Masks

Masks hide or reveal parts of a selected element. Use them for cutouts, cinematic bars, face blurs, picture-in-picture shapes, split screens, and creative reveals.

Open mask controls

1. Select a video, image, sticker, text, or graphic that supports masks.
2. Open the right properties panel.
3. Click Masks.
4. Enable a mask or choose a mask type.

If the Masks tab is missing, the selected element may not support masking.

Built-in mask types

Pluged AI supports several mask types:

• Split — divides the element into sections.
• Cinematic bars — creates letterbox bars.
• Rectangle — rectangular crop or reveal.
• Ellipse — oval or circle mask.
• Heart — heart-shaped reveal.
• Diamond — diamond crop.
• Star — star-shaped mask.
• Text — uses text as a mask shape.
• Freeform — custom polygon points.

Add a rectangle mask

1. Select the element.
2. Open Masks.
3. Choose Rectangle.
4. Drag the mask handles on the canvas.
5. Adjust width, height, and position.
6. Add feathering if the edge should be soft.

Use rectangle masks for picture-in-picture, cropped screen recordings, and split-screen layouts.

Add an ellipse mask

1. Select the element.
2. Open Masks.
3. Choose Ellipse.
4. Resize it into a circle or oval.
5. Place it over the visible area.
6. Feather the edge for a soft spotlight.

Use ellipse masks for face highlights, webcam bubbles, and product spotlights.

Use cinematic bars

1. Select the main video or an adjustment layer.
2. Open Masks.
3. Choose Cinematic bars.
4. Adjust bar height.
5. Preview the whole sequence.

Cinematic bars can give a widescreen feel, but avoid them on vertical videos unless stylistically intentional.

Invert a mask

Inverting swaps what is visible and hidden.

1. Add a mask.
2. Turn on Invert.
3. Preview the result.

Use inverted masks for spotlight cutouts, blur around a subject, or hiding a face/object while leaving the rest visible.

Feather mask edges

Feathering softens the mask boundary.

1. Select the masked element.
2. Open Masks.
3. Increase Feather.
4. Preview on a frame with contrast.

Use small feather values for natural blends and high feather values for dreamy reveals.

Move, resize, and rotate masks

Mask handles can control:

• Position.
• Width and height.
• Rotation.
• Feather.
• Corner radius or edges.
• Scale.

Drag handles on the canvas for visual edits. Use properties for precise values.

Create a freeform mask

Freeform masks use custom points.

1. Select an element.
2. Open Masks.
3. Choose Freeform.
4. Add points around the subject.
5. Drag points to refine the shape.
6. Insert or delete points as needed.
7. Feather edges to hide rough point placement.

Freeform masks are best for custom shapes, but they take more time to maintain if the subject moves.

Animate a mask

Masks can be animated when their parameters support keyframes.

1. Select the masked element.
2. Move the playhead to the start.
3. Add keyframes for mask position or size.
4. Move later in time.
5. Adjust the mask.
6. Preview the animation.

Use mask animation for reveals, wipes, and following simple motion.

Common mask recipes

Blur a face or license plate

1. Duplicate the video clip above the original.
2. Apply a blur effect to the duplicate.
3. Add an ellipse or rectangle mask around the face/plate.
4. Feather the mask slightly.
5. Keyframe or track the mask if the subject moves.

Picture-in-picture circle

1. Place the secondary video on an overlay track.
2. Select it.
3. Add an ellipse mask.
4. Scale and position it in a corner.
5. Add a stroke or shadow if needed.

Text reveal

1. Add a video or image.
2. Open Masks.
3. Choose Text.
4. Type the mask text.
5. Adjust font and size.
6. Animate position or opacity for a reveal.

Troubleshooting

See also

• Properties panel
• Tracking
• Effects and color
• Canvas and preview