How to reshape effects mask?

[jbm74608881]

I am trying to do a background blur in Premiere Elements 19, I've learned how to do that, but now I can't seem to find out how to reshape the mask. There isn't a place to change the shape from what I see. I've looked in the form and searched online for over a few hours now and can't find anything on shaping the mask for elements 19

[Steve Grisetti]

Are you asking how to resize it or reshape it?

The effects mask is only available as a rectangle.

[jbm74608881]

OK if you can't reshape it from a rectangle, is there another way to add a mask that's shaped? Like I said in my 1st question, all I am trying to do is have the background behind me a little blurry while I'm talking to the camera. If I could soften the edges to be a little blurry it might work using the rectangle, but I don't know how to do that.  

[Steve Grisetti]

You could try using the track matte along with a graphic shaped like the mask you're trying to create.

But Premiere Elements really doesn't have fine-edged rotoscoping ability to create precise shapes based on your body.

Although if you were standing in front of a green screen, you could use Chroma Key or Videomerge to create a custom background.

[jbm74608881]

OK I'll try that, but it sounds like I need to upgrade to Pro CC

[Bill Sprague]

I have Premiere Pro and continue to use Premiere Elements!  For me it is easier to use. 

[jbm74608881]

Do you have both on the same computer? I have a dell laptop i7 core 16 gb memory 1TB hard drive 256 gb solid state drive. Would like to try Premiere Pro, but not sure if my computer can run the pro as well. I've been trying to use the track matte effect in Elements, but not really understanding it yet. Anyone have a video for that?

[Bill Sprague · Accepted solution]

My laptop has similar specifications to your "laptop i7 core 16 gb memory 1TB hard drive 256 gb solid state drive".   If there is room on your SSD you can run both Premiere Pro and Elements.  You may be able to open and Elements project in Pro, but don't plan on it being perfect because Elements does some things differently and those things won't transfer.  Elements will not open a Pro project. 

There is a technique in the Creative Cloud app where lesser used programs can be installed on the larger "D" 1TB drive.  They may run a little slower, but they will be very usable with 16GB of RAM.

Search YouTube for "track matte premiere elements".  I found several videos.   

[jbm74608881]

OK, My laptop is new so it should work fine and I plan on adding more RAM later. I don't plan on taking projects from one program to the other. I just feel Pro will work better for me, I know it might take some time to learn vs Elements. I'll check out YouTube for the ''track matte'' and get back with you. Thanks!

[jbm74608881]

OK, after searching YouTube for a bit, I used paint shop pro to make the shape I needed then I used track matte. That has work for what I'm trying to do. Thank you guys for the help!

[Ann Bens]

jbm74608881  wrote

OK if you can't reshape it from a rectangle, is there another way to add a mask that's shaped? Like I said in my 1st question, all I am trying to do is have the background behind me a little blurry while I'm talking to the camera. If I could soften the edges to be a little blurry it might work using the rectangle, but I don't know how to do that.  

That is a job for After Effects. Its quite a lot of work even to do in PrPro. Track matte is not the way to go as its a fixed shape.

Might want to try to animate a garbage matte.

If you want your background a bit blurry, stand away from the background and set the camera way back and zoom in and focus on the person talking.