Mask turns clip black, how does this happen

[Nozmo]

I am finding using the layering feature very hard to use.  Can anyone explain why this happens.

Image one - show the clip in the timeline and monitor, no mask or layer

Image two - I apply a very simple opacity mask, and the entire clip turns to black.  I can't believe this is designed to work this way.  Any ideas what would be causing this?

[Ann Bens · Accepted solution]

This is normal behavior.

You are masking opacity. Everything outside the mask is transparent.

Opacity is part of the fixed effects.

But as the background is a black void (no clip underneath) it shows as black.

If you set the background to Transparent Grid you would have a checkerboard

What are you trying to achieve.

[Ann Bens]

If you were to mask an effect there is no black background.

[Nozmo]

Thanks, this is very helpful.  I just didn't have it straight in my head how it worked (black and transparency).  I have a much better idea now.

[R Neil Haugen]

At first, this is confusing ... around 4/5 years back, when I first started using PrPro, I had the same query ... and Ann popped in then with the explanation. Wonderfully helpful people here in all ...

Neil

[Vohn Vincent5ED2]

I'm new to premiere pro and I don't know how to remove the black inside opacity circle.... thank you in advance

[R Neil Haugen]

What else might be applied to those overlapping clips?

Neil

[Vohn Vincent5ED2]

I see nothing. as you can see at the photo its just the mask alone. I still don't know the answer