From freehand masks to geometric shapes, the Pen Tool is the tool of choice for many After Effects users. Whether you need to create a complex or a simple mask, the Pen Tool provides precise control over the mask shape and can create any shape you desire. This section will explore using the Pen Tool to create masks in After Effects. The Pen Tool in After Effects is a powerful, flexible option for creating masks. How To Use Pen Tool for Masking in After Effects Holding down the ' Shift' key will maintain equal sides and create symmetrical shapes such as squares or circles.Holding down the ' CTRL' key for Windows or the ' CMD' key for Mac will draw the shape from the center.

Step3 Drag the mouse and select the area you want to apply the shape tool mask. Step2 Choose one of the shape tools from the toolbar. Step1 Choose the layer to which you want to apply the mask. We'll guide you through creating masks using different shape tools, including the rectangle, ellipse, and polygon tools. With these tools, you can easily create masks in various shapes and sizes to hide, reveal, or manipulate parts of a layer. Shape tools provide a quick and easy way to create masks in AE and are a great starting point for beginners. How To Do Masking in AE Using Shape Tools The possibilities are endless, and mastering masks can greatly enhance your projects. Overall, masks are an essential tool in After Effects, and it's worth taking the time to learn as much as possible about them. Alternatively, the mode can be changed to subtract. However, this can easily be changed by pressing 'M' to access the mask settings in the timeline and selecting the invert checkmark. The mask controls what is visible, while the fill determines the color or image used to fill the masked area.īy default, when a mask is created, it is set to 'inverted,' meaning the masked area is visible, and the rest is hidden. Masks in After Effects are made up of two parts: the mask and the fill. Masks are an incredibly versatile tool in Adobe After Effects, allowing users to cut out and combine elements, create professional transitions, isolate objects in photos or videos, and build shapes, among other things. This is achieved through masks, paths that determine the visibility of specific layer parts. Masking in After Effects hides or reveals certain layer parts, such as an image or video. Wondershare Filmora - A Great Alternative to After Effects Masking.

Masking in after effects cs6