Edit the appearance of a mask

Last updated on Dec 14, 2023

To resize a mask, place your cursor just outside a vertex and press Shift. When the cursor becomes a double-sided arrow , drag it to your desired size.

To rotate the mask, place your cursor just outside a vertex. When your cursor becomes a curved double-sided arrow ,drag it to the desired angle.

To change the shape of the mask, move, add, or remove vertex points.
- Move: Drag a vertex using the Selection tool.
- Add: Place your cursor over a mask edge while pressing Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (macOS). When the cursor changes to a pen shape with a plus sign , select the spot you want to add the vertex.
- Remove: Place your cursor over the point you want to remove while pressing Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (macOS). When the cursor changes to a pen shape with a minus sign, . select the point.

_{An example of how to use the cursor to select the spots you want to add the vertex and mask an object in a clip.}

To move a mask

You can move a mask in increments of one unit or five units:

Move the mask by one unit: Select a control point, and then use the arrow keys on your keyboard to nudge the point.
Move the mask by five units: Select a control point, and then press Shift while using the arrow keys to nudge the point.

To delete a mask, select the mask in the Effect Controls panel and press Delete on your keyboard.

The appearance of the mask changes according to your edits.

Create masks using the Pen tool

Adjust mask properties