Masks
Masks come in with their layer on a pull, on any kind of layer. Edit their points like any path, rounded corners included.
At rest, a mask draws no path: the layer shows only what the mask reveals, as in After Effects. Select the mask to see its outline.
Draw a mask
Section titled “Draw a mask”Select a solid, footage, precomp, text or adjustment layer, then draw with a shape tool, the Pen or the Pencil. The result is a mask on that layer. Each new mask takes the next mask color, as in After Effects.
Mask settings
Section titled “Mask settings”Select a mask to edit it under Mask in Properties:
| Setting | Does |
|---|---|
| Mode | None, Add, Subtract, Intersect, Lighten, Darken, Difference |
| Inverted | Inverts the mask |
| Mask Feather | X and Y, in pixels, linked by default |
| Mask Opacity | 0 to 100% |
| Mask Expansion | Grows or shrinks the mask, in pixels |
With several masks selected, the settings edit all of them.
Mask color
Section titled “Mask color”Click the color chip on a mask in Layers to choose its color. With several masks selected, it colors all of them.
A selected mask’s outline wears its mask color. With Selection color set to Custom color in Preferences, it wears that color instead.
Limits
Section titled “Limits”- Masks on shape layers draw as a gray overlay and do not cut it on the canvas. After Effects applies them as usual.
- Lighten, Darken and Difference are approximate on the canvas, and so is feather on a rotated layer.
- Mask rows cannot be dragged in Layers.