier

paths. (SeeAbout shapes and shape layers.)

Draggingstarts when you click in the Composition panel or Layer

panel to begin drawing, and ends when you release the mouse button.Pressing modifier keys at different times during a single dragging

operation achieves different results:

To reposition a shape or mask as you are

drawing, hold the spacebar or the middle

mouse button while dragging.

To scale a circle, ellipse, square, rounded

square, rectangle, or rounded rectangle around

its center while drawing, hold the Ctrl(Windows) or Command (Mac OS) key after

you begin dragging. Dont release the key

until you have released the mouse button to

finish drawing.

To cancel the drawing operation, press Esc.

Note:

Each shape tool retains the settings of the most recent drawing

operation with that tool. For example, if you draw a star and modifythe number of points to be 10, then the next star that you draw will also

have 10 points. To reset settings for a tool and create a shape with the

default settings, double-click the tool in the Tools panel. (SeeCreate a

shape or mask the size of the layer.)
http://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/overview-shape-layers-paths-vector.html#about_shapes_and_shape_layershttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/overview-shape-layers-paths-vector.html#about_shapes_and_shape_layershttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/overview-shape-layers-paths-vector.html#about_shapes_and_shape_layershttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creating-shapes-masks.html#create_a_shape_or_mask_the_size_of_the_layerhttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creating-shapes-masks.html#create_a_shape_or_mask_the_size_of_the_layerhttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creating-shapes-masks.html#create_a_shape_or_mask_the_size_of_the_layerhttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creating-shapes-masks.html#create_a_shape_or_mask_the_size_of_the_layerhttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creating-shapes-masks.html#create_a_shape_or_mask_the_size_of_the_layerhttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creating-shapes-masks.html#create_a_shape_or_mask_the_size_of_the_layerhttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/overview-shape-layers-paths-vector.html#about_shapes_and_shape_layers


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Draw rectangles, rounded rectangles, squares, and

rounded squares

1.

Select the Rectangle tool or the Rounded Rectangle tool ,

and do one of the following:

To draw a rectangle or rounded

rectangle, drag diagonally.

To draw a square or rounded square,

Shift-drag diagonally.

2. (Optional) If drawing a rounded rectangle or rounded square, do

the following before releasing the mouse button:

To increase or decrease the corner

roundness, press the Up Arrow key or

the Down Arrow key, or roll the mouse

wheel forward or backward.

To set corner roundness to the

minimum or maximum, press the Left

Arrow key or the Right Arrow key.

3.

Release the mouse button to finish drawing. If drawing a squareor rounded square, release the Shift key after releasing the

mouse button.

Note:

Squares are created to be square according to the pixel aspect ratio of

the composition. If the pixel aspect ratio of the composition is not 1,

then squares only appear square in the Composition panel if the Toggle

Pixel Aspect Ratio button is selected at the bottom of the

Composition panel.

Draw ellipses and circles

1.

Select the Ellipse tool , and do one of the following:

To draw an ellipse, drag diagonally.


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To draw a circle, Shift-drag diagonally.

2.

Release the mouse button to finish drawing. If drawing a circle,

release the Shift key after releasing the mouse button.

Note:

Circles are created to be circular according to the pixel aspect ratio of

the composition. If the pixel aspect ratio of the composition is not 1,

then circles only appear circular in the Composition panel if the Toggle

Pixel Aspect Ratio button is selected at the bottom of the

Composition panel.

Draw polygons and stars

1.

Select the Polygon tool or the Star tool , and do one of thefollowing:

Drag to scale and rotate the polygon or

star as you draw it.

Shift-drag to scale the polygon or star

as you draw it, preventing rotation.

2.

(Optional) Do the following before releasing the mouse button:

To add or remove points, press the Up

Arrow key or the Down Arrow key, or

roll the mouse wheel forward or

backward.

To increase or decrease the outer

roundness, press the Left Arrow key or

the Right Arrow key.

To keep the inner radius of a starconstant as you move the mouse to

increase the outer radius, hold the Ctrl

(Windows) or Command (Mac OS)

key.


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To increase or decrease the inner

roundness of a star, press the Page Up

key or the Page Down key.

3.

Release the mouse button to finish drawing. If Shift-dragging to

prevent rotation, release the Shift key after releasing the mouse

button.

