Tip Tuesday: Mask Mode Keyboard Shortcuts in After Effects

View in browser Hi ferlin, It is Tip Tuesday! Today I will show you several useful Mask Mode Keyboard Shortcuts that will speed up your workflow in After Effects. So let's dive right in! (This tip comes with a video) In this example, I have a simple set-up. I have a text layer, a circular shape layer, and the background. Step 1: Select the Rectangular Tool Select the Ukramedia.com text layer or any other text that you might have on your canvas, left-click on the Rectangular Tool on the top menu bar. Step 2: Draw a Mask With the Rectangular Tool selected, left-click, and draw a mask over the entire Ukramedia.com text on your canvas. As soon as you let go of the Rectangular Tool, you will see "Mask 1" appear under our text layer in the timeline. Step 3: Select the Pen Tool Next, press G on your keyboard to bring up the Pen Tool and draw another mask on your canvas. As soon as you left-click on the canvas, you can see that the second "Mask 2" has been created. Now we can draw another shape, but the problem is that we don't have Mask Mode Options available just yet. The reason why that is happening is because our "Mask 2" is not closed. So make sure to close it off before moving on to step 4. You should now be able to see the Mask Mode option appear next to "Mask 2." Step 4: Mask Mode Keyboard Shortcuts Now since the mask is closed off, you should be able to shuffle through all the Mask Modes with simple keyboard shortcuts. The shortcuts for the Mask Modes are very easy to memorize. All you have to do is remember the first letter of each word of the Mask Mode options. So, for example: None – N Add – A Subtract – S Intersect – I Lighten – L Darken – D However, there two shortcuts that might confuse you. Darken and Difference both start with letter D. The keyboard shortcut for Darken is D, and for Difference is F. You won't be able to shuffle through the Mask Mode Keyboard Shortcuts by just selecting it in the timeline. Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that in Adobe After Effects. You first have to be in what I call "Drawing Mode" or "Active Mode." And to do that, you have to left-click and hold on the mask inside your Adobe After Effects canvas. It will enable you to move the mask around freely on the canvas. When you are in this "Dawing" or "Active" mode, you will be able to shuffle through the Mask Mode Keyboard Shortcuts with ease, as long as you are still holding the left-click button on your mouse. So if you press N in that mode, it will go to None, D will go to Darken, A – Add, and so on. It also works when you left-click and hold on just one of the vertices. Feather Tool with Mask Modes You can also do the same for the Feather Tool. If you press G on the keyboard, you will be able to bring up the Feather Tool. You can also bring up the Feature Tool from the top menu bar by left-clicking on the drop-down icon to the right of the Rectangle Tool. With the Feather Tool selected, left-click and hold on the edge of your mask. Then slowly move the cursor away from the center. You should see the feather effect around the edges. Don't let go of the left-click hold just yet. So with left-click hold in place, now you can shuffle through the Mask Modes Keyboard Shortcuts again. It is that simple! I hope you found this quick tip useful. I look forward to sharing another quick tip with you next Tuesday! Talk soon, - Sergei Watch Video Ukramedia P.O. Box 621 Huntersville, NC 28070 You received this email because you signed up on our website or made a purchase from us. Unsubscribe