Constraining a layer with an alpha matte

Using animation presets with shape layers

If you’re the creative type, like Gordon Studer, you can create shape layers and save them as animation presets to apply to future projects. You’ll apply an animation preset to a shape layer to change the appearance of Gordon’s head.

1 Choose Layer > New > Shape Layer. After Effects adds a new shape layer to the composition.

2 Select Shape Layer 1 in the Timeline panel, and then choose Animation > Browse Presets. Adobe Bridge opens.

3 In Adobe Bridge, navigate to the AECS5_CIB/Lessons/Lesson05/Animation_ preset folder on your hard disk.

4 Double-click the HeadShape.ffx file to apply it to Shape Layer 1. You can close Adobe Bridge or leave it open to use later in this lesson.

There are many ways to mask layers in After Effects. For example, you can use shape tools or the Pen tool to draw a mask. In this lesson, you’ll use an alpha matte, which uses the alpha channel of a layer to mask another layer.

1 Click Toggle Switches/Modes at the bottom of the Timeline panel to view the Mode column.

2 In the TrkMat menu for the GordonsHead layer, choose Alpha Matte “Shape Layer 1.”

The layer is now constrained by the shape layer.

Дата добавления: 2014-11-20