To the top

Create a Bezier shape or mask using the Pen tool

You can create a Bezier mask using the Pen tool on a selected layer in

the Composition panel or Layer panel. You can create a shape with aBezier path using the Pen tool on a selected shape layer in the

Composition panel. If you draw with the Pen tool in the Composition

panel with no layer selected, you create a shape on a new shape layer.

Creating a RotoBezier path is similar to creating a manual Bezier path.

The primary difference is that direction lines for vertices and curvature

for path segments are automatically calculated.

Create a manual Bezier path using the Pen tool

1.

With the Pen tool selected and the RotoBezier option deselected

in the Tools panel, click in the Composition panel where you

want to place the first vertex.

2.

Click where you want to place the next vertex. To create a

curved segment, drag the direction line handle to create the

curve that you want.

To reposition a vertex after youve clicked to

place it but before youve released the mouse

button, hold the spacebar while dragging.

The last vertex that you add appears as a solid

square, indicating that it is selected. Previously

added vertices become hollow, and deselected,

as you add more vertices.


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3.

Repeat step 2 until you are ready to complete the path.

4.

Complete the path by doing one of the following:

To close the path, place the pointer over

the first vertex and, when a closed

circle icon appears next to the

pointer , click the vertex.

Note:

You can also close a path by double-clicking

the last vertex or choosing Layer > Mask And

Shape Path > Closed.

To leave the path open, activate adifferent tool, or press F2 to deselect

the path.

Draw straight manual Bezier path segments with the Pen

tool

The simplest path that you can draw with the Pen tool is a straight line,

made by clicking with the Pen tool to create two vertices. By

continuing to click, you create a path made of straight line segmentsconnected by corner points.

Clicking with Pen tool creates straight segments.

1.

Place the Pen tool where you want the straight segment to begin,

and click to place a vertex. (Do not drag.)

2. Click again where you want the segment to end. (Shift-click to

constrain the angle between segments at the corner point to a

whole multiple of 45.)


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3.

Continue clicking to set vertices for additional straight segments.

Draw curved manual Bezier path segments with the Pen

tool

You create a curved path segment by dragging direction lines. The

length and direction of the direction lines determine the shape of the

curve.

Shift-drag to constrain the angle of the direction lines to whole

multiples of 45. Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) to

modify only the outgoing direction line.

1.

Place the Pen tool where you want the curve to begin, and hold

the mouse button down.

A vertex appears, and the Pen tool pointer

changes to an arrowhead.

2.

Drag to modify the length and direction of both direction lines

for a vertex, and then release the mouse button.

Drawing the first vertex in a curved path

A.Placing the Pen tool B.Starting to drag (mouse button

pressed) C.Dragging to extend direction lines

3.

Place the Pen tool where you want the curved segment to end,

and do one of the following:

To create a C-shaped curve, drag in the

direction opposite from the direction

that you dragged the previous direction

line, and then release the mouse button.


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Drawing the second vertex in a curved path

A.Starting to drag B.Dragging away from previous direction

line, creating a C curve C.Result after releasing mouse button

To create an S-shaped curve, drag in

the same direction as the previous

direction line, and then release the

mouse button.

Drawing an S curve

A.Starting to drag B.Dragging in same direction as previousdirection line, creating an S curve C.Result after releasing

mouse button

4.

Continue dragging the Pen tool from different locations to create

a series of smooth curves.

To the top

Create a shape or mask the size of the layer

1.

Select the destination for the new mask or shape:

To create a shape on an existing shape

layer, select the shape layer.


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To create a shape on a new shape layer

with the dimensions of the composition,

deselect all layers by pressing F2.

To create a mask, select a layer in the

Timeline panel, Layer panel, or

Composition panel. To create a mask

on a shape layer, select Tool Creates

Mask in the Tools panel with a

shape tool active.

To replace a mask path, select the mask

in the Timeline panel, Layer panel, or

Composition panel.

To replace a shape path, select the

shape path (not the group) in the

Composition panel or Timeline panel.

2.

In the Tools panel, double-click the Rectangle , Rounded

Rectangle , Ellipse , Polygon , or Star tool.

To the top

Create shapes or masks from text characters

The Create Shapes From Text command extracts the outlines for each

character, creates shapes from the outlines, and puts the shapes on a

new shape layer. You can then use these shapes as you would any other

shapes.

The Create Masks From Text command extracts the outlines for each

character, creates masks from the outlines, and puts the masks on a new

solid-color layer. You can then use these masks as you would any other

masks.

