Soft Masks -

[thorn]

For Lyric 7.0 & HyperX3:

Do "Mask Layer #" assignments relate in any way to using Soft Masks?

I have 3 soft masks, and when overlaid: Mask 1 will obscure an object that isn't even assigned a mask number.

Any particular direction I should go?

Thanks,

thorn

[KrisCG]

Nope. The soft masks modify all layers below them. Sort of like an alpha stencil in After Effects.

Kris

[Chyron Spock]

You can enable layer masking in conjunction with soft masking if you right-click on GLOBAL LIGHT, choose PROPERTIES and changing the RENDERING MODE to FAST/FIXKEY.

This 'sort of' works. It isn't perfect, because these two features don't actually work together. ALSO, if you have any 3D in the scene, it will most likely render badly.

[thorn]

Kris - Thanks, what I'm seeing is exactly as you have described it.

JMD - Is there a plan to improve this in the future?

It's very unexpected that I'm unable to create an irregularly-shaped mask without having to give up something else in a scene... I'm having to use a method of 1980's "barely visible linear key" to get the graphics package to work; better implementation of a true "use layer as alpha mask" would be a far more effective.

Thanks,

thorn

[Chyron Spock]

I agree totally, however, I wish I could say what the plans are. When it all boils down, I train operators/designers, and I support art depts. I am rarely privvy to plans. I have been lobbying for a total redux of how we do masking... normally, I have to find a Delorean and a flux capacitor to make masks work ;) When they tell me my lobbying has paid off, believe me, you'll know.

[Chyron Spock]

Here is a good work-around to soft mask/layer mask.