Blurred Edge Mask

Is there a way to create a blurred edge mask? I have tried
creating my mask layer, changing it into a movie clip and adding a
blur filter to it. When I create a mask out of this, the edge is
hard and not blurred. I have also tried creating a mask layer that
has a linear gradient from 100% to 0% opacity. The same thing
happens when I create a mask out of it.
Does anyone have a suggestion? Can this be achieved using
actionscript?
Thanks.

cheesewagon,
> Thanks for the response. I do not see where I can sign
up
> for a free preview in order to view the tutorial?
The freebie is for 10 days, and you can get to it by
clicking the Join
CMX link in the upper right of the site. In the new page,
click "Monthly
with 10 day Trial." Even if this particular tutorial doesn't
give you what
you need, you may be pleasantly surprised to find bunches of
other stuff,
including tutorials on other Adobe products and even
non-Adobe technologies.
> I am trying to have this mask wipe across the screen
> revealing anothr image. Will this explain how to do
this?
The technique in that article will certainly give you the
footing to
accomplish what you're after, but it isn't an article on mask
tweening.
I've used this technique to apply soft-masking to a video
clip that moved
around the stage, so I know that it a) gives masks a soft
border and b) can
be animated. :)
David Stiller
Adobe Community Expert
Dev blog,
http://www.quip.net/blog/
"Luck is the residue of good design."

Similar Messages

Soft Edged Mask tool or plugin?

Hi there,
if I got this right, there is still no way in CS5 Premiere Pro to do a simple soft edged mask like in AE. Is there tool or plugin known for Premiere Pro that could do this at least allows cropping an image and soften the new edges?
Thanks!

No masking tools like you're accustomed to in in After Effects (make a feature request like most of us have). Depending on the shape you need, you could use the Track Matte effect for this, though.
Diesign a shape in the Titler or Photoshop (either as white on black for a Luma matte or as a shape on a transparent background as an Alpha matte), drop it on a track above the clip you want to mask, and apply the Track Matte effect to the clip you want to mask. Set up its parameters to use the shape you created to mask parts of the clip. You can drop a blur effect on the matte clip to soften the edges of the mask, without affecting the video within the mask.
Pixelan SpiceMaster also offers some on-clip masking tools.

Field blur, tilt blur, iris blur in mask or channel ??!!!

it will be really great to have the abillity to use the new 3 blur filters on a mask or channel.
it would be agreat time saver!!!
thanks!

thanks mathias,
the thing is that i want to use the field blur on the mask, not using the mask.
anyway, thanks for the reply.
example: when i draw a shadow i use adjustment layer (curves) i draw the shadow in the mask, than i need to blur the mask progresivley going out from the origin/object.
i use the blur filter multiple times going out from the origin/object. with field blur that would be only one step.
thanks!

Blurring layer mask question

I have been trying to figure out for a long time what is going on here, and am stumped.
I have a dark and light layer from the same RAW image. The dark layer is on top.
I create a luminosity mask (Cmd-Opt-click RGB channel) from the light image.
I apply the selection as a layer mask to the top, dark layer.
The detail is bad, looking, maybe, posterized. The image does have lots of fine detail.
When I blur the layer mask, about 40, the image looks great.
****What does the blurring of the layer mask do, to bring out the detail of the image?**** I use layer masks often, and don't usually have to blur to see detail.
I tried to attach/insert a small crop with the 2 layers and mask for you to see, under 2 mb, but the content is not allowed. Hopefully my description will make it easy for you experts.
Thanks for any possble help,
Sonny

Hopefully this will work. Here is the link to the file, including the 2 layers, and layer mask, cropped.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1660216/maskBlur.psd
To summarize, why is it necessary to blur the layer mask ( ~40) in order to see detail?
The mask is a luminosity mask (Cmd-Opt-click RGB channel) created from the light layer, and then applied to the dark layer.
As I mentioned originally, I use layer masks often, and don't have to blur the mask, unless I want a special effect. It seems that whenever I blend this way, with a luminosity mask, the mask has to be blurred.
Correction from original post: each layer is a separate camera exposure, then processed in Lightroom.
Thanks,
Sonny

Blur filter + mask

I think a couple people asked about this problem but none of them seemed to get an answer so I am re-posting.
This is how blur filter and mask work in code
var blur:BlurFilter = new BlurFilter();
blur.blurX = 10;
blur.blurY = 10;
var mask:Bitmap = new Bitmap(...)
var shape:Shape = new Shape();
shape.graphics.beginFill(color, alpha);
shape.graphics.moveTo(100, 100);
shape.graphics.lineTo(...);
shape.graphics.endFill();
shape.filters = [blur]
shape.mask = mask;
bitmap.bitmapData.draw(shape);
But result is not what I want. Please see the below image:
Making another bitmap and copy pixels using the mask works but it makes whole applcation very slow.
How can I mask blur filter using a single draw?

