To Adjust The Edges Of A Mask; To Change A Mask Shape Numerically; To Replace One Mask Shape With Another; To Adjust Feathering In The Timeline Panel - Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 7.0 Manual

Clicking a vertex instead of dragging sets the vertex to a corner point (100% tension); clicking again sets the vertex
to a smooth point (33% tension). Dragging up or to the right decreases the selection's tension, increasing the curve
of adjacent path segments; dragging down or to the left increases the selection's tension, decreasing the curve of
adjacent path segments.
Note: To view the tension value of a vertex, look in the Info panel as you adjust the tension.

To adjust the edges of a mask

To finely expand or contract all edges of a mask, use the Mask Expansion property. This property's value represents,
in pixels, how far from the original mask edge you are expanding or contracting the adjusted edge.
In the Timeline panel, expand the Mask properties of the layer you want to adjust.
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2 Drag the underlined value for Mask Expansion.
Note: To reset a mask to its default boundaries, select the mask in the Timeline panel and choose Layer > Mask > Reset
Mask.

To change a mask shape numerically

Select the mask.
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2 In the Timeline panel, expand the Mask properties.
Next to the Mask Shape property, click the underlined word, and specify the changes in the Mask Shape dialog
3
box.
4 Click OK.

To replace one mask shape with another

1 In the Layer panel, select the mask you want to replace from the Target menu.
Draw a new mask shape.
2
Note: After you create the new mask shape in the Layer panel, select None from the Target menu; otherwise, all subse-
quent masks you create will replace the targeted mask.

To adjust feathering in the Timeline panel

Feathering softens the edges of a mask by fading it from more transparent to less transparent over a user-defined
distance. Using the Mask Feather property, you make mask edges hard-edged or soft-edged (feathered). By default,
the feather width straddles the mask edge, half inside and half outside. For example, if you set the feather width to
25, the feathering extends 12.5 pixels inside the mask edge and 12.5 pixels outside it. You can also extend or contract
the mask edges to control where the mask feathering appears.
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User Guide