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.
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
Understanding the Draw Mask Tool
The Draw Mask Tool allows for specifying regions that should remain visible in a given video clip while rendering the rest as either transparent or due for further modification. It, therefore, can be used to draw complicated shapes that follow the contours of the objects in your video. This enables the user to apply the mask on parts at their discretion, as they can adjust the shape and size and how the masked area will merge with the rest of the video.
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
The Draw Mask Tool offers several advantages over basic masking techniques:
- Precision: Drawing a mask gives you more power to determine its shape and position.
- Flexibility: It helps you draw more complex and free-form shapes, following the shape of objects in your video clip.
- Customization: Options to change the mask's feathering, opacity, and other properties give you tremendous control over how the effects blend with your video.
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.
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?
- Import Your Video: import your video and drag your clip into the timeline of the video editing software of your choice.
- Select the Draw Mask Tool: Select the video, navigate to the right side toolbar, go to Video > Mask > choose Draw Mask.
- Draw Your Mask: draw the mask according to your needs.
- Adjust the Mask: tweak the feathering, the mask's density, and the softness of its edges to match the video. Alternatively, you can also invert masks.
- 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.
- Preview and Export: Before that, preview your video, and if everything seems fine, export your video with a new 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.
How to Change the Video Background with the Draw Mask Tool?
- Import your primary video clip and the background you want to use into the timeline.
- Select the video that you want to change the background, and draw out the area you want to be changed.
- Switch on the invert mask option.
- 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.
- Adjust the extent, blur strength, and opacity of the masks to make them merge naturally.
- 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.
