Skip to main content
Parrotface
Parrotface
Inspiring
March 25, 2021
Answered

Track Matte broken in AE 18.0?

  • March 25, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 1764 views

This is really weird, I just updated to AE 2021 (18.0) and track mattes are suddenly not working in the timeline. It's an incredibly basic thing, I have footage on layer 2 and I want to use layer 1 (directly above it) as the matte. Pretty straightforward. But when I set layer 2 to Alpha Matte (formerly "Stencil Alpha"), nothing happens. It does turn Layer 1 off, as it's supposed to, but Layer 2 is still visible even outside the bounds of Layer 1. I can move Layer 2 around the frame and it's not being masked at all by layer 1, it just shows the entire unmasked layer.

 

It doesn't have anything to do with the footage or the comp. I've started a whole new project and made a comp with just two shape layers in it and it's the same thing. Track matte will not mask the layer in any way. This also happens with Luma Matte or Stencil/Luma Reverse Matte. The track matte simply has no effect. 

I'm on a Mac, OS 11.2.3 and Adobe AE 18.0. I've restarted and relaunched the app. If this is a bug, it's a pretty major bug. Can anyone confirm that this works in the new version for them?

 

(And just to save time, I know how track mattes work, I've been doing this for years, please don't explain the basic process and layer order. The problem is, they're suddenly not behaving. Thanks!)

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Parrotface

Thanks. Yeah, I submitted a bug report earlier and just heard back from them. Apparently it's an issue (not a bug, per se) with the new Draft 3D mode in AE 2021.

 

The solution is to enable the 3D switch for any of the layers, and then the 3D view controls will show up on the lower-left corner of the Composition panel. Draft 3D was turned on and disabling the track matte function. Draft 3D isn't on by default, but is "stickied" from the last time you worked with 3D layers in any project, so if you used it before, it's turned on now. The problem is, while it may be turned on, the controls won't show up in AE 2021 if you're only working with 2D layers.

2 replies

Parrotface
ParrotfaceAuthor
Inspiring
March 25, 2021

UPDATE: I reinstalled AE 2020 (17.7.0) and it works correctly. So it's definitely an AE 2021 bug. 

P.M.B
P.M.B
Legend
March 25, 2021

Hmmm.  Maybe it's specific to Mac OS.  If you feel like it you can submit a bug report here

https://www.adobe.com/products/wishform.html

~Gutterfish
Parrotface
ParrotfaceAuthorCorrect answer
Inspiring
March 25, 2021

Thanks. Yeah, I submitted a bug report earlier and just heard back from them. Apparently it's an issue (not a bug, per se) with the new Draft 3D mode in AE 2021.

 

The solution is to enable the 3D switch for any of the layers, and then the 3D view controls will show up on the lower-left corner of the Composition panel. Draft 3D was turned on and disabling the track matte function. Draft 3D isn't on by default, but is "stickied" from the last time you worked with 3D layers in any project, so if you used it before, it's turned on now. The problem is, while it may be turned on, the controls won't show up in AE 2021 if you're only working with 2D layers.

P.M.B
P.M.B
Legend
March 25, 2021

Why do you keep saying "formerly Stencil Alpha".  I personally cannot remember a time when Alpha Matte was Stencil Matte.  It leads me to wonder if you're not confusing blend modes with TrkMats.  In addition to this TrkMats work fine for me with the latest release.  Maybe the issue is with the top layers opacity or maybe it is trimmed.

Could you please provide some screen shots of your set up by dragging the images into the response field.

Please don't use the insert link option (ever) which requires us to download.

~Gutterfish
Parrotface
ParrotfaceAuthor
Inspiring
March 25, 2021

Sorry, ignore what I said about "formerly stencil alpha"). But yes, it's TrkMats, not blend modes. Here's a couple screenshots using shapes:

 

In the first one, Layer 1 is the matte layer, in red. Layer 2 is the footage layer, in green. 

 

 

 

In the second one, I've set the TrkMat of Layer 2 to Alpha Matte, which turns off Layer 1 of course. But Layer 2 is still visible in its entirety. We should just be seeing it where it intersects Layer 1. 

 

Both layers are at 100% opacity and show as solid white alphas against black in the Show Channel button. 

 

 

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices