New How to Do Masking in After Effects Alternative Provided for 2024

How to Do Masking in After Effects [Alternative Provided]

Masking is a powerful feature in After Effects that allows you to hide, reveal, or manipulate specific parts of a layer. Whether creating animations, visual effects, or enhancing your video content, masking can be a valuable tool in your arsenal. However, it can be intimidating for beginners, as it requires a good understanding of key concepts and techniques.

This article aims to demystify masking in After Effects and provide a comprehensive guide on getting started. Whether a beginner or an experienced user, you’ll find useful tips, tricks, and a creative alternative to masking that will take your skills to the next level. So let’s dive in and discover the art of masking in After Effects!

Overview of Masking in After Effects

Masking in After Effects hides or reveals certain layer parts, such as an image or video. This is achieved through masks, paths that determine the visibility of specific layer parts. Masks are an incredibly versatile tool in Adobe After Effects, allowing users to cut out and combine elements, create professional transitions, isolate objects in photos or videos, and build shapes, among other things.

Masks in After Effects are made up of two parts: the mask and the fill. The mask controls what is visible, while the fill determines the color or image used to fill the masked area.

By default, when a mask is created, it is set to “inverted,” meaning the masked area is visible, and the rest is hidden. However, this can easily be changed by pressing “M” to access the mask settings in the timeline and selecting the invert checkmark. Alternatively, the mode can be changed to subtract.

Overall, masks are an essential tool in After Effects, and it’s worth taking the time to learn as much as possible about them. The possibilities are endless, and mastering masks can greatly enhance your projects.

How To Do Masking in AE Using Shape Tools

Shape tools provide a quick and easy way to create masks in AE and are a great starting point for beginners. With these tools, you can easily create masks in various shapes and sizes to hide, reveal, or manipulate parts of a layer. We’ll guide you through creating masks using different shape tools, including the rectangle, ellipse, and polygon tools. So let’s get started!

Step1 Choose the layer to which you want to apply the mask.

Step2 Choose one of the shape tools from the toolbar.

Step3 Drag the mouse and select the area you want to apply the shape tool mask.

Note:

Holding down the “CTRL“ key for Windows or the “CMD“ key for Mac will draw the shape from the center.
Holding down the “Shift“ key will maintain equal sides and create symmetrical shapes such as squares or circles.

How To Use Pen Tool for Masking in After Effects

The Pen Tool in After Effects is a powerful, flexible option for creating masks. This section will explore using the Pen Tool to create masks in After Effects.

Whether you need to create a complex or a simple mask, the Pen Tool provides precise control over the mask shape and can create any shape you desire. From freehand masks to geometric shapes, the Pen Tool is the tool of choice for many After Effects users. Let’s take a closer look at how to use the Pen Tool for masking in After Effects.

Step1 Import image to project and add to timeline.

Step2 Click on the “Pen“ icon to activate Pen Tool, and use it to mask out the background.

Step3 Place a new image behind a masked image for a new background.

Step4 Add a masked image feather if needed.

Step5 Add text, and create a “shape layer“ to place on the text.

Step6 Use “Alpha Inverted Matte“ to mask the text.

Wondershare Filmora - A Great Alternative to After Effects Masking

Wondershare Filmora is a popular video editing software that offers a range of features and tools for video editing. One of the most useful features is its masking capability, which provides a great alternative to the masking feature in Adobe After Effects.

Filmora’s masking feature is designed to be user-friendly, making it ideal for both beginner and advanced users. With its intuitive interface, users can easily create masks to hide, reveal, or manipulate parts of a video. The software offers a range of masking tools, including shape, freehand, and gradient masks, providing a wide range of options.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

In addition to its masking feature, Filmora offers various tools and features that make it a great choice for video editing. Its keyframe animation allows users to create smooth and professional transitions, and its audio editing features allow users to add music, sound effects, and voiceovers easily. The software also supports various file formats, making it easy to import and export videos for sharing and distribution.

Overall, Wondershare Filmora is a great alternative to After Effects, particularly for users looking for a more user-friendly and affordable video editing and masking option. With its comprehensive features, Filmora provides an excellent option for users who want to create professional-looking videos without needing advanced technical skills.

