After Effects: Obscuring one layer behind another

I expand upon the previous tutorial by obscuring the title behind the train. Someone recently asked how to do this at the creativecow.net After Effects Basics forum. Apparently they do it all the time in Heroes...

Category:

Education

Tags:

• adobe
• after
• effects
• tutorial
• obscure
• obscuring
• title
• hide
• hiding
• text
• how
• layer
• mask

[redgillfilms]

In following this tutorial to the letter the Alpha Inverted Matte option is only available for "Tracker" not "Black Solid 2" so the mask on Black Solid 2 remains black not transparent. Any ideas?

[simonsaysfx]

@redgillfilms You need to make sure the layer is in the correct position in the stack order. You can't make a top layer a matte. I can't think of anything else that would disable the options.

[garrypig]

you can tell he used a DSLR for this. Correct?

[simonsaysfx]

@garrypig Nope. It was a Sony Handycam.

[tozer41]

i got to 4:41 but then my mask is just black how do i make it the video?

[simonsaysfx]

@tozer41 If you place the mask layer ABOVE the text in the timeline, THEN set the track matte of the text to alp. inv., the mask layer will be automatically switched to invisible. If you do this in the wrong order, the mask will remain visible. You can fix this by shutting off the eyeball switch for the mask layer (google eyeball switch to find it if you're stuck).

[gbrucewilson]

jk. i figured it out

[gbrucewilson]

I just got CS adobe after affects 5.5 for Mac and I can't get the track matte box to appear. my solid black is in the right order in the layers, but still is black cause i can't get the damn track matte thing to appear

[moviebuddy14]

could you put up a download for the footage, its a really good shot

[shakya6]

Thanky You For The Tutorial. It Was A Gr8 Help

[SkateArLEXFilms]

@redgillfilms i had the same problem, instead of changing the track matte of the solid, change the track matte of the title

[KrocketAnimations]

@garrypig Don't think so no.