Creative COW SIGN IN :: SPONSORS :: ABOUT US :: CONTACT US
ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS: ForumAE BasicsAE ExpressionsTutorialsArticlesPodcastsMotion GraphicsTrainingCinema 4D

Alpha channel mask (easy one this!)

Cow Forums : Adobe After Effects
Alpha channel mask (easy one this!)
by Ian Collister (collography) on Apr 30, 2008 at 12:48:39 pm

What would be the best way to use a layers alpha channel as a mask for another layer?

Is this possible? And is there more than one way of achieving this?

Thanks all
i.



Respond to this post   •   Return to posts index

Re: Alpha channel mask (easy one this!)
by Thorsten Miess on Apr 30, 2008 at 1:35:04 pm

Put the layer with the alpha channel above the other layer and choose on the layer beneath the alpha-channel-layer Track Matte>Alpha Trackmatte (or inverted if you want to)(its all in the timeline)

This Method effects only a single layer.

For effecting all layers underneath your alpha-channel-layer change its blending mode to>Stencil Alpha (or one of the other 3)

And if you want a mask for a layer:

Select your aplha-channel-layer (i love this words :-) ) and choose layer>Auto Trac. After changing a few settings in the upcoming menu(dont worry you even dont need to change) click apply and a mask will appear on a new solid.
Now you can copy the mask to your layer that should have the transparency from the...one more time: alpha-channel-layer.

Hope this helped



Respond to this post   •   Return to posts index

Re: Alpha channel mask (easy one this!)
by Joey Foreman on Apr 30, 2008 at 1:47:46 pm

You could also place the layer you want the alpha channel taken from under the layer you want to use it, and activate the T button in the timeline. This will take Alpha from all layers under the affected layer.



Respond to this post   •   Return to posts index


Re: Alpha channel mask (easy one this!)
by Darby Edelen on May 1, 2008 at 6:03:11 am

There's also the Channel > Set Matte effect, or any number of the Channels effects that could be used, although these behave very differently from previously mentioned options. The alpha is taken from the source layer with no regard for the source layer's position or transform properties and applied to the affected layer.

Darby Edelen
Lead Designer
Left Coast Digital
Santa Cruz, CA

Respond to this post   •   Return to posts index

<< PREVIOUS THREAD   •   VIEW ALL THREADS   •   PRINT   •   NEXT THREAD >>


FORUMSTUTORIALSMAGAZINEDVDsBOOKSPODCASTSEVENTSSERVICESNEWSLETTERNEWSBLOGS

© CreativeCOW.net All rights are reserved.

[Top]