Create & Animate Masks in After Effects - AE Fundamantals

In this video of the After Effects Fundamentals series, you'll learn how to use masks to control where a layer is visible. This lesson covers when masks can be useful, different ways to create them, and how to animate them.
In this video:
0:37 Create a Mask
2:22 Adjust a Mask
4:05 Mask Properties
5:00 Types of Masks
➡️ Check out the visual notes that accompany this video to help you quickly remember how to do something in After Effects: www.meganfriesth.com/aefundam...
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[@sweetjamhit]

Thank you Megan, by far the best introductory AE tutorials out there - the delivery, the explanation and the content is spot on.

[@animation-explained]

Thank you! 😊

[@zoned3mon838]

Thank you Megan ,This was Awesome ,The best After effects course on YT🙏🙏🙏

[@ecampuscaptioning]

I appreciate the unhurried pace of your videos. Thank you! I learned a lot!

[@animation-explained]

Glad to hear it!

[@ToxicMetropolis]

Super helpful! Thanks.

[@sulynncho9299]

If you move a layer that has a mask applied to it, it will move the entire layer including the mask. But if you wanted to move the image or whatever's being masked but keep the mask in place use the pan behind tool which is up here or it's also y on the keyboard so you can just slide the image like this.

[@richalvarezfan101]

I really wish I found your channel sooner! thank you so much for making some in depth tutorials explaining properly effects, what you're clicking on, and explaining why different methods may work as well as suggestions for how to use these in actual projects. These are the best tutorials I have seen so far and I fully intend to binge your channel and try things out! Thank you for clearly explaining the Adobe programs as well and how they work together - adobe can be overly complicated and you make it super easy to learn :)

[@animation-explained]

Thank you! I really appreciate the kind words and I’m so glad you’re finding these tutorials helpful 😊

[@richardthekreator9442]

Thank you so much💜💜

[@JulietteGuidetti]

Just found this channel, and it's amazing! I am starting out on After Effects, and this is so helpful. Thank you so much!

[@animation-explained]

So glad to hear that! 😀

[@kangpiseth8525]

Thank you so much🙏

[@editone2098]

Thank you very much

[@lifewalklens8447]

Thanks a lot

[@marpandz8483]

This is helpful and at the same time so comprehensive..thanks a lot

[@animation-explained]

Glad to hear-you're welcome!

[@marpandz8483]

@@animation-explained pls do more of this

[@animation-explained]

@@marpandz8483 I will! Let me know if there's anything specific that you'd like to learn.

[@ArtSanjay2343]

I can clearly understand easily no buddy explain like you thanks.👍

[@animation-explained]

That's great to hear!

[@ArtSanjay2343]

@@animation-explained Thank you soo much.👍

[@editone2098]

I had a problem and you solved it for me

[@animation-explained]

Glad I could help!

[@editone2098]

I didnt know how to animate scaling mask until you said double click it 😀

[@mohammadafsharnejad4551]

Tanx a lot

[@dannyblessinger7428]

Is there a way to feather the mask from the inside of the shape and stop at the outside line? Like can I make the center of a circle 100% transparent, but then cut it to zero transparency at the very line of the circle?

[@animation-explained]

Yes! First create a mask that's a circle and check the 'Inverted' checkbox. Adjust the Mask Feather amount. To make the feathering stop at the outside edge of the circle, create another circle mask on the same layer. An easy way to do this is to duplicate (command or control D) the first mask. Make sure the second mask is below the first. Set the feather on the second mask to be 0. I hope I understood correctly and this is the look you're trying to achieve!

[@dannyblessinger7428]

@@animation-explained thank you

[@cassylk22]

and how do you change the white background to an image?

[@animation-explained]

You should be able to drag an image into the timeline to replace the white background. Just make sure the image is the bottom layer in the timeline.

[@cassylk22]

@@animation-explained Thanks!

[@valeriehartman3705]

What I am trying to find is how to animate several layers overlapping each other.

[@keerthiv5957]

Even me ! And now, understanding the concepts and ideas popped up !

[@IdeaCraftery]

Great Tutorial and do shorts video also for more sub

[@truthfinder8652]

Where's the animation on mask?

[@animation-explained]

If you toggle open the layer, under Mask -> Mask 1, you can animate the Mask Path, Mask Feather, Mask Opacity, and Mask Expansion. If you were hoping to animate transform properties like position, scale, and rotation, you might be better off using a matte. Here's a video on mattes: ruclips.net/video/UCtM-0Q28cs/видео.htmlsi=nn79iiCYY7HOo2iO

[@fluxtheweirdo1237]

why is there no value for the position, rotation and scale of the mask? THIS IS INSANE I CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE IS AFTER EFFECTS ACTUALLY THIS AWFUL?

[@animation-explained]

You're right, there's no position, rotation, or scale for the mask. You might be better off using a matte instead of a mask if you need those properties. I made a video on that too: ruclips.net/video/UCtM-0Q28cs/видео.htmlsi=WQvh1HIkdxkPZnIi