Datasheet

Adobe Aer Eects CS6 What’s New

Variable Mask Feathering

With Variable Mask Feathering, you can work precisely and create the exact shape you want with

the proper degree of softness at the edges, yielding more realistic composites as well as opening

creative possibilities.

After Effects has long had the ability to add a “feathered” soft edge to masked shapes, but in previous

versions the width of the feather was the same around the entire mask. After Effects CS6 contains

a new Mask Feather tool that lets you define a virtually infinite number of points along a closed

mask, and define the width of the feather at each of these points. This means some sections such as

hard metallic edges can remain sharp, while other sections that are out of focus or otherwise

blurred may have a softer outline. These points are not tied to the underlying mask vertices, which

makes After Effects more flexible than other systems that allow the feather to be defined only on a

per-vertex basis. Two different feather falloff options—Smooth and Linear—are also available.

Variable Mask Feathering makes it possible to create more nuanced transparency with fewer masks.

Tight integration with Adobe Illustrator CS6

Adobe Illustrator software has long been a favorite for creating complex text layouts, logos, and

other graphical elements. After Effects CS6 has a Create Shapes From Vector Layer command to

convert any Illustrator vector-based artwork—including AI and EPS files—into After Effects shape

layers. As a result, you can make changes as simple as tweaking the fill and stroke color or as

complex as editing the shape’s individual vertices without leaving After Effects. You can also apply

shape operators inside After Effects, including the self-animating Wiggle Paths and Wiggle

Transform operators.

And remember, shape layers may

also be extruded and ray traced in

After Effects CS6, making it fast

and easy to create high-quality

animated, dimensional logos from

previously flat artwork.

Choosing Create Shapes From Vector Layer

creates an editable and animatable shape

layer based on your vector artwork, while

leaving your original vector layer intact.