How to Create Masking with the Pen Tool in After Effects: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Create Masking with the Pen Tool in After Effects: A Step-by-Step Guide If you’re working in After Effects and looking to add creative layers to your videos, understanding masking is essential. Masking allows you to isolate parts of an image, create transparency, or apply specific effects to chosen areas of your footage. The Pen Tool, in particular, is one of the most precise ways to create custom masks in After Effects. This guide will take you through the basics and give you the confidence to master masking with the Pen Tool. What is Masking in After Effects? In After Effects, a mask is a path or outline you draw over a layer to reveal or hide portions of that layer. Masks are versatile; they can define areas to be affected by specific effects, cut out subjects from backgrounds, and create transitions. Using the Pen Tool to create masks gives you precise control over the shape and smoothness of your mask, allowing for detailed cutouts and smooth, complex curves. Step 1: ...