The difference between the code I posted and what you have there is that you are applying the mask and the blur to the shape, whereas I applied the blur to the shape and the mask to a container the shape is inside. This is because for a given object the filters apply AFTER any masking, but you want the reverse. The only way to control the order that I know if is to create more layers.
In other words, change the last code you posted like this:
1. Create a container for the shape:
var container:Sprite = new Sprite();
2. Add the shape to the container:
container.addChild(shape);
3. Apply the blur to the shape, and the mask to the container:
shape.filters = [blur];
container.mask = block;
3. Draw the container to the bitmap:
bitmap.bitmapData.draw(container);
That should produce the image you want.
-Aaron

Soft edged mask

Hello, I'm sure this topic has come up before but does anyone
know of a way I can create a soft edged mask? I have tried one
tutorial which kinda worked but when I tested it, the whole movie
slowed right down as soon as the mask started to reveal the image,
then returned to normal speed when the mask stopped moving! The
tutorial showed me how to make a gradient mask using layer blending
options. Is there any other way? And why would doing it the way I
tried it cause my movie to slow down?
Thanks for your help.

slow processing is common when using motions with gradients,
and alpha transparencies, the processor has a lot of work to do in
order to recalculate each pixel on each redraw, doesn't mean don't
use them.
A good way to make a mask that has gradient or a soft (alpha
transitioned) edge, is to draw the mask object a break it apart
into a bitmap, then place it in an MC and turn on the
'cacheAsBitmap' property, when using a mask with transparency, both
objects (mask and maskee) must have this property assigned to true.
Now make the MC layer into a mask layer. go to the Object MC you
are masking and turn on the 'cacheAsBitmap' property. If you have
several Objects or layers that are being masked you will need to
place them within a single MC instance to use this method.

Blur Gallery masks, would love to be able to load them as the source for the effect.

How cool the Blur Gallery is, one of the best things Photoshop got in the last time. I see that when you use the Field Blur, you can save the mask to channels, which gives you a grayscale representation of how the effect was applied. It would be VERY cool if one could do the inverse process, have a grayscale painted mask and load it to adjust the strength of the effect instead of dropping pins. Which is not the same as mask the effect with a selection before apply it, that just mask the effect, it does not vary how much blur is applied to each pixel.
Thanks!!!!!!

Please post Feature Requests over at:
Photoshop Family Customer Community

Keeping 16.9 fram size with a little blur edge

Hi,
I am wondering about frame size and the right work flow.
I have a little blue blur at the bottom of the film (not all the time)
I see this as I watch on the monitor in 16.9 pal
Which is the correct way to remove this and keeping 16.9.
1: size it up a little
2; crop it and the size it up a little
3; crop it but then it’s not 16.9
that was it.
g5 Mac OS X (10.4.6) CPU speed 2Ghz Memory 3GB ATI 9600XT

Thanks for your reply but lets say if this was to be shown on the big screen then the bottom edge would be unevan. So this would be done only on the finished move in the nested seq. I guess.
trevor

Anyone have a refine edge/mask 'program error' failure?

Refine mask or edge constantly fails and reports a 'program error' dialog box after the OK button is pressed.
The file is small and my computer has the horsepower to handle it - Win7 64bit, I720, 12GB ram, and 100GB scratch disk space. Saphire ATI 4850 video 1GB ram. Tried disabling GUI acceleration no luck.
This has started after I did a reinstall of CS5 last week.
Searched Google and narry a mention of it.
And this was my most desired new feature in CS5. Everything else seems to be running fine with the exception of certain modified f keys (such a shift - f?) not working properly but this has been reported by others.
Larry

