Layer mask

[Oaktown]

A few things:
1) When I select either active modes of Layer Mask (One Below or All Below), all the clips in the layer becomes B/W
2) If I select Layer Mask>One Below and there is no clip below, my layer is still masked
3) If I select Layer Mask>One Below and insert a 100% alpha clip my Masked Layer is completely black so both black and transparency have the same result
4) If I select Layer Mask>One Below with a black mask in the layer below, a white clip in the layer below the mask, set the masked layer to 100% Add, and the masked layer and the mask are grouped I can see the white clip as if the masked layer was in 50% alpha. But if I move the white clip into the group below the mask, it behaves as expected.

[Joris]

Setting the Mask Mode option for a layer means that *that layer* becomes a mask, for either the layer below or all layers below it. 'All Below' is essentially the same as setting the layer's blend mode to 50Mask. 'One Below' is essentially the same as a Luma Matte in After Effects. 'One Below' makes it possible to use a single layer as a mask for a another single layer, instead of using some convoluted layer router structure.

The thumbnails and previews turn B&W because it uses the luminance channel for the mask. If the content in the Mask Mode layer has transparency, it's treated as black.

4) I don't fully understand what you mean here, but maybe the explanation of what the Mask Mode option actually does, has helped a bit?

[Oaktown]

Thank you Joris for the explanation!

Interestingly enough I was able to make the layer mask work (besides B/W due to the luminance channel) the other way around but now it makes total sense!

Also are you planning an invert function to the mask (it works great with a [Invert RGB] effect on the layer but that would streamline the process) and an Alpha Matte option

[Joris]

I'm sure Zoltan will happily make a feature request ticket for you. Which we will then promptly kick in the feature bucket while we work on the 507 other tickets we currently have open.

Btw, try Brightness Contrast with full brightness for an alpha matte.

[Oaktown]

Btw, try Brightness Contrast with full brightness for an alpha matte.

Nice one! Just too bad there is no [invert alpha] effect.

[Joris]

Yeah, I knew you were going to come with that one. It's possible Do you want me to tell you how to do it, or do you want to try a little longer?

Btw, don't get me wrong. Luma, Inverted Luma, Alpha and Inverted Alpha would be great as a toggle somewhere. It's just not where we can focus our time right now.

[Zoltán]

dropped these into the features bucket.