Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 5.5 Help Manual page 333

Adobe After Effects Help
Using Help | Contents |
Using Vector Paint (PB only)
About Vector Paint (PB only)
Vector Paint is an effect you use directly within After Effects. You can apply the Vector Paint
effect to solid layers, to existing images on a layer, and to create mattes. Each stroke is
recorded in real time and can be animated and played back in various ways.
Note: Vector Paint strokes are nondestructive, so painting and erasing actions affect only
the appearances on a layer; they do not alter the original source file of any image on the
layer.
Most of the settings for Vector Paint appear in the Effect Controls window and the Compo-
sition window. Many settings can be changed either before or after you paint a stroke.
Vector Paint supports the Wacom and Creation Station tablets' pressure-stylus and erase
functions. For more information, see "Configuring a stylus for Vector Paint (PB only)" on
page 347.
When you use Vector Paint on a layer, you can start over at any time by deleting all
strokes or the Vector Paint effect itself. To delete the effect, select Vector Paint in the
Effect Controls window and press Delete or Backspace. For information about selecting
strokes, see "Selecting strokes (PB only)" on page 337.
Working with vector-based strokes (PB only)
Vector Paint uses high-quality, vector-based paint strokes that you draw in the Compo-
sition window. You cannot paint in a Layer window.
To paint on a layer:
1 Select the arrow tool ( ) in the After Effects Tools palette.
2 In either the Composition or Timeline window, select the layer on which you want to
paint.
3 Choose Effect > Paint >Vector Paint. The Vector Paint effect appears and is selected in
the Effect Controls window, and the Vector Paint toolbar appears on the left side of the
Composition window.
Note: This toolbar appears only when Vector Paint is selected (highlighted) in the Effect
Controls window.
4 Select the paint tool you want to use from the Vector Paint toolbar. For information, see
"Selecting a painting tool (PB only)" on page 334.
5 In the Effect Controls window, select the options you want for Brush Settings and
Composite Paint. For information about these settings, see "Specifying a Brush type (PB
only)" on page 335 and "Selecting Brush Settings options in Effect Controls (PB only)" on
page 335. For information about paint compositing, see"Selecting Composite Paint
options (PB only)" on page 338.
Using Help | Contents |
Index
Index
Using Vector Paint (PB only)
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