Chris,
My memory is a little fuzzy right now as to exactly what was causing the
problem. Anyway I don't encounter it much anymore.
If I remember correctly I had the mask attached to curves adjustment
layer and ran refine edges from there. Example I wanted to darken the
sky so I made a selection of the sky. The horizon had lots of trees
which needed the refine edge command to clean up. I ended up applying
the mask to the pixel based image and clipped the curves layer to it.
Same result as far as the adjustment goes but the refine edge command
worked with the mask attached to the pixel based image. So, if I
remember correctly, it was a non-pixel layer with the mask attached that
caused the problem. Maybe I was using Decontaminate colors which could
cause the problem on a non-pixel layer. Could be that it worked
sometimes because I did not use Decontaminate and failed when used.
Anyway, I avoid attaching mask to non-pixel layers if I am going to use
refine edge. Have not run into errors since, but then it could have been
fixed in 12.0.1 update. Or maybe the stars are aligned properly now. Who
knows?
Win 7 64 bit, 12GB ram, I720
Larry

Using Camera Lens Blur Filter / Mask

I have a question concerning the lens blur and I hoping someone can point me to a good tutorial.
I have several interview segments and I would like to do a small digital zoom at the end of each clip. The background is slightly out of focus already and it doesn't look natural to zoom when the bokeh is not changing.
I have a good handle on the filter but I am not that experienced with advanced mattes. I need to learn how to get the matte on the person and stay during the zoom so I can manipulate the background. The subjects are seated on a stool so their is very little movement.
Did some searches but I am probably not searching the right keywords. Can anyone point me in the right direction.
Thanks.

Masking? Rotsoscoping? I can think of a million ways to create separated layers or mattes and then duplicate the layer and invert the masks/ matte, but if you never have used that stuff before, you will hard-crash on concrete and not get very far, I'm afraid. It takes at least a bit of practice to produce a clean matte. As a palce to start you may get by suing the Rotobrush and see, if it produces clean enough edges, but if not, it's proably better to scrap the idea before eitehr ending up with a bad result or not meeting your deadline...
Mylenium

Using Toolkit for CreateJS (v1.1) produces jagged edged Masks

The toolkit is publishing everything from Flash very well, except for Masks. Masks do show up in the published file, but they produce very jagged edges on the result. The mask is just a shape layer. I've tried masking other basic shapes that are broken apart and also tried masking a grouped shape (object), a graphic, and a movie clip. But keep getting an object that has jagged edges where the masking occurs.
Does anybody have any ideas on why this is happening? I'm a flash animator (yes they still exist) not a developer, so the javascript file is 75% mystery sauce to me. In other words, I could be missing something very simple.
I know there are some restrictions on masks as written at the Adobe Developer Connection:
"It also supports mask layers with some restrictions. The mask layer cannot contain symbol instances, bitmaps or text; only vector shapes are supported. Shape tweens and keyframes are supported to allow animated masks."
I've attached the .js code pertaining to the mask creation, not sure if that will help.
Thanks for any help you can provide,
Jenny
// symbols:
(lib.square = function(mode,startPosition,loop) {
          this.initialize(mode,startPosition,loop,{},true);
          // masker (mask)
          var mask = new cjs.Shape();
          mask._off = true;
          mask.graphics.p("AHvhYIjhI4IpigmIiZpPIIDlKIHZGH").cp();
          mask.setTransform(90,93.9);
          // redSquare shape
          this.shape = new cjs.Shape();
          this.shape.graphics.f("#CC0000").s().p("ALhrgIAAXBI3BAAIAA3BIXBAA").cp();
          this.shape.setTransform(73.7,73.7);
          this.shape.mask = mask;
          this.timeline.addTween(cjs.Tween.get({}).to({state:[{t:this.shape}]}).wait(23));
}).prototype = p = new cjs.MovieClip();
p.nominalBounds = new cjs.Rectangle(0,0,147.5,147.5);

The toolkit is publishing everything from Flash very well, except for Masks. Masks do show up in the published file, but they produce very jagged edges on the result. The mask is just a shape layer. I've tried masking other basic shapes that are broken apart and also tried masking a grouped shape (object), a graphic, and a movie clip. But keep getting an object that has jagged edges where the masking occurs.
Does anybody have any ideas on why this is happening? I'm a flash animator (yes they still exist) not a developer, so the javascript file is 75% mystery sauce to me. In other words, I could be missing something very simple.
I know there are some restrictions on masks as written at the Adobe Developer Connection:
"It also supports mask layers with some restrictions. The mask layer cannot contain symbol instances, bitmaps or text; only vector shapes are supported. Shape tweens and keyframes are supported to allow animated masks."
I've attached the .js code pertaining to the mask creation, not sure if that will help.
Thanks for any help you can provide,
Jenny
// symbols:
(lib.square = function(mode,startPosition,loop) {
          this.initialize(mode,startPosition,loop,{},true);
          // masker (mask)
          var mask = new cjs.Shape();
          mask._off = true;
          mask.graphics.p("AHvhYIjhI4IpigmIiZpPIIDlKIHZGH").cp();
          mask.setTransform(90,93.9);
          // redSquare shape
          this.shape = new cjs.Shape();
          this.shape.graphics.f("#CC0000").s().p("ALhrgIAAXBI3BAAIAA3BIXBAA").cp();
          this.shape.setTransform(73.7,73.7);
          this.shape.mask = mask;
          this.timeline.addTween(cjs.Tween.get({}).to({state:[{t:this.shape}]}).wait(23));
}).prototype = p = new cjs.MovieClip();
p.nominalBounds = new cjs.Rectangle(0,0,147.5,147.5);

