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611Final Cut Pro User Guide
5. To apply the mask effect to the clip selected in the timeline, do one of the following:
• Drag the effect to the timeline clip.
• Double-click the effect thumbnail in the Effects browser.
The Shape Mask onscreen controls appear in the viewer, superimposed over the
video image. The Shape Mask parameters appear in the Effects section of the Video
inspector. By default, the Shape Mask is set to a partially feathered ellipse shape in the
center of the frame.
6. Use the onscreen controls to adjust the shape mask as needed.
• Position the shape: Drag the center.
• Adjust the shape’s width or height: Drag any of the four handles at the 90-degree
points (top, bottom, left, or right) of the inner circle. You can hold down the Shift key
while dragging to force all sides to scale proportionally. Or hold down the Option key
to adjust one side only.
• Control the curvature of the shape: Drag the handle to the left of the inner circle’s
top handle. One extreme of the curvature continuum is a perfect rectangle. The
other extreme is an oval or a perfect circle.
• Rotate the shape: Drag the rotation handle (extending from the center).
• Control the softness of the shape’s edge: Drag the outer circle. Setting the outer
circle close to the inner circle creates a hard edge and an abrupt transition to the
background, and dragging the outer circle away from the inner circle creates a softer
edge and a more gradual transition.
• Hide the mask’s controls: Click the Shape Mask Onscreen Controls button in the
Shape Mask area of the Color section of the Video inspector.
Note: The Shape Mask is just one of several simple mask effects. For the complete list of
Effects browser mask effects, see
Intro to masking in Final Cut Pro.