Chapter 15: Track Mattes

Track mattes allow you to use one element as a mask for another, creating cutout effects, reveals, and complex compositing. This is a powerful feature for professional-looking video templates.

What Is a Track Matte?

A track matte uses the visual content of one element (the source) to define the visibility of another element (the target). Areas where the source is opaque make the target visible; transparent areas hide it.

Setting Up a Track Matte

1. Create the element you want to mask (the target)
2. Create the element that will serve as the mask shape (the source)—this can be a shape, image, text, or any element
3. Select the target element
4. In the Properties panel, find the Track Matte section
5. Choose the source element from the dropdown
6. Select a matte channel

Matte Channels

The matte channel determines which part of the source element controls visibility:

Channel	Effect
Alpha	Uses the source’s transparency—opaque areas reveal, transparent areas hide
Inverted Alpha	Opposite of alpha—transparent areas reveal, opaque areas hide
Red	Uses the red color channel as the mask
Green	Uses the green color channel as the mask
Blue	Uses the blue color channel as the mask
Inverted Red	Inverts the red channel mask
Inverted Green	Inverts the green channel mask
Inverted Blue	Inverts the blue channel mask

When to Use Each Channel

• Alpha: Most common. Use a shape or text to cut out a region of an image or video.
• Inverted Alpha: Reveal everything except the mask shape.
• Color channels: Use grayscale gradients in specific channels for custom falloff effects.

Common Use Cases

Text Reveal

Show a video or image only inside text characters:

1. Add an Image or Video element (target)
2. Add a Text element with large bold text (source)
3. Set the image’s track matte source to the text element
4. Channel: Alpha
5. Result: The video/image appears only inside the text letterforms

Shape Mask

Crop content to a circle or custom shape:

1. Add your content element (target)
2. Add a Circle shape (source)
3. Set the content’s track matte to the circle
4. Channel: Alpha
5. Result: Content appears only inside the circle

Gradient Fade

Create a soft edge fade using a gradient:

1. Add your content element (target)
2. Add a shape with gradient fill (source)
3. Set track matte with a color channel
4. Result: Content fades following the gradient

Interactivity

Track matte source elements remain fully interactive on the canvas—you can select, move, and resize them. The masking effect is visible in preview and final output.

Tips

• The source element should overlap the target for the mask to take effect
• Animate the source element’s position or size to create animated reveal effects
• Combine with keyframe animation for dynamic mask transitions
• Track mattes work with all element types as both source and target

Troubleshooting

Mask Not Visible

• Ensure source and target elements overlap
• Check that the correct matte channel is selected
• Verify the source element has visible content (opacity > 0)

Wrong Area Masked

• Try Inverted Alpha if the mask is backwards
• Check element positioning and z-index
• Verify the correct source element is selected

Performance Issues

• Complex masks (especially animated) may affect preview performance
• Simplify source elements when possible
• Final export handles complex mattes more efficiently

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