Some font families, such as Webdings, include characters that are

graphical images, rather than text. Converting text from these font

families can be a good way to get started with simple graphical

elements in shape layers.


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Create shapes from text

1. Select the text to convert to shapes:

To create shapes for all characters in a

text layer, select the text layer in the

Timeline panel or Composition panel.

To create shapes for specific characters,

select the characters in the Composition

panel.

2.

Do one of the following:

Choose Layer > Create Shapes From

Text.

Right-click (Windows) or Control-click

(Mac OS) the layer or text and choose

Create Shapes From Text from the

context menu.

The Video switch for the text layer is turned off.

The new shape layer is created at the top of the layer stacking order.

The new layer contains one shape group for each selected character,plus fill and stroke properties that match the fills and strokes of the text.

For characters that consist of compound pathssuch as iand e

multiple paths are created and combined with the Merge Paths path

operation.

Effects, masks, layer styles, and keyframes and expressions for

properties in the Transform property group of the text layer are copied

to the new shape layer or solid-color layer.

Create masks from text

1.

Select the text to convert to masks:


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To create masks for all characters in a

text layer, select the text layer in the

Timeline panel or Composition panel.

To create masks for specific characters,

select the characters in the Composition

panel.

2.

Do one of the following:

Choose Layer > Create Masks From

Text.

Right-click (Windows) or Control-click

(Mac OS) the layer or text and chooseCreate Masks From Text from the

context menu.

The Video switch for the text layer is turned off.

The new solid-color layer is created at the top of the layer stacking

order.

For characters that consist of compound pathssuch as iand e

multiple masks are created and combined with the Subtract mask mode.

To the top

Copy a path from Illustrator, Photoshop, or Fireworks

You can copy a path from Illustrator, Photoshop, or Fireworks and

paste it into After Effects as a mask path or shape path.

To make the data copied from Illustrator compatible with After Effects,

the AICB option must be selected in the Files & Clipboard section ofthe Adobe Illustrator Preferences dialog box.

For a path imported from Photoshop to be scaled correctly, the

Photoshop document must have a resolution of 72 dpi. 72 dpi is the

Resolution setting of documents created in Photoshop using a Film &

Video preset.


19/23

note: You can also use a copied Illustrator, Photoshop, or Fireworks

path as an After Effects motion path. SeeCreate a motion path from a

mask, shape, or paint pathfor more information.

Path drawn in Adobe Illustrator (left) and pasted into After Effects as a mask (right)

1. In Illustrator, Photoshop, or Fireworks, select an entire path, and

then choose Edit > Copy.

2.

In After Effects, do one of the following to define a target for

the paste operation:

To create a new mask, select a layer.

To replace an existing mask path or

shape path, select its Path property.

Note:

To paste a path as a shape path, you mustselect the Path property of an existing shape in

a shape layer. This selection tells After Effects

what the target of the paste operation is; if the

target isnt specified in this way, After Effects

assumes that the target is the entire layer and

therefore draws a new mask. If there is no

Path propertyperhaps because the shape

layer is emptythen you can draw a

placeholder path with the Pen tool and thenpaste the path from Illustrator into the

placeholder path.

3.

Choose Edit > Paste.
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/aftereffects/cs/using/WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7d5da.html#WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7dcbahttp://help.adobe.com/en_US/aftereffects/cs/using/WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7d5da.html#WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7dcbahttp://help.adobe.com/en_US/aftereffects/cs/using/WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7d5da.html#WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7dcbahttp://help.adobe.com/en_US/aftereffects/cs/using/WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7d5da.html#WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7dcbahttp://help.adobe.com/en_US/aftereffects/cs/using/WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7d5da.html#WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7dcba


20/23

If you paste multiple paths into a shape path,

the first path goes into the shape path, and the

remaining paths are pasted into new mask

paths. This behavior is because the paths other

than the first one dont have a clearly definedtarget, so they are added to the entire layer as

masks.

To paste multiple paths into multiple shape

paths simultaneously, first create and select

multiple placeholder shape paths in After

Effects. Trish and Chris Meyer provide details

of this technique, plus related tips and tricks

on theProVideo Coalition website.

Andrew Devis shows how to use paths from Illustrator as motion paths

in After Effects inthis video on the Creative COW website.

