14:27:44 [Mitch] Actually, I've have an AE question for you.
14:28:11 [Mitch] I'm starting to understand better how to create masks in AE
14:28:14 [FM] Shoot your question
14:29:14 [Mitch] So...now that I've created an AE mask...how is it used?
14:30:48 [FM] how is it used? depends on what you want to do with it... if you did it on a solid you can use it to shape it
14:31:29 [FM] You can use it's properties to set the alpha channel of the layer
14:31:51 [FM] You can use it as a motion path,
14:32:19 [FM] you can use it as a drawing... etc
14:32:19 [Mitch] hhhmmm..ok...do you use it with specific effects...I was playing with the vegas effect and understand that.
14:32:46 [Mitch] that's what I was thinking...sort like an alpha channel
14:32:54 [FM] Yes you can do that if you want... do you have ae opend?
14:33:14 [Mitch] Ok...I'll open it
14:33:29 [FM] I'll do the same here!
14:34:15 [Mitch] Ok...I have AE 6 by the way
14:34:50 [FM] So do I but that wouldn't be a probç
14:35:18 [FM] On this comp it's just a bit slow
14:35:33 [Mitch] no problem
14:36:13 [FM] Ok! Start a new compo & create a new solid
14:36:37 [Mitch] ok
14:37:26 [FM] I just used white but it can be any color other than black
14:37:58 [FM] & make sure you set it's size to the same as the compo
14:38:01 [Mitch] I have pale orange....
14:38:11 [Mitch] yep done
14:38:25 [FM] No problem
14:39:01 [FM] Create a new mask (i'm assuming you already now how)
14:39:32 [FM] If not just say so
14:40:06 [Mitch] ok, it just creates a mask around the borders
14:40:28 [FM] Exactly
14:40:46 [FM] Can you see it on the main compo window?
14:41:15 [Mitch] yes
14:42:01 [FM] Now rigth click on it & on the menu select 'shape'
14:42:33 [Mitch] ok
14:43:16 [Mitch] I get this menu about bounding box and shape
14:43:23 [FM] Choose elipse & then Right click again & select mask feather
14:44:03 [Mitch] ok
14:44:11 [FM] use 20 pixels
14:44:37 [Mitch] for horizontal & vertical?
14:44:40 [FM] & LOCK if not already checked
14:45:06 [FM] If it's LOcked it will change autom
14:45:25 [Mitch] never mind it changed both...it was locked
14:46:09 [FM] Nice! f tyou hide the mask on the compo window you will see it very soft
14:47:00 [FM] Every effect you use from now on will apply only to the inside bit of the mask
14:47:15 [Mitch] how do I hide it?
14:48:20 [FM] Zoom button, Safe areas Button Mask Button just on the bottom left of the compo wind
14:49:21 [FM] click the mask one!
14:50:25 [Mitch] got it...ok another question...when I open the layer on the timeline I see for the mask, add, subtract, intersect, etc.
14:50:32 [FM] are you there?
14:50:37 [FM] ok
14:50:45 [Mitch] when would you use these?
14:51:08 [FM] Will get there next
14:51:45 [Mitch] ok
14:51:46 [FM] Do the same operation to create a new mask (you will need it for using them)
14:52:05 [FM] those options I mean
14:52:24 [Mitch] same size and feather
14:52:30 [Mitch] ?
14:54:03 [FM] Youcan change the size (I'm using NTSC settings so use these: L20 R700
14:54:21 [FM] & same feather!
14:55:45 [Mitch] ok
14:56:44 [FM] Ok while still seleted this last one just click & drag it a fair bit to the left & see what happens
14:58:06 [FM] To select any of them, if you lose the selection just double click on the one you want
14:59:06 [FM] Any problem?
14:59:44 [Mitch] is the shape suppose to be changing or just moving?
