Open Paraplex

Masks and blend modes

A mask shows a layer only where another layer covers it: a circle that grows into an iris wipe, a pill that keeps its text inside as it widens. A blend mode decides how a layer mixes with what's behind it: darker with Multiply, lighter with Screen, punchier with Overlay.

An iris wipe: a circle opening from the middle of a dark frame to reveal a picture

Where to find it: the Mask and Compositing sections, with a layer selected.

Mask a layer

  1. Put the layer to use as the mask in place: a circle, a rounded shape, text, any layer drawn in the frame.
  2. Select the layer you want to cut.
  3. In the Mask section, open Masked by and choose the mask layer.

The layer now shows only inside the mask's shape. The mask layer itself disappears, because it now only cuts.

The Mask section: Masked by set to Ellipse, with Invert and Show mask layer
SettingWhat it does
Masked byThe layer whose shape cuts this one. None takes the mask off.
InvertShows the layer outside the mask's shape instead of inside it.
Show mask layerDraws the mask layer as itself too, instead of only cutting with it.

A mask on a group cuts everything in the group. One shape can mask several layers.

Animate a mask

The cut follows the mask layer, so animate the mask to move the cut. Keyframe its position, size or scale. See Animation basics.

  • Iris wipe: mask the picture with a circle, then keyframe the circle's Scale from almost nothing to past the frame's corners.
  • Text in a growing pill: mask the text with the pill, then animate the pill's width. The text shows only as the pill opens.
  • A reveal from a line: mask with a thin rectangle and grow it.

Important

A mask works only while its mask layer is there: switched on and inside its clip. Hide the mask layer, move it out of its clip, or delete it, and the masked layer shows whole again.

Blend modes

  1. Select a layer.
  2. In the Compositing section, open Blend mode and pick one.
A gradient card in twelve blend modes over the same picture: Normal, Multiply, Screen, Overlay, Darken, Lighten, Color dodge, Soft light, Difference, Invert, Hue and Luminosity
ModeWhat it does
NormalThe layer covers what's behind it.
MultiplyDarkens: white disappears, dark colors deepen what's behind.
ScreenLightens: black disappears, light colors brighten what's behind. Good for light leaks and glows.
Overlay, Soft light, Hard lightAdds contrast: darks get darker and lights lighter. Soft light is the gentlest.
Darken and LightenKeeps whichever is darker, or lighter, of the layer and what's behind it.
Color dodge and Color burnStrong brightening or darkening, for hot highlights or deep shadows.
Difference and ExclusionSubtracts colors, for inverted, graphic looks. Exclusion is softer.
InvertInverts what's behind the layer, inside its shape.
Hue, Saturation, Color, LuminosityTakes only one part of the layer's color: its hue, its saturation, both, or its brightness.
Liquid glassTurns the layer into a glass lens over the frame. See Glass and Liquid glass.

A blend mode mixes the layer's finished color, after its lighting, glass and shadows. A group, a 3D model or a particle cloud blends as one image.