How To Use Shape Tool In Masking Using Filmora

The Shape Tool in Filmora is a feature in the video editing software Wondershare Filmora, which allows users to create masks with various shapes such as rectangles, circles, double lines, single lines, love, and star, as well as custom shapes using the draw mask feature. Masks in Filmora can hide or reveal specific parts of a video clip, add animations, and create composite images and videos.

Discover how to use the Shape Tool in Wondershare Filmora for masking, a great alternative to After Effects masking. Easy to use for beginners and advanced users alike, Filmora’s Shape Tool provides options for creating masks to manipulate video content.

Step1 Enter the Video panel, and switch to the Mask tab in Wondershare Filmora. Choose from basic mask shapes or create your own.

Step2 Select a shape; see only the masked area in the Preview window.

Step3 Add keyframes to animate the mask and adjust position, rotation, size, and blur strength.

How To Use Pen Tool In Masking Using Filmora

Pen Tool in Masking Using Filmora is a feature that enables users to create complex masks by dragging control points and modifying B-Splines. The tool allows users to draw the mask shape precisely by zooming in and out on the player screen and to create smooth curves by holding the Alt/Option key to adjust the Bessel curve for drawn masks.

The mask created using the Pen Tool can be edited, resized, repositioned, and adjusted using sliders and handles in the Preview window. The tool also enables users to invert the mask, making the original visible part invisible and the hidden part visible.

Learn how to use the Pen Tool in Wondershare Filmora for masking, a versatile alternative to After Effects masking. With the Pen Tool, you can easily outline and manipulate specific areas in your video to create unique and professional effects.

Step1 Create a project and add the media to the timeline**. Enter** the Mask tab.

Step2 Edit the mask by adjusting the sliders in the Mask tab to resize, reposition, and change orientation. Also, adjust the blur strength, width, height, and radius, or invert the mask.

Conclusion

Masking is an important aspect of video editing and opens up a new world of creative possibilities. After Effects provides a comprehensive set of tools for masking, and Filmora is a great alternative for those looking for a more user-friendly option.

Whether you’re using After Effects or Filmora, you can use masks to control the visibility of parts of your image, make shapes, build transitions, and much more. Following this article’s simple steps, you can start masking and bringing your creative vision to life.

Holding down the “CTRL“ key for Windows or the “CMD“ key for Mac will draw the shape from the center.
Holding down the “Shift“ key will maintain equal sides and create symmetrical shapes such as squares or circles.

How To Use Pen Tool for Masking in After Effects

The Pen Tool in After Effects is a powerful, flexible option for creating masks. This section will explore using the Pen Tool to create masks in After Effects.

Step1 Import image to project and add to timeline.

Step2 Click on the “Pen“ icon to activate Pen Tool, and use it to mask out the background.

Step3 Place a new image behind a masked image for a new background.

Step4 Add a masked image feather if needed.

Step5 Add text, and create a “shape layer“ to place on the text.

Step6 Use “Alpha Inverted Matte“ to mask the text.

Wondershare Filmora - A Great Alternative to After Effects Masking

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

How To Use Shape Tool In Masking Using Filmora

Step1 Enter the Video panel, and switch to the Mask tab in Wondershare Filmora. Choose from basic mask shapes or create your own.

Step2 Select a shape; see only the masked area in the Preview window.

Step3 Add keyframes to animate the mask and adjust position, rotation, size, and blur strength.

How To Use Pen Tool In Masking Using Filmora

Step1 Create a project and add the media to the timeline**. Enter** the Mask tab.

Step2 Edit the mask by adjusting the sliders in the Mask tab to resize, reposition, and change orientation. Also, adjust the blur strength, width, height, and radius, or invert the mask.

Conclusion

How to Make Glitch Effect with Filmora

You don’t need outdated VCRs or any other broken technology to produce glitch effects. Instead, you can use a video editing program for Mac and PCs, such as Filmora , to transform your videos into glitch-effect masterpieces. You can also use the glitch effects to provide striking shot transitions or opening titles. Keep reading this article on how to apply various glitch video effects in Filmora 11:

Part 1: What is a Glitch Effect?

