

Click on the aforementioned empty square.

If you don’t see it, click Toggle Switches/Modes, which should be at the very bottom of the layers bin. That will be the Preserve Underlying Transparency Option, denoted by a T at the top.

You’ll see in the file that there are only three layers: A top text layer, a larger bottom text layer, and a white solid for the background, which is locked to prevent editing. Navigate to After Effects Track Matte Files and open the Track Matte Tutorial.aep file.Here we go! Importing and Layering Footage We’ll also be using the transparency technique to visually insert a video clip into some text and adding a few effects to give the project some oomph. We’re going to use a simple shape to track matte some text as it slides down and “reveals” itself in the composition. You should end up with an After Effects Track Matte folder. After the download has finished, be sure to unzip the file if it hasn’t been done for you.This is particularly useful in revealing graphics, as we’ll see later in this tutorial. If you use a track matte, no matter where you move your layer, the track matte stays in place. What that means for you is that if you put a mask onto a layer, then move the layer, the mask goes with it. Now, you might be asking, why not use a mask? Here’s the main difference: Track mattes are not layer dependent, masks are. Do you want a picture of a flower placed in your text? Or a graphic to hide your video clip until you want it to be revealed? Track mattes are your friend. Simply put, you can shape a particular layer using the appearance of a track matte above it. Track mattes are a fun and powerful tool in After Effects that allows you to use a clip, still image, or text to dictate the transparency of the layer beneath.
