Inspiring

Pen Masks on Lumetri Color do not keep their keyframe data, even if I manually keyframe the mask path and position

Forum|Forum|1 day ago
May 29, 2026
2 replies
24 views

The new masking/pen tool process is frustrating. It’s good that there are more controls, but it’s just not thought through…

If I select my layer in the timeline, then select Lumetri Color in Effects Controls, then click the pen masking tool (Which is different from the masking tool!) it does NOT keep the keyframe data. I tried with select object mask tool as well, and still it doesnt seem to be holding the tracking data. My mask just stays whereever I place it last. Even if I manually set keyframes for the mask path and position, then go to a different spot, not only does the new spot not automatically create a keyframe for you when you make a change!!! but it still doesn’t update if you manually create new keyframes there and change the mask.

It’s completely broken..

Premiere Pro version 26.2.2
M1 Ultra Mac Studio. OS 15.7.2
Footage: Sony A7s3 HEVC 10bit 422 4k (Shot in 60fps, interpretted to 23.976)
HD 9x16 timeline

Working on a professional commercial for an international brand and I’m unable to make a simple mask to darken an area of the footage.

What happened to just making things easy? Why not just press the mask tool when if your footage is selected, it will automatically make a mask on the footage (Just like After Effects)… Why the complicated 2 different pen tools, and putting it into ‘Unassigned masks’, which makes it even more confusing. Then you have to copy and paste it to the effect you want? Way too many steps.

I want a mask option in EVERY SINGLE EFFECT, but more importantly, auto tracking/ manually tracking MUST work. and it should create keyframes automatically if you change your mask on a different frame!!!

I am forced now to finish this project in DaVinci Resolve, which is a pain to transfer everything, but I have no choice since Premiere literally won’t let me even manually track to make a simple color change.

*Update. ALSO doesn’t work on adjustment layers with using the mask pen tool and applying it to Opacity in Effect Controls. Still also doesn’t auto create keyframes when I make new adjustments on a different frame for path, or position in this area either.

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Will..Author

Inspiring

I think I found the issues.

When an adjustment layer is used above the footage (That has the transform effect on it), it breaks the mask on any layers below.

and the same with when the ‘Transform’ effect is directly used on the footage with the mask.

For example; I have a ‘Transform’ effect on the clip that scales the footage about 2% throughout the duration of the clip, and for some reason, if I place it ABOVE or BELOW the Lumetri color with masks, it offsets the mask and breaks it. If I turn the fx off, the mask works fine.

Is it supposed to operate this way?

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Will..Author

Inspiring

Also, NESTING is not a solution because then the base resolution of the footage gets cropped, defeating the entire purpose of using the Transform effect to reposition/scale the footage to create a transition effect.

Ron Rigler

Community Manager

Please see our updated HelpX. Hopefully this helps you succeed with the new masking workflows.
https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere/desktop/add-video-effects/work-with-masks/rectangle-ellipse-and-pen-masks.html

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Will..Author

Inspiring

Is there someone that can simply tell me what I’m doing wrong, if you’re suggesting what I’m experiencing is not a bug?

Ron Rigler

Community Manager

If you are trying to manually track a mask, you need to switch the mask tracking mode from the default of Clip to Frame mode. You can find this setting in the Program Monitor when you have a mask selected. Frame mode works similar to enabling the Mask Path in the previous implementation.
I would urge you to go through the documentation and maybe watch some social media posts that go through the new masking workflows. We have definitely changed some workflows but hopefully you will find the new tools to be improved once you better understand how to use them.

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