Looking at how to mask on Alight Motion? This easy step-by-step guide will guide you with ease on how to mask in Alight Motion to skyrocket your video graphics
Introduction
Do you ever see a double role in the same video? Same person with two modes? Yeah, this is possible with the help of the masking feature in alight motion
Masking allows you to mix different things in one basket like videos, images, and text to create more engaging and attractive videos
Exactly this thing we will be learning in this article and guide you step by step with easy words on how to mask on Alight Motion.
Giving you amazing tips to mask more effectively with visual imagination, we will also look for different types of masking, uses of masks, and pros & cons.
So are you excited? Then don’t wait any more! Let’s directly delve and start from the masking meanings if you don’t know.
Also read : https://alightmotionapk.site/alight-motion-presets-for-android-download-latest/
What Does Masking Mean?
In simple terms, masking means something replicating, hiding, showing, or modifying any area or part of a layer upon the user’s choice to control its visibility
The biggest benefit of using a mask is to create compelling and engaging content for your viewers to engage or entertain them
This masking technique creates limitless opportunities for creative storytelling and visual imagination
Mask can be anything in the form of text, image, or video as per your desire or need
Now that we understand what masking is and its uses, it’s time to explore the two main masking techniques. The first one is
Basic Masking Technique
1 – Rectangular Mask
This technique can be used for simpler transition effects or covering a large area within your footage. This technique lets you draw a rectangular area in your video, which you can use to highlight, hide, or transition different parts of your content.
It’s great for creating clean, sharp edges or covering large areas with a consistent mask. Whether you’re blending two scenes or just hiding part of the frame, the rectangular mask gives you a quick and easy solution.
2 – Circular Mask
The Circular Mask is great for highlighting specific areas of your video, like a face, logo, or other subjects. It’s also great for creating circular vignettes that add a soft, rounded effect around your subject, helping it stand out from the background.
You can easily adjust the circular mask’s size, position, and focus area, making it a flexible tool for drawing attention to important parts of your video in a visually pleasing way.
3 – Freeform Mask
The Freeform Mask gives you the most flexibility and creativity, letting you draw custom shapes directly onto your video. It’s perfect for when you’re working with more complex subjects or objects that don’t fit neatly into rectangular or circular shapes.
Whether you need to outline a detailed character, trace around an irregular object, or create unique patterns, the freeform mask tool offers the precision you need.
By drawing your mask by hand, you can achieve highly detailed and specific masking, making it an essential tool for advanced video editing projects
Advanced Masking Techniques
1 – Feather
Increasing the feather value softens the edges of the mask while adjusting the opacity controls how visible the masked area is.
2 – Keyframing
Keyframing masks are a great way to add dynamic effects to your project. It lets you control the movement of your mask over time, whether you’re revealing hidden elements or mimicking camera movements.
3 – Track Mask
Alight Motion’s tracking feature automatically follows the movement of a specific object or area in your footage. This is really useful for masking moving objects or stabilizing shaky footage. Just select the track mask option, and Alight Motion does the rest.
How Many Different Types Of Masking Available In Alight Motion?
Shape Masks
This is the most basic type of masking, where you use simple shapes like rectangles, circles, and squares as masks. You can adjust the size, shape, color, and other aspects of the mask to get the effect you want.
Alpha Masks
Alpha masks, also known as soft masks, are based on the Alpha Channels of elements like videos or images. They’re great for separating fine details like hair, fur, or smoke.
These masks are more complex and irregular in shape, and sometimes they’re drawn on alpha channels and exported later.
You often see Alpha masks used in e-commerce stores or websites, where products are separated from the background to make them stand out.
Luma Masks
Luma masks use brightness to control how visible different parts of your media are. The darker areas are more transparent (often seen as the background), while the brighter areas are more visible (acting as the mask). The term ‘Luma’ comes from ‘luminance,’ which refers to brightness.
Uses of Masking
| Uses of Masking |
| Add text, images, or animations to videos to create infographics. |
| Enhance content by storytelling with text, incorporating branding elements, or adding context. |
| Isolate and emphasize specific elements within your content to boost engagement. |
| Use luma masks to isolate elements based on their brightness or darkness. |
| Apply different effects like color correction or blur to specific areas of the media. |
| Direct the audience’s attention by emphasizing particular parts of the scene. |
Step By Step Guide On How To Mask In Alight Motion
Finally, we are here with our easy step-by-step guide on how to mask In Alight Motion, making videos can seem complex, but with this guide, you’ll be able to mask your clips easily. Follow these steps for a smooth masking process.
Step 1: Add Your Clip
Start by importing your clip into Alight Motion. If your clip has a clear, single-color background, you might use the chroma key effect. For other clips, proceed with manual masking.
Step 2: Add a Vector Drawing Layer
Tap the “+” icon and select “Vector Drawing” to add a new layer. This layer will be used for the manual masking process.
Step 3: Mark the Clip
Use the Vector Drawing layer to outline the areas you want to mask. Make sure that you disable the visibility of this layer to avoid interference during the masking process.
Step 4: Check for Issues
Once you have marked the clip, review your work to ensure there are no mistakes. If everything looks good, proceed to the next step.
