As we mentioned earlier, we're creating a video training series based on our popular beginner's book After Effects Apprentice, which progresses from “I haven't used it before” through core skills including keyframing, masking, text animation, and 3D space to advanced techniques such as motion tracking, green screen, and expressions. Each course has a selection of movies that are free for all to view; we're re-posting those videos here on PVC to make sure you don't miss them. This one demonstrates a common problem encoutered when trying to combine Track Mattes with effects, and provides a few different ways to get the desired result.

The fifth Apprentice course focuses on ways to create transparency for layers, either to draw attention to a specific area of the frame or to reveal layers underneath. The primary focus of the course is masking – including different ways to create, combine, and animate masks – plus the lesser-known Track Matte feature.

Ever use a logo or text as a Track Matte for a fill layer – then couldn't figure out how to add a drop shadow to the combination? Then the movie above is for you. We start by reviewing how Track Mattes work, then dive into the difference between applying effects to the matte versus the “fill” layer, including demonstrating the most common points of confusion. We then explore a few ways to re-work the order in which the steps are calculated, using nested compositions and Adjustment Layers.

This is an example of one of the “sidebars” we often add to the After Effects Apprentice video courses that dives into subjects in more detail than a normal linear course might allow. This course also includes a nice selection of “Quizzler” challenges and Idea Corner extensions.

The content contained in After Effects Apprentice – as well as the CMG Blogs and CMG Keyframes posts on ProVideoCoalition – are copyright Crish Design, except where otherwise attributed.