Importing Adobe Illustrator paths as masks

You can use an Adobe Illustrator path as a mask in an After Effects layer composition by copying the path in Adobe Illustrator and pasting it directly into the Layer or Composition window in After Effects. After Effects creates a mask for each closed path copied from Adobe Illustrator. (See "Working with masks" on page 213.)

Note: You can also use a copied Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop path as an After Effects motion path. (See "Creating motion paths with masks" on page 160.)


Shape drawn in Adobe Illustrator (left) and pasted into After Effects as a mask (right)

To import an Adobe Illustrator path as a mask:

1. In Adobe Illustrator, create your path, select all of the points along the path, and then choose Edit > Copy.
2. In After Effects, open the Layer window for the layer into which you want to import the path.
3. Choose Edit > Paste.

Important: You must select the AICB option in the Files & Clipboard section of the Adobe Illustrator Preferences dialog box for this method to work.