To the top

Create a mask or shape from a motion path

You can copy position keyframes, anchor point keyframes, or an effect

control points position keyframes andpaste those keyframes into aselected mask path or shape path. When you create mask paths or shape

paths from motion paths, make sure that you copy keyframes from a

single Position property onlydo not copy the keyframes of any other

property.

Draw a motion path with Motion Sketch and then paste the path into a

mask path or shape path.
http://www.adobe.com/go/learn_ae_trishchrispastemultiplepathshttp://www.adobe.com/go/learn_ae_trishchrispastemultiplepathshttp://www.adobe.com/go/learn_ae_trishchrispastemultiplepathshttp://library.creativecow.net/devis_andrew/AE-Basics-15-Motion-Basics-3/1http://library.creativecow.net/devis_andrew/AE-Basics-15-Motion-Basics-3/1http://library.creativecow.net/devis_andrew/AE-Basics-15-Motion-Basics-3/1http://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creating-shapes-masks.htmlhttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creating-shapes-masks.htmlhttp://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creating-shapes-masks.htmlhttp://library.creativecow.net/devis_andrew/AE-Basics-15-Motion-Basics-3/1http://www.adobe.com/go/learn_ae_trishchrispastemultiplepaths


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The motion path of the spaceship (top) is copied to the background layer (lower-left) and

used by the Vegas effect (lower-right).

Note:

When copying between a mask path to a motion path, keep in mind thatthe mask paths values are expressed in the coordinate system of the

layer (layer space), whereas the motion paths values are expressed in

the coordinate system of the composition (composition space). This

difference may cause the pasted path to be offset, requiring you to

reposition the path after pasting it. (SeeCoordinate systems:

composition space and layer space.)

Create a mask path from a motion path

1.

In the Timeline panel, click the name of the Position property or

Anchor Point property from which you want to copy the motion

path. (This selects all keyframes. To select only some of the

keyframes of a motion path, Shift-click them.)

2. Choose Edit > Copy.

3.

To create a new mask, select the layer on which to create the

mask, and choose Layer > Mask > New Mask.

4.

In the Timeline panel, click the name of the Mask Path property

for the mask into which to paste the keyframes from the motion

path.

5.

http://help.adobe.com/en_US/aftereffects/cs/using/WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7e94a.html#WSA58C13F2-4770-44aa-8F70-A03FC8F0F6F7ahttp://help.adobe.com/en_US/aftereffects/cs/using/WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7e94a.html#WSA58C13F2-4770-44aa-8F70-A03FC8F0F6F7ahttp://help.adobe.com/en_US/aftereffects/cs/using/WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7e94a.html#WSA58C13F2-4770-44aa-8F70-A03FC8F0F6F7ahttp://help.adobe.com/en_US/aftereffects/cs/using/WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7e94a.html#WSA58C13F2-4770-44aa-8F70-A03FC8F0F6F7ahttp://help.adobe.com/en_US/aftereffects/cs/using/WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7e94a.html#WSA58C13F2-4770-44aa-8F70-A03FC8F0F6F7ahttp://help.adobe.com/en_US/aftereffects/cs/using/WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7e94a.html#WSA58C13F2-4770-44aa-8F70-A03FC8F0F6F7a


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Selecting and copying Position keyframes (left); then pasting

them in the selected Mask Path property (right)

Create a shape path from a motion path

1.

In the Timeline panel, click the name of the Position property or

Anchor Point property from which you want to copy the motion

path. (This selects all keyframes. To select only some of the

keyframes of a motion path, Shift-click them.)

2.

Choose Edit > Copy.

3.

To create a new shape layer, press F2 to deselect all layers, then

click in the Composition panel with the Pen tool to create a

single-point Bezier path.

4.

Press SS to reveal the Path property for the shape. Click the

name of the Path property into which to paste the keyframes

from the motion path.

5.


To the top

Duplicate a shape group while transforming

When a shape group is selected in group selection mode, you canduplicate the group while moving, rotating, or scaling it in the

Composition panel.

Hold the Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) key as you drag to

transform a group.


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The pointer changes to a duplication pointer (

or ) as you hold the key and place the

pointer near the group transform box.

To the top

Creating Contrasting Color for Mask Path

When the Use Contrasting Color For Mask Path preference (under

Preferences > Appearance) is enabled, After Effects analyzes the

colors near the point where you start drawing a mask. After Effects

then chooses a label color that is different from the colors in that

region. It also avoids the color of the last mask drawn.

Documents

Creating Masks