8 Best Video Masking Software & Free Tools for Editors

Masking video editing is a powerful technique to hide, blur, or highlight specific elements within a video. This process is commonly used to remove unwanted objects, protect privacy by blurring faces, or create artistic effects. You can achieve professional results with a powerful video masking app or desktop software using various methods like rotoscoping, chroma-keying, and advanced motion tracking. This comprehensive guide will help you find the perfect video masking tool to elevate your creations.

Part 1. What is Masking?

Masks are a feature of editing software that allows you to choose a particular portion of the video or utilize video overlays to hide, duplicate, reveal, or change your footage. The mask is the portion of the video you've chosen to pick, either with a template or a custom frame. The mask then becomes isolated, and you may modify it as desired to produce your intended effect.

Masks may be used to do some fantastic things with your videos. You can clone people or objects, overlay several pictures, create glitch effects, blur faces out, etc. Masks add a lot of excitement and color to videos, making them more dynamic, enjoyable to watch, and professional. It can draw attention - and keep it!

Different types of masking

There are three primary types of masking: rotoscoping, chroma-keying, and motion tracking.

• Rotoscoping: Rotoscoping is the process of manually tracing an object in a video frame by frame to create a mask. This can be a time-consuming process, but it allows for very precise control over the masked area.
• Chroma-keying: Chroma-keying is a type of masking that makes use of color to isolate a particular area of the frame. For example, this is often used to remove a green or blue screen from the footage, but can also be used to isolate other colors.
• Motion tracking: Motion tracking is a masking technique that allows you to track the movement of an object in a video clip. This is often used to add special effects, such as explosions, to a video.

Part 2. Full Comparison Chart of the Useful Masking Tools

Part 3. Top 8 Video Editor with Useful Masking

1. Wondershare Filmora: The Premier Choice for Video Masking

Wondershare Filmora is a powerful and intuitive mask video editing software that offers a full range of features for creators of all skill levels. It's a top-tier video masking app for both desktop and mobile, providing a seamless editing experience across platforms. It stands out by simplifying complex tasks like video object masking while offering professional-grade tools for advanced users.

Filmora's Versatile Masking Solutions:

Filmora provides both intelligent automation and precise manual control for your video masking needs:

Solution 1: Standard & AI Masking for Everyday Projects

For common video masking applications, Filmora offers intuitive tools including a variety of shapes and advanced AI Masking. This allows for quick and effective isolation of subjects, perfect for blurring faces, highlighting objects, or creating artistic overlays. Filmora is truly a versatile free video masking tool for many scenarios.

Step 1 Launch Filmora, create a New Project, import your video, and drag it to the timeline.

Step 2 Double-click the clip in your timeline to open the settings panel. Navigate to Video > Mask and choose your masking method:

• Shape Mask: Pick a preset shape and adjust its position, scale, rotation, and feathering directly in the preview or settings.
• AI Mask: For complex objects, switch to the "AI Mask" tab. Use the Smart Brush to highlight your subject — Filmora will automatically create a clean outline for you.

Step 3 If your object moves, add keyframes to animate the mask. Position the mask at the starting point and click Add to create a keyframe. Move the playhead forward, adjust the mask's position — Filmora will add new keyframes automatically to create smooth motion.

Solution 2: Advanced Masking for Dynamic Objects with Boris FX Mocha

When dealing with complex, moving objects that require precise tracking and rotoscoping, Filmora's integration with the industry-leading Boris FX Mocha engine is invaluable. This powerful plugin enables professional planar tracking, ensuring seamless and accurate masks even with challenging footage. This makes Filmora a top-tier masking software for advanced users.

Step 1 Go to Effects > Boris FX and drag the Mocha Filmora effect onto your clip. In the Effects panel, click Launch Mocha UI to open the advanced Mocha interface.

Step 2 In Mocha, select Create X-Spline Layer to draw a rough mask around your moving object. Then, in the Track module, click Track Forward. Mocha will analyze the motion and keep your mask aligned with the object.

Step 3 When tracking is complete, save and close the Mocha UI. The tracked mask now works as a precise moving matte on your clip in Filmora, so you can apply effects or make targeted edits.

