Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 5.5 Help Manual page 385

Adobe After Effects Help
Using Help | Contents
Percentage of Outline
length. For example, a value of 5 means that a vertex is added at each successive segment of the outline
that represents 5% of the total perimeter.
Leave this box unchecked to use only the vertices that were there at the first frame.
Note: Smart Mask Interpolation may add vertices at existing vertex locations even if Add
Mask Shape Vertices is not checked. If two vertices on one mask shape match a single
vertex on the other, the single vertex is duplicated at the same spot so that the segment
between the two vertices shrinks to that spot.
Matching Method Specifies the algorithm that Smart Mask Interpolation uses to match
vertices on one mask shape to vertices on the other. Choose one of the following from the
menu:
Specifies that if either of the two selected keyframes has a curved piece, the matching algorithm for
Auto
curves is applied. If not, the algorithm for polylines is applied.
Specifies that the algorithm for mask shapes that have curved pieces is applied.
Curve
Specifies that the algorithm for mask shapes that have only straight pieces is applied.
Polyline
Note: The mask shape keyframes added by Smart Mask Interpolation are polylines when
the Polyline Matching Method is selected, whether or not the input mask shapes contained
curved pieces.
Use 1:1 Vertex Matches If this box is checked, then Smart Mask Interpolation forces a
vertex on one mask shape to match the same-numbered vertex on the other mask shape.
On each of the input mask shapes, Smart Mask Interpolation matches the first vertices, the
second vertices, the third vertices, etc. If the two shapes have unequal numbers of
vertices, then this action may produce undesirable results.
First Vertices Match If this box is checked, Smart Mask Interpolation matches the first
vertices in the two mask shape keyframes. If this box is unchecked, Smart Mask Interpo-
lation searches for the best first-vertex match between the two input mask shapes.
Note: To quickly get good results, make sure that the first vertices of the input mask shapes
match and then run Smart Mask Interpolation with the First Vertices Match box checked.
To interrupt the interpolation process:
Press Esc. The Info palette indicates that the process has been interrupted and reports the
number of keyframes created before the interruption.
Duplicating masks
If you create a mask on one area of a layer and want to put a copy of it on another area of a
layer, there's no need to use separate copy and paste operations. Instead, in After Effects
5.5, duplicate the mask and then drag the duplicate to another location on the layer. To
duplicate a mask, select the mask and choose Edit > Duplicate.
Adding motion blur to masks
You can now enable motion blur on any one of the individual masks on a layer.
Note: To see the motion blur, you must have the Motion Blur switch turned on in the
Timeline.
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Specifies that a vertex is added at each indicated percent of the mask shape outline
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(5.5) Working with Masks and Transparency
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