Refine edge/Masking

Please help, I have read many threads and tutorials regarding this and am still having issues. In outline, I have takena number of photos to use on a website/flyer, I used the magic wand and refine edge tool to extract the image but when I go to drag it from photoshop into indesign the cut out is good but it has a white background? I have tried saving it as a gif and png then drag it from mini bridge into indesign but still has white background......any help would be most appreciated.
Thanks
Richard

Dragging from photoshop probably won't work so well for transparency, but
you should be able to drag from mini bridge and maintain the transparency
and use you can also use File>Place in Indesign. To maintain image quality
you can use png or psd, but not gif.
Before you saved your png did you turn off the visibilty of the background layer?
Maybe if you posted a screenshot of your photoshop layers panel someone
could spot the problem.
MTSTUNER

Will AE CS6 have planar tracking / variable edge masks built in?

Hi, one of the two most asked things are a better tracker and variable point edge feathering. I think its dumb you have to leave AE and go to Mocha for this.
Will AE CS6 finally have these two features built in??
Thanks

na, i read in an article your gonna need mocha mood stabilizer cs
27 for AE for that.

How to apply a 'calculated' radius in Unsharp Mask en mass?

In about a week's time, when I've finished applying Curves to about 1200 B&W images, I'll be ready to apply an Unsharp Mask to each of them. Exactly how I'll do that I'm not certain yet, but I've been reading my Photoshop CS Bible (Deke McClelland) in preparation. On page 503 it states:
If you're looking for a simple formula, I recommend 0.1 of Radius for every 15 ppi of final image resolution... If you have a calculator, just divide the intended resolution by 150 to get the ideal Radius value.
For example, at 300 ppi use Radius = 2. Such a recommendation is just that: a recommendation (and not 'ideal' as he also states), but I've taken it as a good starting point; and while I've been adding Curves I have also been experimenting with Unsharp Mask and various Radii (but not yet saving the sharpened images).
McClelland's statement is not clear regarding what Radius should be used if you are NOT working on the image at final resolution. I think I know what the answer is, but I want to confirm.
Some background: I'll be printing on a Xerox iGen running a colour line screen at 175 lpi. The printer wants the images to be 300 ppi. The images at the moment range from an effective ppi of about 100 to 2000, depending on how much they have been scaled in InDesign. So I've got resolutions all over the place which at some point I will have to tidy up. Those images below about 250 ppi, I will be upsampling to 300. Those above about 450 ppi (this may change), will be downsampled to 300 when I convert to PDF.
I have some questions:
QUES 1
Say I have an image at 1200 ppi, that will be downsampled to 300 ppi. Should I do the sharpening on the 1200 ppi image, or on the downsampled 300 ppi image? i.e Will it make any difference to the final printed result if sharpening is done before or after downsampling?
QUES 2
I think the statement:
I recommend 0.1 of Radius for every 15 ppi of final image resolution
should read
I recommend 0.1 of Radius for every 15 ppi of image resolution
Surely the Radius (assuming you accept the figures McClelland gives) depends only on the resolution of the image you are working on. i.e if you have a 1500 ppi image, use a Radius of 10 (1500/150), NOT a Radius of 2 (300/150) -- the final image resolution that is sent to the printer. Is that a correct reading of McClelland's recommendation?
QUES 3
My experiments indicate that for the type of images I am using, McClelland's recommendation oversharpens, at least for my liking. I will probably use half the figure he suggests: Radius = 1 for 300 ppi.
Given that I have about 1200 images, if I was going to apply an Unsharp Mask manually this is what I would do:
1. Put all the layers in each image into a Group.
2. Calculate the Radius to be applied to each image from the formula: Radius = (IMAGE PPI) /300.
3. Apply an Unsharp Mask to the Group using the calculated Radius (plus Amount = 50, Threshhold = 0)
Of course I'm not going to do this manually -- well, I hope I'm not -- but what is the best way? Could an Action handle all of this? A Script? A combination of both? Something else entirely? Not possible in PS?
In summary: I want to automatically apply a variable Radius that depends on the image's resolution. Possible?

