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Convert To Mask

Bendio has a unique workflow for continuously rasterized layers. It uses masks, but not to mask things.

Why you need this

Shape layers are incredibly powerful but After Effects treats them differently than normal when it comes to effects (like all continuously rasterized layers). Instead of the effect moving around when the layer is moved, the effect stays stuck in place, as if it were being rendered on to the comp instead of the layer.

The same .ai layer with continuous rasterization on (left) and off (right)

You can fix this issue by pre-composing the layer - turning it into a bitmap layer with a limited pixel resolution and no accessible shape properties. But why should you have to do that? We figured out a neat solution so that you don't have to pre-compose if you don't want to.

By converting Bendio's Start, End and Attach Points into mask points, we can make it work correctly on continuously rasterized layers.

How and when to use the buttons

Apply Bendio and set the Start and End points, then click the Convert To Mask button and a new mask with two points will be added to your source layer, whilst some expressions are applied to the Start and End so that they follow this mask's points. If you want to alter the Start and End, you now need to click and drag the mask points instead of the effect point controls. At first, you'll probably need to click on the layer in the timeline to shift your selection from the effect, to the layer, where you can edit masks.

 

Converting to masks is a one-way process. You should plan ahead and decide if you need AI, EPS, SWF and PDF layers to be continuously rasterized or not, and then use Bendio's mask workflow, or not.

There is also a button to convert Attach Points to masks. Select an attach point in the dropdown and click the Convert to Mask button underneath. Bendio will make a new mask with just a single point in it, and the attach point will now be driven by the mask point. These masks can be hard to see at first.

Once your points and attach points have been converted to masks, you should be able to transform your layer however you like and the bend and attach nulls will follow along as expected.