How To Mask In Adobe After Effects

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Adobe After Effects is a robust software utilized to produce impressive visual effects, motion graphics, and compositing. Within After Effects, there is a crucial feature known as Masking which enables you to conceal, expose, and adjust specific parts of your video, making it an essential element in video editing and motion graphic design.

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of creating a mask in Adobe After Effects.

Step 1: Import your footage

The first step is to import the footage you want to work on. Go to File > Import > File and select the footage you wish to edit. It will appear in your “Project” panel.

Step 2: Create a new composition

Next, you need to create a new composition by selecting Composition > New Composition. A new panel will open, and you can choose the settings you prefer. For this tutorial, we will keep the default settings.

Step 3: Drag the footage to the timeline

Now, drag your footage from the “Project” panel directly onto the timeline at the bottom of the screen.

Step 4: Select the pen tool

The pen tool is the primary tool used for creating a mask. You can find it on the toolbar at the top of the screen or use the shortcut G to select it.

Step 5: Draw your mask

With the pen tool selected, click on your footage to create the first point of your mask. Continue clicking to create a path around the area you want to mask. Closing the path creates the mask.

Step 6: Adjust the mask

Once your mask is created, you can adjust its properties. To do this, select your footage in the timeline, hit the dropdown arrow and you will see a ‘masks’ tab. Click the dropdown arrow, and you will see the mask you just created. Here, you can change the mask’s feather, opacity, expansion, and more.

Step 7: Animate the mask

To animate a mask, you first need to set a keyframe. You can do this by clicking the stopwatch next to “Mask Path”. Move the timeline indicator to another point in time and adjust your mask path. After Effects will automatically create a new keyframe, resulting in an animation.

Here’s a simple example of how you might animate a mask:

    // Set the initial keyframe
    yourMask.property("Mask Path").setValue(yourMaskPath);
    yourMask.property("Mask Path").setSpatialTangentsAtKey(1, tangentsIn, tangentsOut);
  
    // Move the timeline indicator to a new point in time and adjust the mask path
    yourMask.property("Mask Path").setValue(yourNewMaskPath);
    yourMask.property("Mask Path").setSpatialTangentsAtKey(2, tangentsIn, tangentsOut);

These are the basics of masking in Adobe After Effects. There’s a lot more you can do with masks though – like using them with track mattes, blending modes, and effects. Experiment and have fun!