Masking image layers with a vector layer

[Mattyj]

Just having a bit of trouble masking some image layers inside a group to a vector layer. The image layers are part of a .psd I have imported. Is it possible to mask layers in this type of imported image?

[Greenlaw]

That shouldn't be a problem; once Moho imports a layered PSD as separate layers, they're just regular Image layers and can be masked by another Image layer or a Vector layer.

Just to be sure your setup is correct...

• The mask needs to be set as a Mask Group by choosing Reveal All or Hide All. The most common setting is Hide All, which means hide everything outside on the outside of the solid areas.
• The mask should be at the bottom of the group and set as the Mask (+ Add To Mask and lower options)
• The masked layers should be set to Mask This Layer.
• Layers you don't want Masked need to be set to Don't Mask This Layer.
• Mask layers can be Image or Vector. Moho just looks at the solid areas in a layer for masking.

In Moho 13.5.5, Masking is much easier than it was in earlier versions of Moho. If your group has layers to be masked and a layer you want to use as a mask at the bottom of the group, just right click on the group and choose Mask Inside Bottom Layer (the most common option) or Mask Outside Bottom Layer. These commands will do the above setup for you automatically.

Moho's masking allows for much more complex setups but the above tips should cover the most common uses.

If the above doesn't work for you, feel free to post an example file. If I don't get to it, I'm sure somebody here will take a look at it promptly.

Hope this helps.

[Greenlaw]

Re: more complex setups: You can have more than one mask layer in a group. That's where the other Layer Masking options after + Add To Mask come into play.

In the most common mask usage, you would choose + Add To Mask, which does just that: it adds the solid area of the mask to the solid area of other mask layers.

The next option + Add To Mask, But Keep Invisible does the same but makes the mask layer itself invisible.

- Subtract From Mask cuts away at other masks. For example, if the main mask at the bottom is a big circle, and this mask was a smaller circle on top, it would make the complete mask effect look like a donut.

The next two + Clear options let you add a mask to affect the layers above them but without affecting the Masks below.

It's possible to use groups as masks but these may not display correctly in Moho. When possible, it's usually better to simplify the setup by doing the masking inside of the sub-groups, even if it means duplicating the mask layers there.

When the mask doesn't display correctly in the Workspace, use Ctrl+R to check the render results. If this looks fine, I just ignore the display error and continue animating. In my rigs, this error most commonly occurs with eye group layers drifting outside of the head. Check my Puss rig demo to see an example of that.

Hope this helps.

[Mattyj]

All good sorted it Greenlaw was just confused about my layer structure, thanks for the reply though.