Changing color of a mask

[PhotogCda]

Have done a search and didn't find anything.

I have a graphic that I want to reveal as the clip plays out.  That's easy: apply a mask and track it from first to last frame.  The color of the mask is, of course, the default black.  The graphic is on a white background.  I'd like the mask to be white.  Is it possible to change the color of a mask in Pr?

Or is it better/easier just to do it with a color matte on an adjustment layer?

Thanks

[Ann Bens]

The mask is transparent not black.

It shows black as the background is a void and shows as black.

Go to the wrench of the Program Monitor and turn on Transparancy Grid.

Then you see the difference.

Put a color matte under the video.

[Richard van den Boogaard]

In Print, you start with a blank page. Although the background is technically transparent, the paper it is printed on is usually white.

In Video, you start off with a black canvas (although it is technically transparent as well). You can choose to render videos out with a transparent layer, although most video codecs render the background black. If you want any other color in the background, you need to add a color matte.

[PhotogCda]

I understand why the mask is black.  That wasn't the question. 

While it is true that generally, in printing, paper is white(ish), in Ps I can change the colour of the background and have that printed as whatever I want by changing the canvas colour. 

The answer, then, is changing the canvas (background, and thus mask) colour isn't an option and the colour matte via an adjustment layer is the way to go.  Fine.  And the matte needs to go on the layer above the video layer, not below because the matte needs to obscure part of the video, not act as a background replacement.

[Richard van den Boogaard]

The mask is never black. It only appears black because the default black canvas of PPro shines through. With masking, you're defining areas that need to be transparent (unless, of course) you invert the mask.

Typically, you do not apply a matte to an adjustment layer.

Simply add a color matte (File > New > Color matte...), give any RGB or Hexa color and place it wherever you need it. Usually that is below the video to which you apply a mask.

[PhotogCda]

Whether it 'appears' black, or 'is' black is not material.  It's a semantic argument that isn't relevant to the issue.  The net effect is the mask is black.  Why that is so isn't important.

Yes, in hindsight, a matte could be applied under the video layer then a mask applied to the video layer.  That's a two-step process where not necessary.  Applying a matte above the video layer then adjusting the size/scale of the matte via keyframes is a more efficient process for what I need to do.

[Kevin-Monahan · Accepted solution]

PhotogCda,

Sounds like you want to make a feature request to change the background color of the Program Monitor. Make that request here: Premiere Pro: Hot (1321 ideas) – Adobe video & audio apps

Let us know if you were able to get the look you want by adding a color matte to V1, then masking out the video on V2. That is the conventional way to achieve that effect in NLE.

Thanks,

Kevin

[excited_Genie16B8]

I have a graphic that I want to reveal as the clip plays out.  That's easy: apply a mask

I'd probably go with the Crop effect.

[PhotogCda]

Not as useful for what I need.