A glitch effect occurs when a section of your video temporarily changes look or “glitches” for a short while. Although transient glitches are typical, they can occasionally linger for a few seconds or more.

You can use a glitch effect to temporarily change the appearance of the image in the video to give the impression that a machine is processing it. Additionally, it gives your finished piece a fantastic, dreamlike aspect.

Part 2: When Should you Apply a Glitch Effect?

A few years back, we had no choice but to watch glitchy movies on rusty VCR devices. Nowadays, retro video effects are very popular in TV movies and even games. You can use these effects in many ways, like making fake vintage footage or emulating a glitching computer.

Filmmakers frequently employ glitching in their videos to give the impression that a character has been affected by a technical abnormality, is having a flashback, or is being watched by someone else via a digital camera system. Something happens when the person or image flashes, often without their knowledge. In addition, you can apply the glitch effect to a composition to evoke a feeling of dramatic irony.

Part 3: Tutorial to Chromatic Aberration Effect

Chromatic aberration refers to how old lenses tend to split colors. This effect is very common in Old media like VHS or LaserDisc.

Here is a complete breakdown of each component of the Retro look and how you can make your glitch effects in Filmora 11:

Step1 Download Wondersshare Filmora 11 on your Pc by visiting filmora.wondershare.com.

Step2 Open Filmora and click on the Effects tab.

Step3 Search Chromatic aberration and drag the effect right onto your clip. It will give you a fantastic pre-made version of the effect.

Part 4: How to Customize Glitch Effect with Filmora

You can add final touches to your video clips by customizing Filmora’s effects to take your glitch effect to the next level. You can mix and match different effects in your video to create your custom glitch effect in Filmora 11.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Step1 Once you have your clip on the timeline, select your clip and click on Edit. Now choose Duplicate to create two more copies.

Step2 Put the new copies on the layer above the others and make sure everything is lined up exactly. To create the glitch effect, separate the color channels on your Clips into the primary colors red, green, and blue.

Step3 Double-click on the top clip.

Go to Color and open the White Balance option to make this layer completely red. Next, drag both Temperature and Tint sliders to a hundred.

Step4 Now click the little eye icon on the timeline to hide the top layer and move on to the middle layer.

Step5 Double-click on your middle clip and go to Color, then select White Balance and set your Temperature to -100 and your Tint to 100.

Step6 Finally, hide this layer just like before. Repeat the same steps for the last clip but make this clip the blue layer by leaving the Temperature at zero and setting the Tint to -100.

Step7 Double-click the clip in the top layer, click the Video Tab, and open the Compositing options. Set the Blending Mode of this top layer to Soft Light.

Now click on the clip in your preview window and move the image over by pressing the left Arrow key on your keyboard a few times. Once you’re happy with the top clip, hide that layer by clicking the eye icon.

Step8 To make the middle layer visible, double-click the clip in your mid layer and set the Blending Mode of this layer to Screen.

Now click on your clip in the preview window and press the Right key as many times as you did before. Finally, make all the layers visible by clicking the eye icon.

Vignette

A vignette is a dark border that fades around the frame’s edges in Filmora. You can easily add a vignette effect to your video by using these steps:

Step1 First, click the Effects Tab and type in Vignette.

Step2 Next, drag the Vignette Radius effect to a layer above your previous three layers.

Step3 Now adjust the length to match the other clips.

VHS static effects

A VHS effect is a grainy distortion that resembles an old analog video cassette recording. To apply the VHS static effects:

Step1 Click the Effects tab.

Step2 Search for the VHS static and drag it to a new layer above everything else.

Step3 Extend one of the effects to match the length of your previous clips.

VCR Distortion

VCR Distortion effect will make your video look highly glitched. To apply this effect:

Step1 Click on the Effects tab.

Step2 Search for VCR Distortion, then drag and drop this effect over your previous layer.

Part 5: Tips to Create Awesome Glitch Effects

One of the best ways to use the VCR Distortion effect is to cut it short and intersperse it around your video in random parts.
The glitch Distortion effect is very intense, so we recommend cutting this effect very short and dropping it at random parts of your video.
You can also use these effects as a sneaky way to hide Cuts in your video.