2. Final Cut Pro X

Final Cut Pro X is a proficient video editing software with powerful masking tools. It allows you to create custom masks or isolate objects in your footage.

How to Create a Mask in Final Cut Pro X

With little effort, the Shape Mask tool allows you to make a mask in any shape on the continuum, ranging from an ellipse to a rectangle.

The Shape Mask is a simple mask that may be changed to editable control points in order to create complex bespoke masks (converting it into a Draw Mask).

3. Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is a professional video editing software with a wide range of features and precise masking controls. It allows you to create custom masks or use the built-in rotoscope tool to isolate objects in your footage quickly.

How to Create a Mask in Premiere Pro

Do you understand how to construct a mask in Adobe Premiere? Shape tools and pen tools may be used to make the Adobe premiere mask.

By Using Shape Tools

1. Select the shape tool you'd like to utilize from the Tools panel.
2. Then, create a mask by drawing a shape on the video clip in the Timeline.

By Using Pen Tools

1. Click the pen tool icon in the Tools panel.
2. Click and drag to draw a path around the object you wish to isolate.
3. After drawing your path, click the "Mask" button in the Tools panel.

4. Avid Media Composer

Avid Media Composer has a comprehensive masking feature for video editors of different levels. You can either use the built-in masking tools or make your own one.

Masking in Avid Media Composer

In the Masking Effect window, you can choose to either create a new mask or use an existing one.

1. Select the "Create Mask" option and then click on the "Draw Mask" button to create a new mask.
2. This will open up the Draw Mask window, where you can draw your mask using the various tools provided. To apply the mask, simply click the "Apply" button.

If you want to use an existing mask, select the "Use Mask" option and then choose the mask you want to use from the drop-down menu.

5. Sony Vegas Pro

Sony Vegas Pro is a professional video editing software with robust masking tools. The interface of the editor may looks complicated for beginners, yet once you get familiar with it, you will be amazed by what you can achieve with the Vegas Pro.

Masking in Sony Vegas Pro

1. Drag the clip from the Explorer or Project Media windows and drop it on the timeline. Then, look for another video that is quite distinct from the first.
2. Drag it to the timeline below the first video event. A new track will be created. Place the original event directly beneath the video occurrence.

The Video Preview window does not display the second video because it is covered by the first video, which resembles one photo sitting on top of another in a stack. So to view the lower clip, we'll need to add a mask.

6. Magix Movie Edit Pro

Magix Movie Edit Pro is another video editor that is great for adding masks to your video. It is famous for its ease-of-learn and stable rendering. When it comes to masking, it is also quite powerful.

Masking in Magix Movie Edit Pro

They let you apply special effects to only certain parts of a video. You may dramatically improve the aspect of your movies with this Magix Movie Edit Pro Plus feature.

When you apply color effects to the software's template, it appears that you can only use color effects.

To add additional effects to specific portions of the shot, simply import an image and apply the Alpha Mask property from the Chroma Key menu. Then you must duplicate the video section and place it on a lower track, while keeping the alpha mask picture in between the two videos (click the graphic above for a visual guide).

7. Studio

Studio is a pro-level video editing software. It is preloaded with pro-caliber tool and premium effects to help you create the videos you want. We will show you how to apply masking in Studio in the following paragraphs.

Masking in Studio

Select the clip you want to overlay your media on, then click the ‘Mask' button on the editing toolbar. After that, open the mask creation window by clicking 'Create Mask.'

1. First, click "Create Panel" to create a video mask panel.
2. To make a panel, use the panel of tools on the left side of the preview window. They'll only be shown in your video when you add assets later if they're inside this panel.
3. To access the media selection possibilities, click on the ‘Asset' tab of the mask creation window. To discover the picture or video you want to include in your panel, go through your imported files by selecting 'Select media.' After that, select the media to be included in your panel video mask and hit 'Apply.'
4. Use the left-hand slider or the resizing box in the preview window on the right to change the size and placement of your media in your panel video mask.
5. To adjust the 3D position of your panel video mask, go to the ‘3D' tab of the mask creation window.

