Whether you're a motion graphics artist, a video editor, or a content creator, shapes and masks are two foundational tools in Adobe After Effects that unlock your creative potential. This guide walks you through how to use them step-by-step, with examples to help you master these essential features.
🟦 What Are Shapes in After Effects?
Shapes are vector graphics that can be scaled without losing quality. You can animate, stylize, and combine them to create complex motion graphics.
🔧 How to Create a Shape:
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Open After Effects and create a new composition.
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Go to the Toolbar and select a shape tool (Rectangle, Ellipse, Star, Polygon).
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Click and drag on the composition area to draw the shape.
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Hold
Shiftto maintain proportions (perfect circle/square). -
Use the Fill and Stroke options to customize appearance.
📦 Tip:
Shapes are created inside Shape Layers, which have their own transform controls separate from the layer’s base transform.
✂️ What Are Masks in After Effects?
Masks are used to reveal or hide portions of a layer. They are usually drawn directly on a layer and help create custom transitions, effects, and cutouts.
📝 How to Create a Mask:
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Select the layer you want to mask.
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Choose a shape tool (Rectangle, Ellipse) or the Pen Tool.
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Draw directly on the selected layer.
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The mask will appear in the Timeline under the "Masks" dropdown.
🔍 Mask Modes:
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Add – Reveals the area inside the mask.
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Subtract – Hides the area inside the mask.
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Intersect – Reveals overlapping mask areas.
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None – Deactivates the mask.
🔄 Animate Shapes and Masks
You can animate the Path, Position, Scale, Opacity, and more using keyframes:
🪄 Shape Animation Example:
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Expand the shape layer.
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Under “Contents,” select Rectangle Path or Ellipse Path.
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Use the stopwatch ⏱️ icon to keyframe Size, Position, etc.
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Move the playhead and adjust the property—After Effects will animate it.
🎭 Mask Animation Example:
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Expand the Mask property on a layer.
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Click the stopwatch next to Mask Path.
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At another time point, move mask points to animate the shape.
⚙️ Advanced Tips
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Combine multiple masks for complex results.
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Use Feather to soften the mask edges.
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Convert Shape to Mask and vice versa using plugins or manual tracing.
📌 Final Thoughts
Mastering Shapes and Masks in Adobe After Effects opens up a whole new world of possibilities in motion design. They help you:
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Create custom transitions
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Animate logos and icons
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Isolate or hide footage
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Design creative title reveals
Whether you're designing intros, visual effects, or motion logos, these tools are a must-know for every After Effects user.
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