Get track mattes right

Track mattes work like masks in Photoshop and can take most motion projects to new heights. They can create transitions for your type, between scenes, or with almost any object.

This tutorial will show you how to create a clean, smooth-running track matte - master the techniques outlined here and you can apply them to almost anything. This will open up new ways to create motion graphics and add the wow factor to projects that are otherwise dull.

A track matte is a simple element to add to your work, but can develop into a really complex and effective motion tool. After Effects can be very powerful if you take advantage of its impressive precomping and blending mode capabilities. When importing Photoshop or Illustrator files, for example, you can use these options to create even more vivid results.

In this short tutorial you will work through one specific example for a track matte, but the project shown here uses three track mattes in total. Download the support files and use any of the three video clips provided. Alternatively, you could use your own footage to create a unique track matte of your own.

Click here to download the tutorial for free