Answers.Body: <p>Masks happen before effects so some act strange. Two main options:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Apply the mask to a solid above your beam and then use Track Matte</li>
  <li>Pre-comp your Beam and mask that instead</li>
  </ol>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-12-02T16:52:30.260Z
Answers.Text: Thank you. I'm not sure what you mean by the second option, but I can use the first one.
Answers.UserDisplayName: John McDonald
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-12-02T09:45:24.903Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-12-02T09:45:24.903Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ryan
Body: <p>In After Effects, I want to use a mask to prevent an area from beein affected by a layer. I created a mask using the pen tool, but instead of masking the shape, the program masks the bounds of the shape. It "draws" a rectangle arround the path and masks everything except the rectangle.<br>
  I am a beginner. What am I doing wrong?<br>
  Thanks!  </p>
  
  <p>Edit:<br>
  The mask works for simple layers, but my layer has an beam effect on it.</p>
  
Tags: <after-effects><mask>
Title: Mask not working
UserDisplayName: John McDonald
ThreadText: # Mask not working
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2015-12-01)
  
  In After Effects, I want to use a mask to prevent an area from beein affected by a layer. I created a mask using the pen tool, but instead of masking the shape, the program masks the bounds of the shape. It "draws" a rectangle arround the path and masks everything except the rectangle.  
  I am a beginner. What am I doing wrong?  
  Thanks!
  
  Edit:  
  The mask works for simple layers, but my layer has an beam effect on it.
  
  **Tags:** after-effects, mask
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2015-12-02. Score: 0 | Accepted answer
  
  Masks happen before effects so some act strange. Two main options:
  
  1. Apply the mask to a solid above your beam and then use Track Matte
  2. Pre-comp your Beam and mask that instead
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Thank you. I'm not sure what you mean by the second option, but I can use the first one.  
  
  ---
  
  