PPro masking has GONE!

Forum|Forum|4 months ago
September 24, 2025
6 replies
1784 views

Am I being thick or has PPro, since the introduction of the whole AI-powered roto/"Unassigned Masks"(?!) thing lost its ability to do simple masking?

Until recently, to mask out a portion of a clip, I'd open the clip's Opacity in the Effect Controls panel, click the pen icon and draw a mask. That's it.

But that's now gone, and it seems every reference I can find to masking now only refers to masking an effect. And there's the new AI mask/rotoscoping thing, which I'm not interested in this project. How can I simply add a mask to a layer - I just want a portion of it to show; the mask will not move, and I have no effects on the layer - it's effectively like a garbage matte. Am I missing something?

This is from Adobe's help page (https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere/desktop/add-video-effects/create-masks-and-composites/create-masks-using-shapes.html😞

...in reality, the maksing tools have gone:

...and if I select the pen or rectangle tools from the tool panel, if I also have a clip selected in the sequence (because I want to draw a simple mask on it), clicking in the Program or Source panels does absolutely nothing. If I deselect the clip, I can draw vector shapes with those tools (which is not what I want).

What on earth is going on here?!

PPro Beta 25.6.0x78

Windows 10

Update: I have now deactivated the "New Masking" beta feature, converted my project to version 43, and loaded it up again. Phew - the masking controls have made a welcome return! Let's hope (I did not use any of the new masking features) PPro hasn't put anything anywhere in my project that will break things down the line!

Correct answer Ann Bens

Draw your mask with the new tools, then drag from unassigned mask to Opacity or add an effect.

Or highlight Opacity first, then draw the mask.

Build 78

jons72695567

Participant

Why would Adobe remove such a necessary tool? What is wrong with them

M

MysterY186

Participant

I just noticed this too...and I found it.

Adobe moved the "regular" masking tools under that new Object Mask tool button, so now you have to:
1) Select the effect you are applying masking to first in your Effects Control (let's say Opacity, though I was trying to do this with Brightness/Contrast after applying that)

2) Click and hold down on the new button for Object Mask to reveal the other options for masking.
3) Draw your mask as you normally would.

After you do this, the feather, opacity, etc. for the mask you drew will show up in the Effects Control panel as they normally would.

I'm never a fan of programmers deciding to hide tools that people use frequently under a new toolbar or button without telling anyone. I understand the logic of putting all of the masking tools under one button, but there's no reason to remove the masking capabilities from Opacity, etc. in the Effects Control panel where we have all been trained to look for them for years.