Creating mask in PP

[Indie767]

I know one is supposed to use pen tool to create a custom mask in Premiere Pro. I use both Photoshop and Illustrator but I don't use the pen in those programs because it is an incredibly, difficult and almost impossible tool to create any thing near a custom shape. The same goes for Aftereffects. Is there an alternate to create a mask in Premiere Pro without using the pen tool?

[Ann Bens]

Nope, but what issue are you having with the pentool?

[Indie767]

My issue with the pen tool is that it's a horrible tool. It's nearly impossible to control and manipulate to achieve a desired outcome.

[R Neil Haugen]

I don't have a clue what you're talking about, that's a rather general statement. Perhaps if you could explain a bit about how it's difficult, what it does differently than you're expecting, someone could give a suggestion?

I've found making a few clicks & dragging one or two to work pretty fast, simply, and effectively. So ... please, what's the issue with it you're having?

Neil

[R Neil Haugen]

I can't understand the problem ... using the pen tool and either my mouse or Wacom pen-tab, I click here ... there ... there ... there ... there ... and PrPro "connects the dots" and I've got a mask that is mostly the shape I need. Drag a couple points a bit, and it's ready to use.

That's not working for you?

Neil

[Indie767]

I have a wacom too but, like I stated in the previous reply, the pen tool really doesn't work for detailed, custom shapes. It's basically ok to create irregular squares or circle shapes but can't achieve any real detail beyond that. Meg the dog suggested I use a different approach in Photoshop so I will try the pencil tool to create my matte.

[R Neil Haugen]

Ahh ... your answer came in right after I'd posted.

Many-point masks in PrPro can be fun ... I've seen tutorials on this showing enlarging the field of view of the program monitor and scrolling around in it to precisely make a mask, so it can be done, but that level of precision can be a tedious task, true.

Neil

[Indie767]

Thanks. Yes, creating a mask in PrPro is tedious. As for the pen tool, despite the fact that I've seen tutorials and spent hours (enough to read War and Peace several times) I cannot wrap my mind around the pen tool. The logic escapes me as there is no way to really control it no matter if I'm in PrPro, Photoshop, Illustrator or Aftereffects. In my experience, I don't know why the pen tool is even part to any Adobe program. They should replace it with a more modern, ergonomic tool optimized for modern computer platforms.

[R Neil Haugen]

First question I've got ... some people I've know have tried to draw with the pen-tool, rather than just click to set each point. Are you clicking around or holding the click & trying to draw?

Neil

[Indie767]

I tried both techniques. When I click to set each point, the mask rotates. It's super annoying. Anyway, my shot really requires rotoscoping which is beyond the capability of PrPro. I'll have to send it out to a Nuke or Fusion artist.

[R Neil Haugen]

Ahh ... if it requires rotoscoping, yea ... that's a bit well past the masking abilities of PrPro.

Although, a mask rotating when clicking ... I've never seen that, and it also puzzles me.

Neil

[Indie767]

Yep, I have to track a mask to resize and follow the clip so, yeah, I need to essentially key frame the mask which I can't do in PrPro. As for the rotating issue, it could be that I'm still on PP 2015. It's very solid on my machine so I'm afraid to upgrade. 

[R Neil Haugen]

PrPro 2015.2 was a pretty solid build for me also ... and still has the Direct Link to SpeedGrade, so it was a very good build ... sigh.

That said, I can do a lot more in 2017. I don't even have 2015 in either the 9.x or 10.x build series installed ... or 2014 ... as everything I'm doing I can do fine in 2017.

Neil

[Ann Bens]

I have done rotoscoping in Pr.

Its doable.

I set the window to full screen and turn up the magnification.

Use the keyboard to advance a frame.

[Meg The Dog]

If you don't like the way Premiere creates masks with the pen tool, create the mask in Photoshop or Illustrator using the tool(s) you prefer and then import the mask into Premiere use with a Track Matte effect.

MtD