Step 5: Apply the Mask
Select the layer, go to “Blending and Opacity,” and choose “Mask” from the options. Decide between “Mask” and “Exclude” based on your needs.
Step 6: Adjust Frames
Zoom into your clip and cut the layer into individual frames. Duplicate the layer and shift the duplicated layer one frame forward. Check for movement in each frame and continue duplicating and shifting until you detect movement.
Step 7: Refine Markings
When movement is detected, click on the layer and go to “Edit Points” to adjust the mask markings based on the frame’s movement. Repeat this process until the mask is complete.
Step 8: Group Layers
Once masking is complete, enable all layers, select them, and group them into a single layer. This finalizes the masking process.
Alternative Method: Capcut
Consider using Capcut: For a potentially easier masking process, you can use Capcut. Watch tutorials for this tool if you prefer a different approach to background removal and masking.
Video Tutorial On How To Mask In Alight Motion
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Allows precise control over what is visible. | Requires knowledge of masking tools and video editing skills. |
| Offers creative flexibility for experimentation. | Takes time and practice to master. |
| Enhances the visual appeal of designs. | Demands high processing power and storage space. |
| Helps create immersive visual effects. | |
| It offers features that simplify video creation. | |
| Alight Motion is easy to use even for beginners and pros |
Expert Tips To Improve Your Masking
Tip 1: Speed Up Your Workflow and Fix Masking Issues in Alight Motion
Sometimes, when working on high-quality projects or editing long videos, we aim to speed up the process and save time.
But what if the speed slows down while moving the cursor? This can affect productivity and become frustrating. Don’t worry! I have a quick and simple solution for you.
Follow this:
- Copy the clip you want to mask from within the Alight Motion interface.
- Go back and create a new element, setting the resolution to “540p.”
- Click “Create Element.”
- Paste the clip you copied into the new element.
- Tap the three dots in the top right corner and select the “Fit to Screen” option.
- Click the “+” button and choose “Vector Drawing” to continue.
If you accidentally masked outside of the screen, follow these steps:
- Click on the “+” button and choose the rectangle shape.
- Tap the three dots and select “Stretch to Screen.”
- Adjust the scale and disable the mask layer.
- Go back to the original project, select the element, and choose “Fit to Screen.”
- Select “Unlink from Element” and then “Ungroup.”
- Delete the rectangle shape.
- Activate all layers. There will be two similar layers, delete the duplicate layer.
- Select both layers.
- Choose “Masking Group” from the options.
Tip 2: Fixing Visibility Issues While Masking
If the green color is making it difficult to see what you’re masking, you can simply deactivate the mask layer from the left side of the screen. After you’ve selected the area to be masked, be sure to reactivate the mask layer.
Tip 3: Efficient Keyframing for Multiple Points
Some people add a keyframe for each point individually, but instead, you can select the entire area and then click “Add Keyframe.” This approach saves time by avoiding the need to add keyframes for each point separately.
Tip 4: Smoothing Masking Edges
To smooth your masking edges, you can add the Feather effect, Gaussian Blur effect, or use the Matte Choker effect for a smoother finish
Tip 5: Enhance Mask Precision with Detailed Edits
For a more accurate mask, zoom in on the edges and use the “Edit Points” tool to make personalized adjustments. This careful and detailed fine-tuning ensures that the mask fits perfectly with your video elements, leading to a smoother and more polished final result.
Video tutorial of these tips
Conclusion
This article is designed to boost your masking skills, helping you grab and hold the viewer’s attention with creative techniques. It aims to improve your editing abilities by walking you through the masking process in Alight Motion step by step. If you enjoyed this guide, be sure to bookmark our website for more easy-to-follow tutorials. Good luck with your new skills—use your powerful masking techniques to make a big impact
FAQs
Q1: Is Alight Motion a good tool for masking videos?
Yes, Alight Motion is the best! offers you an advanced features like masking. which can help you create more creative and dynamic content.
Q2: Does using Alight Motion cost anything?
Alight Motion has both free and paid versions. If you want more extra features you need to upgrade it to the premium version–but for us free version is enough.
Q3: How do I mask a video in Alight Motion?
To mask a video in Alight Motion, start by Adding Your Clip, Add a Vector Drawing Layer, Mark the Clip, Check for Issues, Apply the Mask, Adjust Frames, Refine Markings, and Group Layers–read the above step by step guide for detailes
Q4: How do I mask an image in Alight Motion?
For masking an image, place your image layer above a masking layer. Click on the image layer and choose “Mask” from the layer options, then select your desired mask shape. Adjust the mask’s size, position, feather, and opacity to get the effect you want. Preview your changes and finalize the mask.
Q5: Can I use multiple masks on one layer in Alight Motion?
Yes, you can apply multiple masks to a single layer in Alight Motion. Just create additional mask layers and set their properties to achieve more complex effects. This feature gives you the flexibility to refine your visuals with precision.
Q6: Can I animate the mask in Alight Motion?
Absolutely! You can animate masks in Alight Motion by using keyframes. Set keyframes at different points on your timeline to adjust the mask’s shape, position, feather, and opacity,
Q7: How do I clip a layer in Alight Motion?
select the layer you want to clip and use the “Clip” tool to trim or adjust the visible area. Refine the start and end points as per your project’s needs.