Answers.Body: <p>In these cases, I generally precompose the layer and apply the mask to the precomp (the layer is animating inside the precomp)</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-12-15T00:13:38.670Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-12-15T00:13:38.670Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Julien Altieri
Answers.Body: <p>I found this post helpful: <a href="http://forums.adobe.com/thread/704283" rel="nofollow">Preventing a Mask From Animating</a> </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <ol>
    <li>Create a comp size solid above your text layer.  </li>
    <li>Apply the mask to the solid.  </li>
    <li>Set the <strong>Track Matte</strong> setting of your text layer to <code>Alpha Matte</code>.</li>
    <li>The text layer will now adopt the alpha channel of the masked solid.</li>
    </ol>
    
    <p>You can freely animate the text and mask independently.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>I did not know the name of what I was trying to do. I needed to convert the mask layer into a <code>Track Matte</code>. </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-12-13T18:21:40.653Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-12-13T18:21:40.653Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: ckpepper02
Body: <p><strong>After effects</strong> noob here. I'm working on an animation where a ball falls through a hole. I created a <code>Shape layer</code> to use as the mask, but I can't get it to mask the ball layer.</p>
  
  <p>I've also tried adding a mask directly to the ball layer, but it moves with the rest of the animation. Is there a way to turn the mask on and off without affecting the rest of the animation?</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/J717t.gif" alt="Ball not being masked"> </p>
  
Tags: <after-effects>
Title: How to mask an animated layer in After Effects?
UserDisplayName: ckpepper02
ThreadText: # How to mask an animated layer in After Effects?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-13)
  
  **After effects** noob here. I'm working on an animation where a ball falls through a hole. I created a `Shape layer` to use as the mask, but I can't get it to mask the ball layer.
  
  I've also tried adding a mask directly to the ball layer, but it moves with the rest of the animation. Is there a way to turn the mask on and off without affecting the rest of the animation?
  
  ![Ball not being masked](https://i.sstatic.net/J717t.gif)
  
  **Tags:** after-effects
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_0 on 2013-12-13. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
  
  I found this post helpful: [Preventing a Mask From Animating](http://forums.adobe.com/thread/704283)
  
  > 1. Create a comp size solid above your text layer.
  > 2. Apply the mask to the solid.
  > 3. Set the **Track Matte** setting of your text layer to `Alpha Matte`.
  > 4. The text layer will now adopt the alpha channel of the masked solid.
  >
  > You can freely animate the text and mask independently.
  
  I did not know the name of what I was trying to do. I needed to convert the mask layer into a `Track Matte`.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2013-12-15. Score: 1
  
  In these cases, I generally precompose the layer and apply the mask to the precomp (the layer is animating inside the precomp)
  
  
  ---
  
  