Summary

You can use glitch effects created or inspired by faulty video equipment as a powerful storytelling tool. These effects can help you change the tone of the entire video by adding a specific visual aesthetic and making the narrative simpler to convey and more approachable for the audience.

We recommend using Filmora 11 for adding built-in glitch effects. You can also use this app to create custom glitch effects within a few minutes.

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Step1 Once you have your clip on the timeline, select your clip and click on Edit. Now choose Duplicate to create two more copies.

Step3 Double-click on the top clip.

Go to Color and open the White Balance option to make this layer completely red. Next, drag both Temperature and Tint sliders to a hundred.

Step4 Now click the little eye icon on the timeline to hide the top layer and move on to the middle layer.

Step5 Double-click on your middle clip and go to Color, then select White Balance and set your Temperature to -100 and your Tint to 100.

Step6 Finally, hide this layer just like before. Repeat the same steps for the last clip but make this clip the blue layer by leaving the Temperature at zero and setting the Tint to -100.

Step7 Double-click the clip in the top layer, click the Video Tab, and open the Compositing options. Set the Blending Mode of this top layer to Soft Light.

Step8 To make the middle layer visible, double-click the clip in your mid layer and set the Blending Mode of this layer to Screen.

Now click on your clip in the preview window and press the Right key as many times as you did before. Finally, make all the layers visible by clicking the eye icon.

Vignette

A vignette is a dark border that fades around the frame’s edges in Filmora. You can easily add a vignette effect to your video by using these steps:

Step1 First, click the Effects Tab and type in Vignette.

Step2 Next, drag the Vignette Radius effect to a layer above your previous three layers.

Step3 Now adjust the length to match the other clips.

VHS static effects

A VHS effect is a grainy distortion that resembles an old analog video cassette recording. To apply the VHS static effects:

Step1 Click the Effects tab.

Step2 Search for the VHS static and drag it to a new layer above everything else.

Step3 Extend one of the effects to match the length of your previous clips.

VCR Distortion

VCR Distortion effect will make your video look highly glitched. To apply this effect:

Step1 Click on the Effects tab.

Step2 Search for VCR Distortion, then drag and drop this effect over your previous layer.

Part 5: Tips to Create Awesome Glitch Effects

One of the best ways to use the VCR Distortion effect is to cut it short and intersperse it around your video in random parts.
The glitch Distortion effect is very intense, so we recommend cutting this effect very short and dropping it at random parts of your video.
You can also use these effects as a sneaky way to hide Cuts in your video.

Summary

We recommend using Filmora 11 for adding built-in glitch effects. You can also use this app to create custom glitch effects within a few minutes.

Add Zoom Blur Effect In Photoshop [Step by Step]

People add blurry effects to their photos to add a sense of focus effortlessly. It helps to grasp the viewers’ attention as blurry effects add a depth of field. There are various kinds of blurry effects, such as motion blur, zoom blur, etc.

One of the commonly used blurry effects is zoom blur which helps to highlight a specific area of the image. This article will help you to add zoom blur Photoshop through simple means.

GIFGIT.com
Luxa.org
Wondershare Filmora

Part 1: What is Zoom Blur?

Zoom blur is a creative effect that adds a new dimension to your captured photos. It creates an illusion where the captured shot appears to blur from the center direction. It gives an abstract feel and adds a certain movement to the picture. You can quickly draw attention to your subject by adding a zoom motion blur.

To create a zoom blur effect while capturing the photo, you should consider some conditions. For example, you can successfully create this effect by taking a picture in low-light conditions. Moreover, you should use a tripod to acquire the best results.

Part 2: How to Add Zoom Blur Effect to Photos in Photoshop?

Photoshop is widely used to alter images with distinct features. It can easily handle diverse file types with great efficiency. It gives complete control to the user as it comprises a friendly user interface. Moreover, you can utilize its color grading tools to adjust the saturation, hue, contrast, and brightness of the photo.

