Editing a mask changes mask mode

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
June 6, 2020
5 commentaire
2312 vue

Okay, not sure what's going on here but since a few updates prior whenever I alter a mask (adjust a point, resize, reposition) it changes the mask mode. For example, I draw a mask and set the mode as 'Add'. I then move it and After Effects changes the mode to 'None' or 'Difference' all by itself, forcing me to go through the added step of changing it back to 'Add'. What's going on here and how do I stop this? It's driving me crazy. I've searched through the preferences but couldn't see anything obviously related.

Ce sujet a été fermé aux réponses.

F

Félix22969444vor1

Participant

I've had this issue multiple times at random occasions. I think this problem is most likely the keyboard or perhaps the input. I had this issue all day and I connected a brand new keyboard, and boom. Problem solved. Hope this helps a bit.

S

simont57689994

Participating Frequently

Yes i'm having this issue on Windows 10 too. As soon as I modify a mask it changes to 'intersect' if that layer is one in a stack or 'none' if it's the only layer and you have to keep going back an manually changing it. Lots of hassle when rotoing. I have to have the original layer underneath without a mask as a guide layer so I can continue rotoing without it spakking-out!

R

Rick Gerard

Community Expert

What happens if you have a mask point selected and you press "a" for add, "s" for subtract, "d" for darken, "f" for difference, "i" for intersect? I almost never change a mask mode by making selections in the timeline, I use the selection tool (v) with the mask selected or the pen tool (g), select a point, click and hold and use the shortcut to change mask modes.

I've never seen this bug before but it has been reported by a few. You might try resetting your keyboard or mouse preferences in your control panel or system settings.

R

Rick Gerard

Community Expert

Many thanks for your reply Rick! This is a sporadic problem. For instance, i've just re-opened a project where I had dramas with the masking and now it's fine and working as it should! BUT, if I click on a mask vertex and hit 's' for example, the layers 'Scale' pops up in the timeline instead of changing the mask mode to 'Subtract'...

When I open Keyboard shortcuts there are no key commands under 'Mask' for any Mode. The Keyboard Layout Preset is set to After Effects Default.txt

Here's the workflow:

Press M to reveal the mask paths
Press "v" to choose the selection tool
Select the path you want to edit in the Timeline
The selection tool will change to a white arrow when you are near the path - Drag a selection around any mask point you want to select (also works with the pen tool while you are drawing the path
With the mouse button still pressed on a selected mask path or point press the shortcut key

As long as the mouse button is pressed and a path is selected, when you hit the shortcut key the mode will change.

R

Rick Gerard

Community Expert

The only time a click should thange a mask mode is when you have a mask selected, your finger on the mouse button and you press a one of the modifier keyrs. N for none, A for add, S for Subtrack, I for intersect and F for difference. D will Darken but that only has an effect is you have changed mask opacity.

You shoul take a look at my friend John Dickenson's great tutorial series Work Smarter & Faster in After Effects. Here's the one on masking:

I have never heard of a bug that causes a click to change the mask modes. If it really is a bug make sure you file a bug report.