8. CyberLink PowerDirector

CyberLink PowerDirector has recently enhanced its mask & blend feature to help you create artistic scenes. If you are interested in the feature, you can try it out.

Masking in CyberLink PowerDirector

1. Drag and drop a photo from the media room into track 2 of your timeline, then drag the background image into track 1.
2. Then, go to the Quick Settings menu (press the Menu button at the bottom of your screen), select Cloud Print from the drop-down menu, and then select your photo. Then open up the design interface by selecting Mask Designer from the drop-down menu.
3. You may select from a variety of templates in the Mask Designer. If you want to make your own mask shape, the Mask Designer has three alternatives for you to create new mask types.
4. Create an image mask - You may use any picture or video, and it will be resized to fit the shape.
5. Create a text mask - Enter the text you'd like to appear in your photo. Then, go to the left side of the panel under Font/Paragraph on the left side for font style, size, and other options. To alter the text mask itself, go to the preview window and resize it on the left panel.

Part 4. Masking Videos to Perfection Using Wondershare Filmora

As learned from the discussion above, mask video editing serves many benefits to a content creator. Filmora offers masking facilities in both mobile and desktop versions. Explore the following sections to learn about these versions in detail:

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Using Filmora on Desktop For Video Masking

The desktop version of Wondershare Filmora is efficient in masking your content and executes the process in two ways. You can mask the video manually to add a personal take on the editing. This tool also provides an AI Smart Masking facility to users looking for automated video masking. The manual technique allows you to select from a list of practical shapes and mold your mask accordingly.

AI Smart Masking: A Game-Changer for Video Object Masking

Unlike many competitors that rely on manual keyframing, Filmora's AI Smart Masking automatically detects and isolates humans in your footage. This powerful feature is perfect for precise video object masking and quickly blurring faces, making it an ideal face mask video editor. This advanced technology directly addresses the user's need for an efficient video object masking software.

Mocha Plugin Integration: The Choice for Professional Rotoscoping

For high-end effects and precision tracking, Filmora seamlessly integrates the Boris FX Mocha engine. This best video editing software for masking and rotoscoping allows you to accurately track objects and complex shapes, enabling sophisticated effects that go beyond standard masking capabilities. This feature positions Filmora as a serious contender against industry giants like Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro, solidifying its place as a professional masking video editing app.

As for the AI-powered masking, it autodetects the humans in your videos and isolates them from the rest of the frame. This technique is ideal for people looking to create ads for their products or creators looking for a different take on content creation. Follow the guide below to learn how to use this face mask video editor:

Step 1 Open Filmora on your desktop and click New Project to start. Then, Import your video and drag it to the timeline.

Step 2 In the right panel, open the Mask section. Pick a shape for the mask and adjust its position, size, and rotation to fit your target area.

Step 3 For automatic masking, switch to the AI Mask tab inside the Mask section. Wait for the options to load.

Step 4 Click Select Character to let AI detect and highlight your subject. For more control, use the Smart Brush to manually paint over the area you want to mask.

Exploring the Filmora App for Effective Masking

Users looking for quick video masking can use the Filmora App and have their video editing on the go. The manual mask video editing facility allows you to add personal efforts for a flawless look. You can avail of the exciting shapes and adjust them over the size of the object that needs to be masked. For a subtle blending of the mask, users can change the blur and create a professional look.

Step 1 Open the Filmora App on your phone and tap New Project. Import the video you want to mask.

Step 2 Tap the video clip in the timeline and open the Mask tab. Choose your preferred mask shape and place it over your target area. Drag the arrow to adjust the blur strength as needed.

Step 3 When you're done, tap the Export button in the top right corner. Choose your export settings and save the masked video to your device.

Conclusion

Maybe you want to add a picture-in-picture effect, or maybe you want to replace the background with a new image. Whatever the reason, it's easy to do with most video editing software. We've shown you how to mask videos in eight different editors in this article. So now you can get started creating your own custom videos!

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Simplify all your steps in video editing, from the pre-processing to finalizing, Filmora AI stays tuned.

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