Each week, Frame.io Insider asks considered one of our professional contributors to share a tip, device, or approach that they use on a regular basis and couldn’t stay with out. This week, Laurence Grayson exhibits the way to apply an After Results monitor matte to a number of layers wherever in your composition.
In the event you’ve been utilizing After Results for some time, you’ll already be aware of monitor mattes. Merely put, they’re a layer in your composition that’s used to have an effect on the visibility of the layer beneath utilizing a particular transparency mode. They’re just like a masks, however the important thing distinction right here is {that a} monitor matte is a separate layer, whereas masks are a part of the layer they’re utilized to.
They are often simple to miss whenever you’re beginning out with After Results, as a result of the layer controls for them are hidden by default—you want to hit F4 or click on on the Toggle Switches/Modes button on the backside of the composition panel—however even when you’re a veteran movement designer, you may need missed a reasonably current change to how they work. And it’s sort of a giant deal.
Decide your layer
Beforehand, you’d outline a monitor matte by including your matte layer instantly above the layer you need it to have an effect on. You’d then select the mode for the matte layer (Alpha, Luma, Inverted, and many others.) and this is able to then apply the specified impact to only the layer beneath. This strategy works effectively sufficient, however it’s slightly inflexible. Plus, it will probably make complicated comps extra cluttered than they should be.
Today it’s a distinct story. Monitor mattes could be utilized to any layer in your composition. You’ll discover a decide whip for fast drag-and-drop choice, or the drop-down will allow you to decide your goal layer from an inventory. However the true change right here is you can now apply a single monitor matte to a number of layers. And that’s the place issues grow to be far more highly effective than earlier than.
That is imagined to be a brief tip, so we’ll not go into element concerning the attainable combos and results that this opens up. As an alternative, let’s deal with how you arrange a number of layers to work with a single monitor matte. It may not be apparent at first look.
The right way to apply a monitor matte to a number of layers
In earlier variations of After Results, you’d outline your monitor matte after which apply it to the layer beneath. In After Results 2023 or later, it’s the opposite approach round. You decide the layers you need to have an effect on and then goal the monitor matte layer you need to apply. This may be achieved layer by layer, utilizing the pickwhip or from the drop-down menu. Or you possibly can choose a number of layers (holding Cmd or Alt) after which use the pickwhip or drop-down menu. (You’ll be able to apply the identical strategy to deselect a a matte.)
A few notes earlier than we end. This new workflow could be utilized to adjustment layers and null objects, which could be helpful. Additionally, don’t mistake the Dad or mum pickwhip with the Monitor Matte pickwhip. They sit pretty shut to one another within the composition panel.
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