Answers.Body: <p>You can use a Track Matte. If your vertical lines aren't already precomposed, precompose them. Duplicate the Precomposition in your main composition. Place the shadow layer between the two precomps. Set the shadow layer's TrkMat setting to Alpha. (If you can't see the Track Matte [TrkMat] dropdown press the Toggle Switches/Modes button at the bottom of your screen).</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-10-15T09:11:51.010Z
Answers.Text: Thank you, it worked and definitely helps to sell the illusion of 3d.
Answers.UserDisplayName: WB Creative
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-10-14T00:26:54.440Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-10-14T00:26:54.440Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Gregory Gesch
Body: <p>How do make a layer visible only when overlapping other layers in After Effects.</p>
  
  <p>Below are the layers:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Vj7VL.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Vj7VL.png" alt="What I&#39;m getting"></a></p>
  
  <p>I want the shadow from the bow to only be visible when over the verticle lines.</p>
  
  <p>Below are the layers in the pre-comp:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/udISX.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/udISX.png" alt="The layers in question."></a></p>
  
  <p>Above is the semi-transparent stroke as the shadow if the bow and a repeated verticle stoke. I want that shadow layer to only be visible over the verticle lines. How can I achieve this?</p>
  
Tags: <after-effects><visual-effects><compositing>
Title: How do make a layer visible only when overlapping other layers in After Effects
UserDisplayName: WB Creative
ThreadText: # How do make a layer visible only when overlapping other layers in After Effects
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2019-10-11)
  
  How do make a layer visible only when overlapping other layers in After Effects.
  
  Below are the layers:
  
  [![What I'm getting](https://i.sstatic.net/Vj7VL.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/Vj7VL.png)
  
  I want the shadow from the bow to only be visible when over the verticle lines.
  
  Below are the layers in the pre-comp:
  
  [![The layers in question.](https://i.sstatic.net/udISX.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/udISX.png)
  
  Above is the semi-transparent stroke as the shadow if the bow and a repeated verticle stoke. I want that shadow layer to only be visible over the verticle lines. How can I achieve this?
  
  **Tags:** after-effects, visual-effects, compositing
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2019-10-14. Score: 2 | Accepted answer
  
  You can use a Track Matte. If your vertical lines aren't already precomposed, precompose them. Duplicate the Precomposition in your main composition. Place the shadow layer between the two precomps. Set the shadow layer's TrkMat setting to Alpha. (If you can't see the Track Matte [TrkMat] dropdown press the Toggle Switches/Modes button at the bottom of your screen).
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Thank you, it worked and definitely helps to sell the illusion of 3d.  
  
  ---
  
  