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How to Master Draw Mask to Create Complex Effect?

Sumia Rafique
Sumia Rafique Originally published Sep 20, 24, updated Aug 20, 26

Editing videos has remained crucial for everyone creating content, from marketers to content creators or filmmakers. There are many video editing features, and drawing masks is one of the most compelling techniques. Here is an example created by a collaborating influencer of Filmora using the Masking feature.

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Curious about how it works to create complex effects? We will guide you step by step to use video masks to create stunning effects during video editing. Let's dive in.

In this article
    1. Common Uses of Draw Mask Effect in Video Editing
    2. Advantages of Using Draw Mask Tools
    1. How to Change the Shape Visibility with the Draw Mask Effect?
    1. How to Change the Video Background with the Draw Mask Tool?

Understanding the Draw Mask Tool

The Draw Mask Tool lets editors create custom closed paths for areas that should remain visible, hidden, or modified in a video clip. In the latest Filmora, hand-drawn masks are part of a broader Mask workflow that also includes preset shapes, AI Mask, Text Mask, custom masks, imported masks, and multiple Mask Layers.

For more complex edits, add several Mask Layers and combine them with Add, Subtract, or Intersect. This lets you draw one area, cut away another, or keep only overlapping regions. You can also use Mask Stroke to outline the mask edge and make the effect more expressive.

Common Uses of Draw Mask Effect in Video Editing

  • Creating Custom Shapes: The Draw Mask Tool is handy when extracting a particular shape from objects in the movie. For instance, to delete the subject's background, trace around it, thus separating it from the background.
  • Hiding or Revealing Elements: The Draw Mask Tool helps you immerse or turn off some video segments. This helps establish transitions, images in images, or wipes, whereby sections of a video appear or disappear at different times.
  • Special Effects: It is also helpful in creating special effects on your video, such as copies, mirrored images, or borders.

Advantages of Using Draw Mask Tools

Filmora's updated Draw Mask workflow offers several advantages over basic single-mask techniques:

  • Precision: Draw custom paths for objects that do not fit preset shapes.
  • Layered control: Combine Draw Mask with preset shapes, AI Mask, Text Mask, or imported masks in the Mask Layers list.
  • Boolean refinement: Use Add, Subtract, and Intersect to build more accurate mask combinations.
  • Customization: Adjust Position, Scale, Rotate, Invert Mask, feathering, opacity, and Mask Stroke in Mask Settings.

There are not many video editors that provide drawing mask capabilities in the market, only the professional and renowned software has. As a powerful video editing software, Wondershare Filmora is one of those. Unlike others that offer the draw mask feature, Filmora is more user-friendly and requires less expertise on it. Let's see how to utilize it step by step.

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Change the Shape Visibility with the Draw Mask Tool

Another place where people often use the Draw Mask Effect is to change the orientation of the shape of a clip. It can be used when you intend to draw the viewer's attention to a specific segment of the video, transition into a shape associated with the logos of the sponsors, or remove a person or thing mistakenly captured on camera.

How to Change the Shape Visibility with the Draw Mask Effect?

  1. Import Your Video: import your video and drag your clip into the timeline of the video editing software of your choice.
    draw mask effect in filmora
  2. Select the Draw Mask Tool: Select the video, navigate to the right side toolbar, open the Mask tab and choose the pen or Draw Mask option.
    masks available in filmora
  3. Draw Your Mask: draw the mask according to your needs.
    draw mask in filmora
  4. Adjust the Mask: adjust Position, Scale, Rotate, Invert Mask, feathering, opacity, and Mask Stroke to match the video.
    adjust parameters after drawing masks
  5. Animate the Mask (Optional): If the shape should evolve with time, apply keyframes to the mask. This is very useful when setting up motion areas or establishing features such as active contours.
  6. Preview and Export: Before that, preview your video, and if everything seems fine, export your video with a new mask effect.
    export videos after applying the draw mask effect

With this technique, it is easy to achieve this, targeting specific parts of your video or just wanting to add something special to your project.

Change the Video Background With the Draw Mask Tool

Drawing masks is also widely used to change the background of your video. This is particularly useful when replacing a dull or distracting background with something more visually appealing.

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How to Change the Video Background with the Draw Mask Tool?

  1. Import your primary video clip and the background you want to use into the timeline.
  2. Select the video that you want to change the background, and draw out the area you want to be changed.
    draw a mask in filmora
  3. Switch on the invert mask option.
    invert the mask
  4. Place the new background on a track below the central video clip in the timeline. This ensures that it is visible behind the masked subject.
    add video background in the lower track
  5. Adjust the extent, blur strength, and opacity of the masks to make them merge naturally.
    setting after applying draw mask effect
  6. Once everything looks good, preview your video to check for imperfections. If satisfied, export your video with the new background.

Changing the background with the Draw Mask Tool can enhance your video's visual appeal, create a specific mood, or simply remove an unwanted background.

Make Color Adjustments with the Draw Mask Tool

The draw mask effect isn't just for shaping and background changes; it's also an excellent tool for making precise color adjustments to specific areas of your video. This can be particularly useful for color grading, highlighting certain elements, or creating color isolation effects.

Conclusion

Drawing masks plays a significant role in changing the background, correcting colors, and everything that requires some specific shape. If you master this tool, you can upgrade the looks and overall professionalism of your videos. If you have read and understood the guidelines in this article, let's download Wondershare Filmora now to achieve cool and dynamic effects in your videos.

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Sumia Rafique
Sumia Rafique Aug 20, 26
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