Preventing a Mask From Animating

Forum|Forum|15 years ago
August 19, 2010
4 replies
104922 views

This should be pretty simple, but I'm having no luck.

I selected a layer with some text on and then created a mask over it making the text invisible.

Then when I want to animate the text and move it from behind the mask so it's now visible the mask moves with it. Is there any way to keep the mask in it's place and not move with the text.

I also tried creating a mask layer not attached to the text layer itself, but that wasn't working either. I couldn't get the mask to hide or reveal anything.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Ray

How to

Correct answer Andrew Yoole

Create a comp size solid above your text layer. Apply the mask to the solid. Set the Track Matte setting of your text layer to Alpha Matte. The text layer will now adopt the alpha channel of the masked solid. You can freely animate the text and mask independently.

A

Animation Guy

Inspiring

You should check out 7 minute tutorials on YouTube. The guy just did an amazing tutorial on how to hide and reveal text without the use of any solid or shape. It uses the text animator. It's super powerful. The correct answer was also correct though.

This tutorial will blow you away. I never knew you could do this. It doesn't work in very specific cases, but for general and most uses, it is flawless ! - Watch the tutorial, then try it. I now use this all the time.

Text Animator HACKS for Alpha Mattes in AE - Adobe After Effects Discussion

https://youtu.be/SCR3Y39jneU via YouTube

P.S. - the guy also has a follow up video where he answers questions from viewers about the technique... it was posted not long after he posted this tutorial. P.S. This guy knows his stuff, his channel should have a lot more followers than it does.

IslandFox

Participating Frequently

Just a heads up -- a really simple solution I figured out because as a noob I did not understand andrews method: pre-compose your text layer and add a mask to the pre-composed layer as you did before. The mask will not take on the animation any longer. Cheers!

michelleb53913983

Participant

I've been trying to figure this out for the past 2 hours. For any beginners like myself I will explain Ray's wonderful tactic, broken down to the most minute of details.

1.Make a shape layer where you want your text to appear

2.Move that layer directly above the text layer
3.Right click the text layer, hover over mask and then click new mask

4.Click on your text layer and go into the layer flyout at the top of the screen

6.Click track matte then, alpha

7.Move the text in and out of where the shape layer, (now mask), is to reveal and hide

B

ben_star1

Participant

This breakdown was incredibly helpful. Thanks Michelle!

Andrew YooleCorrect answer

Inspiring

Create a comp size solid above your text layer. Apply the mask to the solid. Set the Track Matte setting of your text layer to Alpha Matte. The text layer will now adopt the alpha channel of the masked solid. You can freely animate the text and mask independently.