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Beginner question: Mask!

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MPC6611

Technical User
Jun 15, 2003
1
ES
Just starting a.e and i cant really find a answer to this.
What is a "mask" used for? What does it do? where can i find info on this subject
Thanks!
 
A mask is additional information about the image. In most of the cases I use it, I use it to determine which part of the image is opaque and which part is transaprent.

For example, if I want to animate a flying bird, I make a Photoshop image (which will be square) of a bird, and then I build a mask. The mask determines what will be seen (the bird art and its shape) and what AE will ignore (everything in the rectangular image that is not-bird).

There are other uses for masks, but that's the one I'm most familiar with.

AE's help should come with an extensive explanation of masks, and if you have Photoshop, you can look through their help file as well.

Cheers,


[monkey] Edward [monkey]

"Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door
 
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