3d Screencasting: Episode IV – The Magic of Inverted Masks

If we’re going to pull off this 3d screencasting gig we’ll need to clean up our screen recording footage and make our 3d window disappear. It’s going to be animating and exploding after all, which means we can’t have a copy of it just hanging around on the desktop all the time. That calls for some magic. The kind that would make Harry Potter proud.

Now, I know what you’re thinking–this cat’s gone off the deep end. He’s read too many fantasy adventure novels and has swallowed the whole magical powers bit hook, line and sinker. You’re right about that last part, but in reality working with After Effects is akin to being handed Harry Potter’s wand, and the rotoscoping / masking techniques you’re learning in this series are a Defence Against the Dark Arts crash course. In 3d Screencasting Episode IV we’re going to be dashing around our screen footage, inverting masks and disappearing windows. It’s not learning. It’s magic! ;-)

Without further ado, it’s time to climb aboard my little screencasting wizards, we’re going for a magic carpet ride!

If you’d like to use the assets in this tutorial and view a completed After Effects sample project you can download the files here.

3d Screencasting Episodes

1. Episode I – It Ain’t Your Daddy’s Screencasting
2. Episode II – Rotoscope Our Problems Away
3. Episode III – Building a Screenshot / Screen Video Sandwich
4. Episode IV – The Magic of Inverted Masks
5. Episode V – Killer Animated Windows
6. Episode VI – Ultra Cool Shadows & Motion Blur