1. convert the vector layer to shape by right clicking and choosing "Create Shapes from Vector Layer" and this will give you hopefully and exact instance of your layer, as Ae shape layer. Add another shape into the same shape layer and … Add a new solid by going to Layer > … To guarantee success you need to set a keyframe. and you don't need the Stroke Effect. Bigger problem is after I manually create the second keyframe, it isn't masking the blur effect on the adjustment layer, the AL is bluring the entire image. Then, use the pic whip from this new mask and link it to the path (the converted path) from your shape layer. Rectangle position is an important thing to check. Then it's really easy!! If any of the Transform properties show up like scale, rotation, position.. then you have to reset them so the layer is centered. Shape Layers are 2D objects either drawn with the pen tool or generated with a predetermined shape that After Effects offers, such as a rectangle, star, or oval. This tutorial walks you trough the process of combining shapes with merge paths. This seems to be the same no matter whether I have the path or the mask component selected. Make a new composition that’s 1920×1080, 29.97, and give it a name such as “Rollercoaster Text.”. So i have a rectangle that I have drawn in a shape layer, and I want to stroke this using the stroke effect, as I need to scale the shape and I've found that the standard stroke within a shape layer scales when you transform the layer. So if I want to correct the transform of the path (in my mind, making a path on a shape should by default put it at 0,0 relative to the shape layer's position, I'd be grateful for an explanation of why it works this way), I need to change the transform of the path to 0,0 and then do the opposite transformation to the layer itself in order to move the path back to its original position... ...ugh... Hi Rick Gerard, thanks for the tips, I have an ellipse in my shape layer, when I right click on the Shape Layer (top level) or the Ellipse 1 I don't have an option for "Convert to Bezier Path". Select the Illustrator layer to convert. Do I then need to only work on the effects controls: IE I can't click and move it around? Hi -- beginner After Effects user here. usually pops up to copy/paste the following: "command for converting a parametric shape layer path to a Bezier path: You can convert a parametric path to a Bezier path after the parametric path has already been created by context-clicking (right-clicking or Control-clicking on Mac OS) the property group for the parametric path (e.g., Rectangle Path 1) and choosing the Convert To Bezier Path command from the context menu. not shapes. Anyone know how to convert a shape to a mask? It wont apply the stroke and no stroke shows on the object but I can alter the specifications in the contents parameter in the timeline. PS does anyone else have a really weird issue with this forum where you'll be writing a response and suddenly find your karat/cursor has jumped up a couple of lines and you've type half a response at the end of a previous line? Select the motion keyframes & copy. You don't need to set any key frames. Today’s post is about how to convert Adobe Illustrator files to shapes in After Effects. I can alter the specifications, i.e stroke width but can't see anything on the screen. When you have a stroke on a layer, and you scale the layer, the stroke doesn’t scale at all. To get started we first create a new composition, I created a small 320x240 resolution composition for this purpose, and added a text layer that simply contains a single word ‘mask’ in yellow. /t5/after-effects/convert-a-shape-path-to-a-mask-path/td-p/8057599, /t5/after-effects/convert-a-shape-path-to-a-mask-path/m-p/8057600#M10337, /t5/after-effects/convert-a-shape-path-to-a-mask-path/m-p/8057601#M10338, /t5/after-effects/convert-a-shape-path-to-a-mask-path/m-p/8057602#M10339, /t5/after-effects/convert-a-shape-path-to-a-mask-path/m-p/8057603#M10340, /t5/after-effects/convert-a-shape-path-to-a-mask-path/m-p/8057604#M10341, /t5/after-effects/convert-a-shape-path-to-a-mask-path/m-p/8057605#M10342, /t5/after-effects/convert-a-shape-path-to-a-mask-path/m-p/8057606#M10343, /t5/after-effects/convert-a-shape-path-to-a-mask-path/m-p/8057612#M10349, /t5/after-effects/convert-a-shape-path-to-a-mask-path/m-p/8057607#M10344, /t5/after-effects/convert-a-shape-path-to-a-mask-path/m-p/8057608#M10345, /t5/after-effects/convert-a-shape-path-to-a-mask-path/m-p/8057609#M10346, /t5/after-effects/convert-a-shape-path-to-a-mask-path/m-p/10846870#M101347, /t5/after-effects/convert-a-shape-path-to-a-mask-path/m-p/8057610#M10347, /t5/after-effects/convert-a-shape-path-to-a-mask-path/m-p/8057611#M10348, /t5/after-effects/convert-a-shape-path-to-a-mask-path/m-p/10876718#M102393. What part am I missing? If they are not then the paths won't. Weirdly, when I just tried it, the offset was in a different direction/amount to when I was trying to do it in my actual project. Step 9 Because your text is a shape now, you can easily add a stroke to it on the inside or outside. I want to add motion to a logo and there is an object "circle" with no fill and stroke applied. (Note: After Effects CS6 has introduced a new menu function to convert Illustrator files directly to shape layers. I'll try using a mask directly inside my photo image layer next. ESL is a major times saver if you work with a lot of shapes in After Effects. if you want just the mask path for only these type of effects then you don't have to use "Create Shapes from Vector Layer" and instead just leave the layer as is and copy paste the path like I showed you before. The redefinery scripts have a ShapesToMask script that works like a charm. Ah yep got it - I think what is possibly confusing is that the origin for a new shape is in the centre of the composition, rather than the centre of the shape, which seems a bit weird.. You can find everything that is not at the default values by selecting the layer and pressing the U key twice. This is purely to illustrate the technique, you can use a mask on any type of layer you wish in your projects, as we will discuss later on. If I wanted to scale a shape either up or down -- but keep said shape's stroke width consistent throughout the scaling process -- google suggests it would be best to use the 'size' variable rather than 'scale' -- but this is only an option when using a parametric shape. 12 frame animation, should be so simple to set up. 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