The PDF says, for one of the steps:
Command-click the duplicate channel to make the edge mask a selection.
When I do that, a selection outline appears, but I can't work out, or find out, what conditions are applied to make the selection. Any ideas? I may have to start a separate thread for this question. I don't like to blindly follow recipes. I like to know what's going on.
Guy,
I'm not sure I understand your question. With command click, the channel is the selection. White = fully selected, black = not selected. It's all the steps made to create the channel that affect the selection. To me the selection edges are visually interfering with a soft mask, I usually hide the edges.
In post 9 steps 2-6 all contribute to the final section. Find edges identifies the edges. Median has a smoothing effect. Maximum expands the selection a little, then the gaussian blur softens it.
This process (post 9) works for me when I sharpen images, but you may not like it. Sometimes no mask at all is a viable option - some folks like a grainy/noisy appearance in non-edge areas. Some people may even purposefully add noise to create that kind of look.
With USM the radius thickens the light and dark areas of edges, and amount intensifies (lightening the light, darkening the dark). Threshold is just what it's name implies, it sets a parameter for Ps to apply the sharpening or not (but it can result in a pockmarked look in smooth areas, so I like 0)
I always look at images at actual pixels in Ps when sharpening. With sharpening there is room for opinion. Some people like thicker edges (higher radius). Some people go easy on the amount, some people are more aggressive.
It's the scaling in ID that makes things difficult, because actual pixels won't give you a true print appearance. To correct this the image either needs to be scaled to size in PS, and placed at 100% in ID - OR left as is in ID, and the resolution changed in PS (300 x % i.e. 300 x 25% = 75 PPI)
I like to start with radius 1 and 100 amount but these values are always subject to change. I wish it was an exact science but it's not. I like sharp images, but I don't want icicles in eyebrows either. I believe you said 175 LPI screening, so if it was me I would err on the sharp side...
Something else I just thought of - the print size is something to think about, too. Consider the two extremes (which may or may not apply to your project) - thumbnails, and posters. If it's a thumbnail, by the time you've got the scaling right in Ps, there really isn't much pixel information left! In his instance a lot of sharpening probably wouldn't hurt, it would create contrast (which is important in very small images). The other end of the spectrum - posters. Actual pixels may be a little misleading in this case, because when the average person looks at a poster, they don't get right up on it at a normal reading distance, they view it from several feet away. For this reason sometimes poster images are only half-resolution, to keep the file size manageable, and give a more realistic view perspective.
Hope this helps. I am not a forum expert. The others may have better advice, or may see errors in my information.

Help blurring an area

This is my first time using After Effects, (this version is CC), and I've been studying the tutorials, but even though I follow the workflow precisely, I get stuck.
So, I have an interview who is right against the mirror, and the mirror has a very visable smudge on it. I'm trying to blur the smudge to decrease the effect. Though the smudge doesn't move, the subject sometimes moves into the area.
I've created my comp, added the adjustment layer, and then applied a blur effect to the adjustment layer. According to the tutorial, the whole image on the layer should blur. Mine does not. Here's a screen shot with the blur cranked up and no effect on the layer image.
The other workflow I attempted was this: I created the layer, and then created the mask first. The rest of the image disappeared on the layer, which I expected, but it also disappeared on the comp. In this case I succeeded in blurring the mask, feathering, etc., but I could not blend it with the whole image.
I'm sure I'm just making newbie mistakes, but I'm not having luck working them out from the tutorials, and any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Doug

First, you are looking at the layer preview not the composition so you cannot see any effects applied to your project, you can only see the footage layer.
Second, if you want to only blur the reflection and the subject or the camera moves at all you are going to have to do some rotoscoping to separate the foreground and background elements. Rotobrush, AE's automatic roto tool, probably will not work very well with this shot because of the mirror, but there may be enough of an edge to get started. Any kind of roto will require some time.
If you do not know what rotoscoping is then look for some tutorials. This explanation of the process buy Scott Squires is the best that I have ever seen, even though he does not use AE. The workflow for roto by hand is exactly the same. Be sure and dig through both parts.
Here's a very quick demo of the process I did to show you how I roto by hand in AE:

Blurred Edge Mask

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