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392Final Cut Pro User Guide
Combine multiple effect masks in Final Cut Pro
When defining the area of a clip effect, including a color correction, you may find that it’s
impossible to create the mask shape you need using only one mask. For example, when
masking a shape with a hole in it, you need at least two masks—one set to Add to mask the
overall object, and a second set to Subtract to cut out the hole.
You can set masks to interact in different ways using mask blend modes. For example, you
can add mask shapes together to create a combined mask, subtract a mask shape from
other masks, and intersect masks.
Note: You can add an unlimited number of effects to a clip, but mask blend modes interact
within a single effect—not across multiple effects.
Add, subtract, and intersect masks
1. Select a clip in the Final Cut Pro timeline.
2. Position the playhead in the timeline so that your clip appears in the viewer.
3. Add a video effect to the clip from the Effects browser.
You can add almost any kind of video clip effect, including the Color Correction effect.
However, effects in the Keying and Masks categories in the Effects browser do not have
the built-in effect masking tools described here.
4. If the Video inspector isn’t already open, do one of the following:
• Choose Window > Show in Workspace > Inspector (or press Command-4).
• Click the Inspector button on the right side of the toolbar.
5. Click the Video button at the top of the inspector.
6. In the Effects section of the Video inspector, add a shape mask or a color mask to the
effect.
7. To add an additional mask to the effect, move the pointer over the effect name in the
Video inspector and click the Apply Effect Masks button that appears to the right of
the effect name.
The new mask appears below the effect name in the Video inspector, with the blend
mode to the right. By default, new shape masks appear at the top of the list in Add
mode, and new color masks appear at the bottom of the list in Intersect mode.
Note: You can rearrange the order of the masks within a given effect. See Reorder
masks, below.