Click on the “M” Icon at the top right hand side of the Objects and Animation Screen
Right Click in the Object Panel or Main Screen in Objects and Animation and choose to “Add a Mask”
You are offered three alternatives
Add a Mask Template
Choose from Circle or Rectangle
Click OK to add the Mask to the Object Panel
A Rectangle Mask is added to the Mask Stencil
Right Click on Mask Content and Add / Image
You can then add Animation to the Image within the Mask
You can Zoom, Pan etc the Mask Container and/or the Mask Stencil
Add a Blank Mask
You can add a Blank Mask to add your own Image as a Mask
Add an Image/Video Mask
Add an Image as Mask Content
A Video could also be added as either the Mask Stencil or Mask Content
Text as a Mask
Add Text as a Mask Stencil
Add an Image to the Mask Content
Complex Masks
Masks in Version 9 also have another property which enables complex masks to be generated from a mixture of black and white objects: the ability to switch the “Alpha Channel” on and off.
Here is an example using two black rectangles with a white centre rectangle. Remember “white reveals” and “black conceals”..
These two rectangles can be used to generate a composite mask
The two rectangles are now used as mask stencils in a user-defined Blank Mask
Rectangle 2 is above Rectangle 1
For Rectangle 2, if “Convert to Alpha Image” is ON, then the black area where Rectangle 2 overlaps Rectangle 1 becomes transparent
Convert to Alpha image is ON For Rectangle 2
In the next example, “Convert to Alpha Image” is OFF for Rectangle 2 and the black area blocks out the area where it overlaps Rectangle 1
More complex masks are possible using this technique and an example is shown below