15:00:07 [FM] Moving
15:00:35 [FM] You should have just one mask moving
15:00:38 [Mitch] got it ...looks ok
15:00:46 [Mitch] yep
15:01:37 [FM] Ok now with this last one still selected
15:02:23 [FM] Right click on it & select 'mode' from the menu & change it to subtract
15:03:29 [Mitch] yep...very cool...
15:03:48 [FM] Its the same as on the timeline
15:04:22 [FM] Ok now change it to intersect
15:04:29 [Mitch] so I could have a cresent shaped video?
15:04:52 [Mitch] yep
15:04:55 [FM] Yes! In reality any shape you like
15:05:23 [FM] We're just scratching the surface
15:06:17 [Mitch] bear with me....if a put a video in a layer below the mask, how would it know how do use the mask?
15:07:01 [FM] Well not that way
15:07:24 [FM] You can use create the mask ON the VIDEO layer
15:07:48 [Mitch] ok that makes sense
15:08:02 [FM] Or Then just turn that solid you are using to black & put the video under
15:09:09 [Mitch] ok...another question...why black?
15:10:00 [FM] I was thinking aesteticly
15:10:08 [FM] ~???
15:10:22 [FM] I'm not sure of the spelling
15:10:38 [FM] LOL!
15:10:55 [Mitch] ok...I know what you mean...thanks alot...this has really really helped
15:11:32 [Mitch] now all my videos will have masks! ROFL
15:11:42 [FM] Good! There is a lot of other things you can do with it so Just ask
15:11:52 [FM] ROFL
15:12:43 [FM] Remember the signature thing people were doing in Premiere with a lot of steps?
15:13:16 [Mitch] It isn't that I didn't work through an AE book but maybe I was just dense at the time
15:13:18 [FM] You can do it with AE & masks with a lot fewer steps
15:13:35 [Mitch] yea...I know how to do that with write-on
15:13:53 [FM] I know what you mean! I had some hard time myself
15:14:29 [Mitch] I was actually going to re-do a signature piece with lightning writing out the signature
15:14:47 [Mitch] just haven't worked out the details
15:15:38
[FM]
Yeah! & you can use a new feature of AE
aint or even Masks
15:16:05 [FM] where the *** did that came from???
15:16:20 [FM] I meant paint LOL!
15:16:56 [FM] Do ypou have a paint tablet?
15:17:14 [Mitch] don't know....got a different question....nope, no paint tablet
15:17:29 [FM] Ask away
15:18:39 [Mitch] how do you get the new paint tool to work over time, so that the painting appears over time
15:19:44 [FM] give me a sec
15:22:08 [FM] You should use vector paint to do it
15:22:52 [FM] You'll see an editor when you apply it to the layer rigth?
15:23:47 [Mitch] I don't think so...what's it look like?
15:24:04 [Mitch] how do I find vector paint?
15:24:32 [FM] sorry I was testing something
15:25:20 [FM] On the effects under Paint you should have both paint & vector Paint or not?
15:25:32 [FM] in a sub menu?
15:26:23 [Mitch] just paint...I have AE 6 std, maybe it is on Pro
15:26:41 [FM] Yeap that's it!
15:27:31 [Mitch] thanks for answering the question
15:27:44 [FM] OK! it seems to me you can't do that with the Paint alone & I keep forgeting that this one is the Pro version
15:27:58 [Mitch] I just need to buy Pro...
15:28:30 [Mitch] I keep wondering why I should buy Pro, guess I understand now...
15:29:19 [FM] Yeah, there is another plugin needed for Vector Paint to work the wigler
15:29:35
[Mitch]
thanks again for everything! I'll let you go while go creating masks on
everything.
15:30:28 [FM] Ok! see you & as long as we botyh have the time just ask wath ever you need that I can answer. LOL!
15:31:17 [Mitch] I think the wiggler might be Pro also, although I noticed text has it
15:32:06 [FM] Yeah I'll have to check on the differences btween both versions
15:32:32 [Mitch] gotta go...thanks!