You can also discover AI-supported neural filters that can be a game-changer for you. It also provides a sky replacement tool that you can use to replace the sky in your captured photos effortlessly. For zoom blur Photoshop, you can manually create this effect with a few clicks. For this purpose, you can take help from the following guidelines:

Step1 Navigate to your Photoshop tool and import your desired photo. Go to the “Layers” section on your screen and press “Ctrl + J” to duplicate the first layer. If you are a MacBook user, you can press “Command + J.”

Step2 To proceed, go to the “Filter” option given above and select the “Blur” option. From its drop-down menu, select “Radial Blur .”Now you would be able to see a new window of Radial Blur on your screen. Here, change the amount to 10, and under the “Blur Method” section, select “Zoom .”Also, choose “Best” in the “Quality” section.

Step3 By staying on the Radial Blur window, adjust the “Blur Center” according to your desire. It will add focus to the central point while blurring the surroundings of your image. Once done, hit the “OK” button. To add further modifications, you can open the Radial Blur window again and modify the “Blur Center” easily.

Part 3: Add the Motion Blur with an Alternative to Photoshop

Are you searching the alternatives to Photoshop? It may be possible that you don’t get desired final results using zoom blur Photoshop. For this, you can check the following tools to achieve the best results.

1. GIFGIT.com

This online tool is an easy-to-use platform through which you can edit your images without any complications. It contains different tools through which you can add modifications instantly. For instance, you can utilize its advanced features such as Color Picker, Background Eraser, Gradient Tool, Magic Eraser, etc. Through its Blur Tool, you can defocus an image precisely in the desired manner.

To use this tool, navigate to the website of GIFGIT through your web browser. From its various tools, select the “Blur” tool. Afterward, click the “Choose File” button and upload your image. From the above editing toolbar, access the “Zoom Blur” slider to use the blur option. Adjust the ratio of the blur by increasing or decreasing the value through the slider or by entering the number inside the box.

2. Luxa.org

Do you want a professional tool to add a zoom blur effect? Luxa.org has a friendly user interface that comprises different options, such as PDF tools and image tools. For the image tools, you can find various options to execute the editing. For instance, you can add colored borders to your images and text in the desired font. You can also modify the brightness level of your pictures through this tool.

To add a zoom motion blur effect, this tool provides a special online blur tool. To utilize it, access the website of Luxa.org and go to its image tools. From there, navigate to the zoom blur feature. Now upload your image on this tool and set the horizontal and vertical strengths. Also, adjust the blur strength accordingly. Once the zoom blur effect gets added to your photo, click on the “Download” button.

3. Wondershare Filmora

Have you ever tried Wondershare Filmora before? Filmora is a complete toolbox through which you can execute basic and advanced image editing without complications. It contains different kinds of built-in presets that can help you express your creativity. Moreover, it provides stock images that you use without any restrictions.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

To enhance your images, Filmora provides you with tons of professional effects. Using these effects, you can also add a zoom blur effect to your photos along with modification options. Furthermore, you can also export the edited image in the desired file format and resolution on this platform. To use this platform for adding a zoom blur effect, check the following instructions:

Step1 Import the Particular Image

After launching Filmora, select the “Create New Project” option to begin. Afterward, import the image from your computer to which you want to add the zoom blur effect. Once done, drag and drop the picture into the timeline.

Step2 Add the Zoom Blur Effect

Go to the Effect section and select “Utility” under the “Video Effects” section. From there, search “Tilt-Shift Circle” effect. Select and drop this effect to the timeline to proceed. Also, make sure to adjust the duration of the added effect according to your clip.

Step3 Adjust the Blur Settings

Now, double-click the added effect to adjust the intensity of the effect. Through the circle, you can apply the zoom blur effect to the photo precisely. You can adjust the intensity and size of the zoom motion blur effect.

Last Words

The zoom blur effect can instantly add focus to the subject in a dramatic manner. It can also highlight a specific point of the image effortlessly. In this article, we have addressed how to add zoom motion blur using Photoshop. To use the best alternative to Photoshop, we highly recommend using Wondershare Filmora. This tool has an easy-to-use interface and enables you to add a zoom blur effect easily.

Part 1: What is Zoom Blur?

Part 2: How to Add Zoom Blur Effect to Photos in Photoshop?